MAHLE has introduced a new type of condenser for hybrid and electric vehicles that helps to accelerate traction battery charging. This new design offers significantly higher power density than the current one.

As part of the cooling system, the condenser is one of the components that ensures the battery is optimally cooled during fast charging and reliably protected against damage. The new condenser also provides sufficient cooling capacity for comfortable temperature in the cabin without taking up additional installation space.

MAHLE says the new condenser ensures that EVs are optimally cooled during fast charging, while also providing the necessary power for cabin temperature control.

“Battery cooling is crucial for the performance of electric vehicles. In developing our new condenser, we were able to draw on our many years of expertise in thermal management,” explains Laurent Art, Director Advanced Engineering Thermal Management at MAHLE. “We’re confident that this condenser will give a further boost to the development of electric vehicles.”

Less corrosion and less refrigerant with new design
Alongside the component design, the production process has also been optimised to provide a lighter product that is less susceptible to corrosion and requires less refrigerant. Until a few years ago, the most critical task of the engine cooling system was to protect the combustion engine from overheating under high loads. The thermal management of electrified vehicles has become much more complex including stronger interactions between cabin and powertrain thermal management and the need to maintain components such as the battery within tightly defined temperature limits.