In recent years, with the enhancement of consumers' awareness of environmental protection and energy saving, new energy vehicles have gradually become people's first choice for car purchase. The government's strong support for new energy vehicles, including purchase subsidies, exemption from purchase tax, charging pile construction and other measures, has further promoted the market development of new energy vehicles. According to data released by Rho Motion, a market research company, from January to September 2024, the total production and sales of new energy vehicles completed 8.316 million and 8.32 million, respectively, an increase of 31.7% and 32.5%. It is expected that by the end of 2024, the production and sales scale of new energy vehicles in China is expected to reach 12 million, and the overall market penetration rate will exceed 50%. The continuous growth of production and marketing data shows that China has become the backbone of promoting the development of the global new energy automobile industry. Because of this, the application demand for automotive semiconductor coolers for new energy vehicles is also rising. Next, we will focus on the practical application of semiconductor refrigeration technology in the field of new energy vehicles, and jointly look forward to its future development trend.

1. Battery thermal management

As we all know, as one of the important components of new energy vehicles, power batteries have a significant impact on the driving range, vehicle life, safety and other key indicators of new energy vehicles. In order to maintain the stability of battery performance and improve battery life, battery thermal management is particularly important. Therefore, we use semiconductor refrigeration technology with miniaturization, high temperature control accuracy and fast cooling speed for efficient thermal management of automotive batteries. It can achieve accurate temperature control to avoid overheating or undercooling resulting in battery performance degradation or safety hazards. At the same time, it can also improve the reliability and service life of the battery, reduce the maintenance cost of new energy vehicles and the frequency of battery replacement. Finally improve the performance stability of the car and enhance its market competitiveness.

Of course, there are still some limitations in the application of TEC technology in battery thermal management. Due to the large power consumption and energy loss, it may have a negative impact on the driving range of new energy vehicles. In practical applications, we need to optimize the design of the semiconductor refrigeration system according to the actual needs, and strive to play a greater cooling effect under the premise of less energy loss.

Two, cooling system

In addition to battery thermal management, the cooling system of new energy vehicles also needs the assistance of semiconductor refrigeration technology. Since the motor generates a lot of heat during operation, TEC technology is used to cool the motor and improve the efficiency and life of the motor. In addition, the electronic control system in new energy vehicles also has strict requirements for temperature, and semiconductor refrigeration technology can also be used for the cooling of related electronic components to ensure the stable operation of the system.

Third, daily scene application

Semiconductor refrigeration technology not only shows great potential in the battery thermal management and engine cooling system of new energy vehicles, but also provides people with a comfortable and convenient travel experience in daily driving scenarios.

For example, TEC technology is applied to car seats to achieve precise adjustment of cabin temperature, providing a cool and comfortable ride experience. In the hot summer, traditional air conditioning systems can not quickly cool down, and TEC seats can quickly reduce the temperature in a few minutes, making the driver feel cool and comfortable. TEC seats can also provide heating during the cold winter months, ensuring that the seat is warm and increasing the comfort of winter driving. For example, it can be used in the car refrigerator and the car hot and cold cup to enjoy cold/hot drinks and fresh food at any time. Meet people's needs for different drinks and food in different seasons. These diverse applications fully improve the space utilization rate of vehicles, enhance the functionality and comfort of new energy vehicles, and provide people with a rich and intelligent driving experience.

Semiconductor refrigeration technology has penetrated into the automotive field, providing strong support for the safe operation and comfort and convenience of new energy vehicles. In the future, with the continuous expansion of the new energy vehicle market, semiconductor refrigeration technology will play a more significant role in the automotive field. Up to now, FerroTec Pilot thermoelectric has been able to provide professional thermal solutions for applications in the automotive pre-installation market, such as CCS for automotive air-conditioned seats, hot and cold cups for vehicles, in-vehicle refrigerators, and thermal management for automotive batteries. With the qualification system and excellent technical capabilities of the vehicle factory, we are committed to optimizing the performance of the interior components and creating a comfortable and intelligent cabin environment for users. With the growing demand for automotive semiconductors, we will continue to uphold the spirit of technological innovation, keep up with market trends, and continuously strengthen the full deployment of thermal solutions related to the automotive field, making greater contributions to the vigorous development of the new energy vehicle industry.