Enhancing Cold-weather Performance of Electric Vehicles through Innovative Thermal Management Strategies

In cold weather, electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs/HEVs) experience reduced performance due to slowed electrochemical processes, resulting in power and energy loss. To mitigate this, battery thermal management systems are employed, often drawing power from the battery itself when not connected to the grid, impacting overall range. This paper proposes a novel strategy for EVs/HEVs to optimize energy usage and battery longevity. Utilizing heat from the motor and an electro-thermal battery model developed using MATLAB/Simulink and accounting for aging, the strategy aims to strike a balance between energy conservation and battery health. Simulation results highlight the shortcomings of current approaches, particularly in addressing cold-induced battery aging, emphasizing the need for optimized solutions