The radiator of a traditional fuel vehicle mainly cools the engine, while the radiator of an electric vehicle has to undertake a more complex task. This article will introduce in detail: the differences between the radiator of electric vehicles and the radiator of traditional fuel vehicles.

The simple principle of traditional oil radiator

The radiator is a mature component in a fuel truck. How it works is simple:

• The engine will produce high temperature when operating

• Coolant circulates between engine and radiator

• The radiator cools the coolant by means of a fan and impact wind effect

This design has been used for more than a hundred years, mainly for the engine service. But electric cars have completely changed the landscape.

Three special tasks of electric vehicle radiator

The cooling system of an electric vehicle not only has to cool the motor, but also manages the battery and electronic control system, which brings new challenges:

1. Temperature management of the battery pack

• Lithium batteries are most afraid of overheating or freezing

• The optimum operating temperature is between 20-40℃

• Poor heat dissipation will lead to reduced battery life and slow charging

2. Cooling of motor and electronic control system

• The motor generates a lot of heat when running at high speed

• The electronic control system also needs to be stabilized at the right temperature

3. Emergency heat dissipation during fast charging

• The battery temperature will rise rapidly during fast charging

• More heat dissipation is needed to maintain charging speed

The three major changes of electric vehicle radiator

In order to adapt to these new needs, the radiator of electric vehicles has changed a lot:

1. From single heat dissipation to integrated thermal management

The traditional radiator is only for the engine, and now it is necessary to tube the three major systems of battery, motor and electronic control, and some high-end models also integrate the air conditioning system.

2. Upgrade the heat dissipation mode

Air cooling: Simple and cheap, but the effect is limited

Liquid cooling: mainstream choice, high heat dissipation efficiency

Heat pump: It can cool and heat, and it can keep the battery temperature in winter

3. Intelligent control

Modern electric vehicles use multiple temperature sensors to adjust cooling strategies in real time. For example:

• Automatic enhanced cooling during fast charging

• Warm up the batteries in winter

• Adjust heat dissipation intensity according to driving style

Summary

From cooling the engine to managing the vehicle's temperature system, car radiators play a more critical role in the era of electric vehicles. With the advancement of technology, the future cooling system will become more and more intelligent, so that electric vehicles can maintain the best condition in a variety of environments. As consumers, understanding these changes can help us make more informed car buying choices.