A Review on Battery Thermal Management for New Energy Vehicles

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with relatively high energy density and power density are considered an important energy source for new energy vehicles (NEVs). However, LIBs are highly sensitive to temperature, which makes their thermal management challenging. Developing a high-performance battery thermal management system (BTMS) is crucial for the battery to retain high efficiency and security. Generally, the BTMS is divided into three categories based on the physical properties of the cooling medium, including phase change materials (PCMs), liquid, and air. This paper discusses the effect of temperature on the performance of individual batteries and battery systems, at first. Then, a systematic survey of the state-of-the-art BTMS is presented in terms of liquid-based, PCM-based, and air-based BTMS. To further utilize the heat source of the vehicle, the BTMS integrated with the vehicle thermal management system (VTMS) is discussed. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for BTMS with the ability to cut off the thermal runaway are discussed. The primary aim of this review is to offer some guidelines for the design of safe and effective BTMS for the battery pack of NEVs.