Role of phase change materials in creating uniform surface temperature on a lithium battery cell applicable in electric vehicles

With respect to limitations of fossil energy resources, different types of electric vehicles (EVs) are developed as suitable alternatives. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells play an extremely prominent role in EVs due to their unique features. But they require a suitable thermal management system (TMS) to maintain their surface temperature uniformity and avoid battery thermal runaways. In the current study a phase change material (PCM) based TMS is applied to a battery case in order to provide a uniform temperature distribution on a Li-ion battery cell surface. This PCM based TMS declines the final maximum temperature difference to (1/5) and (2/3) at 1 C and 2 C discharge rates respectively.