Energy and Thermal Management Strategies in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVS/EVs) require efficient thermal management systems (TMS) to ensure safety, performance, and durability. Improper temperature regulation reduces component lifetime and increases energy consumption. This review summarizes recent developments in battery thermal management systems (BTMS), motor and power electronics cooling, cabin HVAC integration, hybrid active-passive solutions, and modeling/control strategies. Conventional air and liquid cooling methods are simple and cost-effective but often fail to maintain uniform temperature. Advanced concepts such as phase change materials (PCM), heat pipes, and nanofluids provide improved temperature distribution but face challenges in thermal conductivity, leakage, and weight. For motors and inverters, model predictive control (MPC) and thermal-derating strategies enhance safety while maintaining efficiency. Predictive BTMS approaches in mild hybrids have demonstrated fuel economy benefits, while integrated cabin-powertrain management systems reduced energy use by ۱۰-۲۶% under real-world driving. Hybrid TMS combining active and passive techniques offer improved efficiency but remain limited by packaging and cost. Future research directions include lightweight PCM composites, compact hybrid BTMS, and artificial intelligence-based predictive control. Overall, integrated TMS solutions are essential for the next generation of sustainable HEVS/EVs.

Keywords:

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) , Thermal Management System (TMS) , Battery Thermal Management (BTMS) , Phase Change Material (PCM) , Heat Pipes , Energy Management Strategy (EMS)