EV battery thermal management in 2026: overview
EV battery thermal management controls heating and cooling to keep cells within suitable operating conditions, supporting performance, safety and battery life. Liquid cooling remains an established route, while passive materials and hybrid systems can help manage temperature without relying only on active cooling. The design challenge is balancing heat removal and temperature uniformity against system energy use, cost, packaging and manufacturability.
Recent work is combining thermal hardware with prediction and optimization. In June 2026, BYD filed a patent for navigation-informed thermal control; in July 2026, MAHLE began series production of battery cooling plates in Spain. Research published in September and October 2026 explores phase-change materials, heat-pipe hybrids, machine-learning prediction and architected TPMS structures. Immersion cooling is gaining attention, while teams continue to investigate how to scale advanced designs and control flow distribution without adding system complexity.
- 1Prediction meets cooling: BYD’s navigation-informed thermal-control patent points toward systems that anticipate operating demands instead of responding only to measured temperature.
- 2Hybrid designs expand: Recent research combines phase-change materials with liquid cooling or heat pipes to pair passive buffering with active heat removal.
- 3Scaling remains key: Architected structures and optimized cooling channels offer new design options, but their value depends on manufacturability, flow control and system-level integration.
Top organizations working on EV battery thermal management
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to EV battery thermal management. Showing 7 of 495 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
BYD Company
Corporate · China |
General | PAT 3 · PUB 2 NEWS 183 |
-16% | BYD develops EVs and batteries, and its fast-charging vehicles make battery temperature control an important part of pack and vehicle integration. |
| 2 | 
Denso Corporation
Corporate · Japan |
General | PAT 2 · NEWS 157 | -8% | Denso supplies automotive thermal-management systems and components, positioning it to integrate battery temperature control with vehicle heating and cooling. |
| 3 | 
Mahle GmbH
Corporate · Germany |
General | PAT 1 · PUB 1 NEWS 153 |
-28% | Recently, MAHLE showcased thermal-management systems for rail vehicles, including a battery thermal-management system for battery, hybrid and electric applications. |
| 4 | 
Hanon Systems
Corporate · South Korea |
General | PAT 1 · NEWS 83 | -44% | Hanon Systems develops automotive thermal-management solutions, including vehicle heating and cooling systems that can serve battery temperature control. |
| 5 | 
Toyota Motor Corporation
Corporate · Japan |
General | PUB 1 · NEWS 190 | -11% | Toyota has studied battery thermal management for plug-in hybrids using an air-conditioning heater system, linking battery conditioning with the vehicle’s HVAC system. |
| 6 | 
Hyundai Motor Company
Corporate · South Korea |
General | PAT 3 · PUB 3 NEWS 120 |
-22% | Hyundai develops EVs and hybrids, integrating battery thermal control with vehicle systems; research linked to its record examines optimization and heat-pipe cooling. |
| 7 | 
Honeywell
Corporate · United States |
General | PUB 1 · NEWS 148 | -31% | |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Leading research centers
Leading research institutions 408 total
Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityChinaRecently, Xi’an Jiaotong University researchers experimentally evaluated direct refrigerant cooling and heating for full-scale commercial battery packs and studied CO₂ refrigerant heating.
Tongji UniversityChinaTongji researchers investigate refrigerant direct cooling for EV batteries and develop model-predictive-control methods for managing battery temperature.
SRM UniversityIndiaSRM researchers study battery thermal management materials and coolants, including graphene-oxide additives and composite heat-exchange materials.- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where EV battery thermal management innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 495 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid cold-plate cooling | Coolant circulates through plates beside cells for controllable heat removal, but adds pumps, plumbing and potential flow-distribution constraints. | 638 |
Hanon Systems, Sebang Global Battery Co., Mahle GmbH |
| Air cooling | Airflow removes heat through a relatively simple, leakage-free system, but offers less heat-transfer capacity than liquid-based designs. | 294 |
Hanon Systems, Mahle GmbH, Denso Corporation |
| Refrigerant-based cooling | Refrigerant cools or heats the battery directly or through integrated vehicle systems, but system control and integration add complexity. | 30 |
Hanon Systems, Continental AG, Yeungnam University |
| Immersion cooling | Cells contact a dielectric coolant for direct heat transfer, but fluid compatibility, sealing and serviceability need careful engineering. | 226 |
BYD Company, Hanon Systems, Royal Dutch Shell |
| Passive thermal materials | Phase-change and other materials absorb or spread heat without continuous pumping, but limited heat-rejection capacity can constrain sustained operation. | 638 |
Hanon Systems, Denso Corporation, BorgWarner Inc. |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
FACTS records $43,002,068 in grants across 25 grants since 2020, and $49,633,239,085 across 21 funding rounds. The round total reflects tracked organization-level financing and should not be read as funding dedicated solely to battery thermal management.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Jul 2026(IN BRIEF) MAHLE has started series production of battery cooling plates for electric vehicles at its Montblanc plant in Tarragona, Spain. The launch coincides with the plant’s 50th anniversary and its 25th year as part…EuropaWire.eu
- Jul 2026A new series of pressure sensors can detect subtle pressure changes in gases and liquids, allowing them to accurately monitor coolant pressure in EV battery thermal-management and liquid-cooling systems for AI data…Home | Electronic Design
- Jul 2026Table of Contents Introduction Somewhere along the way, the sedan got written off. SUVs took over showrooms, and EV buyers were quietly told to choose between range and shape. The Kia EV4 argues otherwise. It is Kia’s…Electric Vehicles_(India)
- Jul 2026The Leaf made battery degradation look terrifying, but most modern EVs are not aging the same way. The Nissan Leaf is one of the original modern purpose-built electric vehicles, so it’s what many people still picture…InsideEVs - Articles
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about EV battery thermal management
What companies are working on EV battery thermal management?
BYD Company, Denso Corporation and Mahle GmbH are among the prominent companies associated with EV battery thermal management in FACTS. Hanon Systems, Toyota Motor Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company are also active. Their work spans vehicle thermal systems, cooling components and battery integration; the specific technology and level of activity vary by organization.
Who are the main EV battery thermal management manufacturers or suppliers?
Denso Corporation, Mahle GmbH, Hanon Systems and Valeo are notable automotive thermal-management suppliers in FACTS. MAHLE began series production of EV battery cooling plates in Spain in July 2026. The listed companies have broader thermal-management businesses, so supplier fit depends on the vehicle program, component and cooling architecture.
Which universities and research centers lead EV battery thermal management research?
Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tongji University and SRM University are among the research organizations highlighted in FACTS. Xi'an Jiaotong University studies direct refrigerant cooling and heating for commercial battery packs, while Tongji University investigates refrigerant cooling and model-predictive control. SRM University’s work includes thermal-management materials and coolants.
How much funding has EV battery thermal management received?
FACTS records $43,002,068 in grants across 25 grants since 2020, plus $49,633,239,085 across 21 funding rounds. These totals are organization-level finance records associated with the topic, not a verified total of capital spent exclusively on battery thermal management. Treat the rounds figure with particular caution when comparing technology-specific funding.
Who holds the most EV battery thermal management patents?
Ford Global Technologies, LLC leads the patent-holder list in FACTS with 9 patents. Volvo Car Corporation has 5, while China First Automobile Works Group Corporation, Valeo, Ampere Inc. and Estes Energy Solutions, Inc. each have 4. These figures describe the patent-holder data provided and do not indicate the scope or commercial status of each patent.
Is EV battery thermal management patent activity growing?
No: FACTS reports 133 patents in the defined window and patent growth of -22.7%. This contrasts with publication growth of 25.3% for the last year. The figures indicate different recent directions for patenting and research output; they do not by themselves show whether commercial development or investment is accelerating.
What are the latest developments in EV battery thermal management?
Recent directions include predictive control, hybrid cooling and advanced thermal structures. BYD filed a navigation-informed battery thermal-management patent in June 2026, and MAHLE started series production of battery cooling plates in Spain in July 2026. Recent research also examines phase-change materials, heat-pipe hybrids, machine-learning prediction and TPMS designs.
What are the main approaches in EV battery thermal management and how do they differ?
FACTS identifies liquid cold-plate cooling, air cooling, refrigerant-based cooling, immersion cooling and passive thermal materials. Cold plates and refrigerant systems actively transfer heat; air cooling uses airflow, while immersion puts cells in contact with dielectric coolant. Passive materials buffer or spread heat, but can be limited in sustained heat rejection.
Which countries lead EV battery thermal management?
The United States leads the country figures in FACTS with 4,240 documents, followed by Germany with 2,025 and China with 2,020. Japan has 1,702 and the United Kingdom has 1,405. The figures are document counts, and country totals may overlap rather than representing exclusive shares of activity.
What are the applications of EV battery thermal management?
FACTS lists performance vehicles, fleet and depot charging, commercial vehicles and passenger cars as application areas. Performance vehicles have 1,057 documents, fleet and depot charging 692, commercial vehicles 621 and passenger cars 488. Thermal management supports battery temperature control across these use cases, with demands shaped by vehicle duty cycle and charging conditions.