First Domestic Development of Eco-Friendly Vehicle Dedicated Thermal Management System
Applied to Hyundai's Exclusive Platform 'E-GMP'... Mass Production in 2023
Goal to Develop Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS) by 2025
They are examining the newly developed electric vehicle dedicated thermal management system, the 'Coolant Distribution and Supply Integrated Module,' at Hyundai Wia Uiwang Research Center. (Photo by Hyundai Wia)
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Hyundai Wia has become the first in Korea to develop a module that integrates the drive components and battery parts of electric vehicles to manage heat. This module has been confirmed for installation on Hyundai Motor Company's dedicated electric vehicle platform, E-GMP, and is scheduled to enter mass production starting in 2023.
On the 18th, Hyundai Wia announced that it successfully developed the 'coolant distribution and supply integrated module,' a heat management system dedicated to eco-friendly vehicles, for the first time among domestic automotive parts manufacturers. Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, eco-friendly vehicles lack sufficient available heat sources, making a separate heat management device essential beyond waste heat recovery and utilization. This system maintains the temperature of key components at an optimal level to maximize the efficiency and performance of each part.
The newly developed coolant distribution and supply integrated module was designed to manage heat encompassing the drive and electronic components as well as the battery. It functionally integrates the previously separate devices responsible for cooling the drive components and the battery. The coolant circuit has been optimized, and the refrigerant heat exchanger and coolant distribution and supply parts necessary to maintain the battery at an appropriate temperature have been integrated. This configuration minimizes the number of parts and increases space utilization in the engine compartment.
A Hyundai Wia official stated, “Hyundai Wia is the first in Korea to secure technology for the coolant distribution and supply integrated module,” adding, “Compared to the systems previously used, this more efficient heat management is expected to extend the driving range of electric vehicles and significantly improve battery life.”
The heat management module underwent reliability verification under harsh conditions. For the first time in Korea, Hyundai Wia installed and operated a ‘combined environmental operation and vibration durability tester’ at its Uiwang Research Center, capable of simultaneously controlling coolant circulation, vibration, temperature, and other conditions. Through this, Hyundai Wia has filed over 30 patents related to heat management modules, including four overseas applications.
Hyundai Wia plans to begin full-scale mass production of the coolant distribution and supply integrated module in 2023 and apply it to Hyundai Motor Company's E-GMP platform. Subsequently, by 2025, the company aims to develop an integrated thermal management system (ITMS) that also encompasses interior air conditioning and to target global automakers.
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