Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2024 - 34

EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINTS
Komatsu to integrate the EVantage L-CON Battery
Thermal Management System (BTMS) into a 20-ton
electric excavator to optimize performance, extend longevity
and reduce downtime. With ample space, the
team integrated the BTMS into a single-box unit, underscoring
the value of versatility in a thermal management
system used in electric off-highway vehicles. From
minor adaptations to fully customized designs, the ability
to fit any chassis size ensures optimal performance,
longevity and efficiency.
The heat
exchangers in the
Electronics Cooling
Package (ECP) are designed
to resist clogging caused by
poor air quality or high
particulate levels.
Preconditioning key to EV battery
success
Off-highway vehicles, diverse in form and function,
also require battery systems tailored to address the
unique demands of each vehicle's intended use and
operating environment. Each EV lithium-ion battery
pack has components highly dependent on cooling
technology to mitigate the impact of temperature
fluctuations. Unlike traditional ICE vehicles, where engine
coolant temperatures can range from 85 to 215°C
(185 to 419°F), EV batteries require a much narrower
operating window of 20 to 45°C (68 to 113°F). To ensure
optimal performance and maximize efficiency
and longevity, EV battery preconditioning is a vital
aspect of thermal management - and that holds true
for everything from passenger cars to commercial vehicles
to off-highway machines.
Preconditioning involves heating or cooling a vehicle's
The EVantage Fuel Cell Stack Cooling Package (FC-SCP) is
purpose-built to meet unique needs and low conductivity
requirements of commercial fuel-cell applications.
play for vehicle manufacturers and end users to start the journey.
However, re-powering an internal combustion engine (ICE) platform
requires a delicate balance of innovation and practicality. This is particularly
true when dealing with the challenge of reliably expelling the
heat produced by EV components that no longer sit behind radiators
centrally or at the front of the chassis.
For example, while developing a comprehensive thermal management
system for an electric skid steer loader being electrified by Bosch
Rexroth, Modine engineers had to reimagine the layout of the system
to fit the confines of the already compact platform. To achieve this, the
team designed a distributed system to maximize flexibility in placing
thermal management components within the vehicle.
Working on larger vehicles presents a related yet unique set of challenges.
Modine collaborated with industrial vehicle industry giant
34 June 2024
battery to the optimal temperature so that it is ready for
maximum operation, a process that is ideally done while
the vehicle is connected to a charger. The Komatsu electric
excavator, for example, can handle extended shifts
and endure a variety of environmental conditions on a
large construction site. However, these vehicles do not
typically benefit from parking indoors during a project.
When left to charge outdoors overnight, the vehicle
batteries risk becoming cold-soaked unless the vehicle
is outfitted with a BTMS to keep the battery pack at
optimal temperature through the night, avoiding compromised
performance when the vehicle starts up in
the morning. As such, construction managers must
factor a preconditioning strategy into their deployment
schedules, vehicle usage patterns and operational
plans to ensure the vehicle's overall success.
In comparison, the Bosch Rexroth skid steer loader
might be deployed for more minor, day-to-day construction
projects and returned to a depot at the end
of the day. The machine can be plugged into a charging
station in the depot warehouse, where the overnight
temperature remains ideal for the battery. In this
case, the skid loader requires a less extensive preconditioning
strategy to ensure readiness for deployment
the following day.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: MODINE
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - June 2024

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