Wazoku Crowd Reduction to Practice Challenge: Low Temperature Thermal Management for Parked Electric Vehicles

Innovation challenge seeking innovative ideas for disruptive technologies or systems to optimise battery thermal management in battery powered electric vehicles (BEV), particularly those left stationary in cold temperatures while not plugged in or charging.

Wazoku Crowd (formerly InnoCentive) is a global innovation hub that hosts a range of innovation challenges for the wider benefit of humankind. Commercial, governmental, public sector, non-profit and humanitarian organisations (“Seekers”) can engage with the Wazoku Crowd community to solicit solutions to innovation or development challenges by offering financial awards.

Individuals, groups and organisations can register as “Solvers” on Wazoku Crowd to take part in the various innovation challenges

This Wazoku Crowd Reduction to Practice (RTP) Challenge – Low Temperature Thermal Management for Parked Electric Vehicles – has been put forward by a major manufacturer of commercial vehicles to seek innovative ideas for disruptive technologies or systems to optimise the thermal management of batteries in battery powered electric vehicles (BEV), particularly those left stationary for a prolonged period of time in cold temperatures.

It is necessary to warm the battery cells of electric vehicles that are left at low temperatures before the vehicle can be used effectively and safely. Temperature significantly affects the performance and lifetime of battery cells, making electric vehicles uncompetitive in large areas of the world.

Currently, BEVs typically have passive thermal management systems to keep the batteries warm or heat them from low temperatures. The Seeker is looking for a novel, energy efficient, active battery thermal management system (BTMS) that allows for fast, controlled heating of batteries to a specific temperature from any starting colder temperature.