A critical review on recent developments in battery thermal management system of electric vehicles

Abstract

The development of new alternative modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles, is a result of the global challenges concerning air pollution. Due to their high energy density and extended lifespan, lithium ion batteries are proven to be beneficial. The main considerations when choosing to use these batteries are their reliability, safety, life cycle, operating temperature, and internal heat generation. During the charging and discharging processes, batteries produce heat. This heat created in the battery must be dissipated quickly, thus an effective cooling system is required to maintain a consistent temperature in the battery pack and to limit the peak temperature of the battery pack. This review paper summarises recently published articles on battery thermal management systems, which include various cooling methods such as air cooling, liquid cooling with different channel configurations, cooling based on phase-change materials, and various other techniques used such as heat pipes, vortex generators, mist cooling, and hydrogels. Moreover, this paper summarizes the experimental and numerical work carried out to control the peak temperature for different cooling systems and the coolants used and their effects on battery temperature management. Because liquid coolants have a high heat transfer capacity, modern electric cars use liquid-based cooling systems for battery thermal management. This review paper highlights innovative battery thermal management systems (BTMSs). The effects of nail penetration on thermal runaway are investigated.