Shell Lubricants and FAW TRUCKS have marked a major step forward in battery thermal management for commercial vehicles, successfully validating a jointly developed battery pack using Shell’s immersion cooling fluid technology.
The battery pack has been tested on the Shell Starship 3.0 Hybrid concept truck and is now being evaluated for potential deployment in future FAW TRUCKS hybrid commercial vehicles.
The technology is designed to tackle one of the key challenges facing next-generation commercial vehicles: managing battery heat as power demands, charging speeds and efficiency requirements rise.
Unlike conventional cooling systems, Shell’s electrically insulating immersion cooling fluid surrounds the battery cells, enabling more effective heat management. Following industry-standard testing, the battery pack was integrated into the Shell Starship Hybrid for vehicle-level validation under demanding operating conditions, including sustained high-power charging and discharging.
Initial validation has indicated potential gains across several performance measures, including: Up to 98% increase in maximum gradability; 0.8% improvement in energy efficiency; Potential battery life improvement of up to 32%.
The battery pack has undergone industry-standard testing and vehicle evaluations, with independent verification by China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC). Final performance data will be released after the validation process is completed.
Cara Tredget, Vice President of Mobility & Lubricants Technology at Shell, said “Innovation is at the heart of how Shell is helping shape the future of mobility. As commercial vehicles continue to evolve, so do the technologies needed to support them.
"By working closely with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) like FAW TRUCKS, we're developing advanced fluid solutions designed to support evolving vehicle technologies, including electrification powertrains and thermal management systems. The Shell Starship Hybrid vehicle demonstrates what's possible when collaboration and innovation come together."
FAW TRUCKS said the collaboration combines its commercial vehicle engineering capabilities with Shell’s immersion cooling expertise as the industry pushes toward higher power output, faster charging and improved durability.
"Battery thermal management is becoming increasingly important as commercial vehicles demand higher power, greater efficiency and faster charging capabilities," said Wang Jianyu, President of Commercial Vehicle Development Institute of FAW TRUCKS.
"By working with Shell, we have combined FAW TRUCKS' expertise in commercial vehicle engineering with Shell's advanced immersion cooling technology to develop a solution for these evolving challenges. Validation on the Starship Hybrid brings us closer to commercial application, with the potential to enhance performance, durability and safety for the next generation of hybrid commercial vehicles."
The battery system is now being assessed for potential use in future FAW TRUCKS hybrid commercial vehicles, while Shell plans to continue developing immersion cooling fluids for wider commercial vehicle applications.
Shell said the reported 0.8% vehicle-level energy efficiency improvement is considered significant in the commercial vehicle sector because it was achieved through optimization of a single hybrid battery system, rather than changes to the core powertrain.
_256_275.JPG)
.JPG)
