An Approach to Reduce Noise Generated by Thermal Management Systems in Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are transforming the future of transportation for the world while achieving the goal of sustainable development. While the concept and use of battery-powered vehicles has also penetrated the logistics and supply chain industry, it has also brought upon new challenges during its development. As OEMs strive to develop BEVs with extended range, the components within the propulsion and drivetrain system tend to demand a higher power output from the energy storage systems. This results in BEVs generating higher levels of thermal heat energy, which must be dissipated / rejected for optimal performance and safety. Consequently, to reject this heat, BEVs must utilize thermal management systems with higher capacities. This increase in size is accompanied by the inclusion of many parts that generate noise and contribute to increased noise levels in BEVS. In today’s market, optimization of noise levels is a significant factor when ensuring passenger comfort, while also showing consideration for the environment and pedestrians. This study introduces multiple noise optimization techniques employing diverse approaches for commercial and passenger BEV’s. Additionally, this article highlights several efforts to validate these methods across several system and sub-system levels. Overall, a significant reduction is observed in the NVH levels without a compromise in the heat rejection capacity of the thermal management system. In conclusion, the study also mentions the future scope for improvements for in-cab noise while improving the efficiency of the thermal management system.