Cooper Standard debuts Ecoflow product line for electrified vehicles

As the automotive industry continues to shift to an electrified future, auto component manufacturers are innovating to support automakers seeking to simplify thermal management systems while enhancing vehicle efficiency and range. Cooper Standard recently debuted the first member of its new eCoFlow product line.

The eCoFlow Switch Pump, created in partnership with the Saleri Group of Italy, offers features of both an electric water pump and electrically driven valve in a single integrated coolant control module. While available for all powertrains, this scalable fluid control technology enables fluid flow switching, splitting and regulating especially needed to address the complex glycol thermal management needs of fully electrified or hybrid vehicles. The combination of water pump and valve functions is the gamechanger that offers automakers efficiency improvements, part consolidation, electrical wire harness reduction and reduced packaging space.

Enhancing thermal management efficiency
"Our eCoFlow Switch Pump is the 'first-of-its-kind' solution that enables customers to reduce the complexity of the thermal management system within their vehicles while improving overall system efficiency," said Chris Couch, president, fluid handling systems and chief technology officer, Cooper Standard. "Beyond the significant system savings, our solution also provides customers with options to potentially reduce battery cell needs for their target vehicle range which helps improve the vehicle's overall carbon footprint."

According to Cooper Standard, by reducing complexity, the eCoFlow system enhances the thermal management system's efficiencies by eliminating the pressure drop and waste encountered from traditional pumps and valves.

The improved design of the eCoFlow system provides smoother transitions in flow to help avoid pressure pulsations and spikes that can lead to system noise. A single electrical connection manages the system's pumping and advanced fluid control functions, eliminating the need for additional connectors, wire harnesses and vehicle input/output channels. This functionality packages in approximately half the space of the traditional components it replaces.