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Ford Focus Electric to use liquid thermal management for battery

By Brett Davis |

The Ford Focus Electric is scheduled to be launched next year in the US and 2012 in Europe. The litium-ion battery pack will showcase thermal management technology for the first time which will aid battery longevity, and provide a longer between-charge range.

Lithium-ion batteries heat and cool when varying demands are thrown upon it, just like any other form of energy. The problem with lithium-ion batteries is when they begin to overheat they start to lack in power output and also provide less energy, the same result can occur during extra-cold conditions. Ford has come up with a liquid-cooling and heating design to manage thermal stability for the battery of the upcoming Focus Electric though, which Ford claims will extend the life of the battery as well as maximise the driving range.

Ford Electrification Program and engineering director, Sherif Marakby, explained the system briefly in a recent report,

“All-electric vehicles do not have a conventional engine on-board, so it is critical we maximise the performance of the battery under various operating temperatures. Active liquid systems are more effective than air systems at regulating lithium-ion battery temperature. As a result, the active liquid system on Focus Electric will play a key role in providing our customers with the best performance possible.”

The thermal management system will also help maintain temperature stability when the battery is being charged from a powerpoint, by cooling or warming the pack to prepare it for the ambient conditions.

Ford say the car will use no petrol at all – it will be a full-electric vehicle, not a plug-in hybrid – and, with a fully charged battery, provide around 160km in range between charge ups.


 
  • ABMPSV

    I wonder if we will get it here. We did not get the Focus LPG!!

  • http://fordnewsblog.wordpress.com Benno5693

    Sounds like Ford are at it again! This is the progression we’ve been waiting for with electric cars!!!

  • Andrew M

    And how many KWH’s does it take to charge it.

    No point in telling us it does 160ks to a charge if we dont know how big the battery is.

    Its like listing how many k’s to a tank a petrol car gets without mentioning the tank size.

    I really hope journalists zero right in on this soon, because with so many of these vehicles coming to market, how are we meant to compare it to others let alone the petrol versions we are already driving

  • Andrew M

    Im also kind of surprised noone has done this before.

    Lithium battery powered tools have always had thermal monitors

  • TomJ

    Seems a generation old compared to the Volt.

    • Andrew M

      How so??

  • Mash85

    hes probably refering to the fact this shape focus seems to have been around f-o-r-e-v-e-r and the volt is all new. even the cruze is a much younger car.