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Prestone Products Corporation, which has engineered fluid products with advanced corrosion protection for the past century, showcased its thermal management innovations for electrified vehicles – including the debut of three new technologies – at the 2024 Battery Show North America in Detroit last week.
At its booth, the Prestone EV group featured its latest low conductivity, corrosion-protectant thermal management solutions created to meet upcoming industry specifications for electrified vehicle coolants.
"Although sometimes overlooked, thermal management fluid is critical in electrified vehicles to increase driving range and safely maximize battery life by optimizing operating temperature," says Tom Corrigan, director of EV technology for Prestone. "Our new technologies not only deliver on those elements but were also formulated with upcoming specifications in mind."
Prestone's launches at the show include:
- A new silicate organic inhibitor technology EV thermal management fluid that meets strict specifications – including the EV coolant specific GB29743.2 standard – aimed at enhancing safety. Offering low electrical conductivity and robust corrosion protection, it also provides enhanced reserve alkalinity for extended lifetime in electric vehicles.
- A low conductivity phosphate organic acid technology EV thermal management fluid. Also developed to meet the GB29743.2 standard, this new offering is based on technology that provides superior corrosion protection and compatibility with flux-brazed aluminum. The fluid is free of silicate, borate, and amine, making it an excellent candidate for applications with these requirements.
- An ultra-low conductivity fuel cell coolant designed for compatibility with PEM fuel cell stacks. Hydrogen fuel cells have distinct requirements that demand ultra-low electrical conductivity for cooling fluid. This new formulation was developed by Prestone from the ground up using high purity and non-ionic corrosion inhibitors.
- Vehicle OEMs that operate or sell vehicles in China will need to comply with the GB29743.2 standard, which mandates a significant reduction in the electrical conductivity of coolants to enhance battery safety, by mid-2026. It is anticipated that the standard will eventually apply to the global industry.
In addition to staying ahead of global standards and offering solutions for them now, Prestone is committed to helping its customers and vehicle owners alike achieve a more sustainable future.
Thermal management fluids play a vital role in protecting critical components of electrified vehicles such as batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and charging infrastructure, which are often exposed to harsh operating conditions, including temperature extremes, humidity, and chemical contaminants. By circulating thermal management fluid through or around these components, heat can dissipate effectively while simultaneously providing corrosion protection, ensuring optimal performance and reliability throughout the vehicle's lifecycle.
"Corrosion poses a significant threat to the longevity and reliability of automotive components, especially in the highly sensitive, intricate systems found in electrified vehicles," says Matt Kern, senior director of global sales, Prestone. "Prestone's thermal management fluids serve as a potent ally in combating corrosion and forming a protective barrier that shields these systems from the harmful effects of corrosion."
Prestone leverages the unique properties of thermal management fluids to help automakers mitigate the risk of corrosion-induced malfunctions, safeguard critical components, and enhance overall safety and reliability.
"Thanks to the renowned R&D expertise of Prestone, we're able to design and conduct rigorous in-house, proprietary lab and bench tests to prove our technology before a vehicle even exists," says Corrigan. "We follow that by testing our fluids on the road, running millions of real-time electrified vehicle miles under real-life conditions."