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IS THIS THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES? THE NEW BATTERY DEVELOPED BY MOTUL AND GCK

20.12.2022

Electric car technology is evolving quickly – but controlling the temperatures of batteries has been slower to catch up. To address this, Motul and Green Corp Konnection (GCK) have developed a battery that features a new approach to thermal management. Motul and GCK’s solution fully immersed battery uses a newly developed fluid to cool the cells and prevent thermal runaway.

IS THIS THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES? THE NEW BATTERY DEVELOPED BY MOTUL AND GCK

Christophe Lacroix, Motul Chief Information and Sustainability Officer, explains how it works.

He said: “We’ve developed a dielectric fluid that is non sensitive to electric current and can dissipate the heat and isolate the cells of the battery. Along with GCK, we created those fluids in the laboratory based on chemistry and our expertise in identifying and blending formulations.”

He added: “The result is a battery with three clear benefits. First, batteries with this fluid are safer because they are less prone to catch fire. Secondly, as we can control the temperature, we can prolong the lifespan of batteries. And thirdly, because the fluid allows higher charging rates, you can charge batteries faster.”

Christophe Lacroix, Motul Chief Information and Sustainability Officer, explains how it works.

Proving the tech

GCK, which builds the batteries, uses the dielectric fluid in the casing to isolate the cells and control the temperature of the batteries. To demonstrate just how effective this technology is, GCK and Motul are building a laboratory with a bench test where they can safely test and replicate real-life scenarios in a controlled environment.

But both brands will take this a stage further in the next few months with a demonstrator car based on a Lancia Delta Integrale to show the feasibility of the technology and prove our claims.

The Integrale demonstrator, based on a celebrated rally car, will be a laboratory on wheels that will be used to test and learn as well as prove the capability of the technology. It will be ready before the end of the year.

Proving the tech

A partnership built on heritage, passion and evolution

Speaking about the partnership between Motul and GCK, Lacroix, said: “This programme is very important to both Motul and GCK as we leverage our expertise, passion and desire to create pioneering future mobility solutions. We decided to co-innovate and co-build this immersed battery because we couldn’t find what we wanted on the shelf.”

He added: “It’s a major change for Motul. It means having new competencies because managing the thermal management of a battery is very different to cooling a combustion engine. But our solution with GCK builds from our history of innovation and finding new solutions to difficult challenges. We’re looking forward to the evolution of our brand as we welcome the future of mobility.”

A partnership built on heritage, passion and evolution