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Comparative study of thermal management systems in electric Vehicles: Exergy and energy efficiency under cold climate conditions

Author

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  • Lee, Yebin
  • Kim, Won-Suk
  • Han, Jaeyoung

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining worldwide attention due to their energy efficiency and environmental benefits. However, unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, EVs cannot utilize engine waste heat for cabin heating, leading to reduced performance in cold climates. Most EVs use Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heaters, which significantly increase power consumption, rapidly drain the battery state of charge (SOC), and shorten the driving range by up to 50 %. Therefore, an efficient thermal management system is essential to maintain a balance between cabin comfort and driving range. Previous studies have rarely addressed integrated thermal management systems (ITMS) that simultaneously incorporate EV-specific powertrain characteristics and effectively recover waste heat. To overcome this gap, in this study developed a real-world ITMS model is developed and three heating strategies are evaluated: PTC-only, heat pump (HP)-only, and a hybrid approach. A simulation was conducted at −10 °C to analyze performance indicators of the thermal response, energy/exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, and SOC reduction rate. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was used for multi-criteria decision-making. The results showed that the HP-only strategy provided the best energy and exergy performance, demonstrating its effectiveness when EVs operate in cold climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Yebin & Kim, Won-Suk & Han, Jaeyoung, 2025. "Comparative study of thermal management systems in electric Vehicles: Exergy and energy efficiency under cold climate conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:253:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125015903
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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