MOSAIC LIGHTING SYSTEM

The Mosaic Modular Lighting system gives OEMs the freedom and versatility to create impactful, affordable designs by using standard lighting modules. OEM designers can incorporate a wide range of multifunctional DOT and ECE standard LED’s into custom bezels to reduce cost and expedite time-to-market.

converters and traction motors, each with a coolant loop to cool the power electronics, which is then routed through the cooling package to reject the heat to ambient. This circuit keeps the power electronics within the temperature range for the best performance and the lowest risk of damage. In most commercial applications—where unexpected downtime is unacceptable— reliable thermal management of drivetrain electronics protects the asset and the operation it serves.

As a wave of resources flows toward domestic engineering, manufacturing and EV infrastructure, more vehicles will be electrified. While little re-training is required of professional drivers who switch to EVs, a few adjustments to old habits are unavoidable.

A large earth mover or a truck that pulls heavy loads requires a larger battery pack, which means more thermal mass. When heated indoor parking is unavailable, the larger the battery pack is, the longer it takes to reach equilibrium with ambient temperature. This means the battery pack will take longer to reach optimal operating temperature again. Connecting to a charger whenever stationary, especially in the cold, allows a BTMS to protect the battery pack and mitigates the risk of a cold-battery performance reduction of up to 40%.

Also, the battery power draw from cabin heating is responsible for nearly two-thirds of range reduction in cold weather. Drivers who rely more on in-cabin comfort features like heated seats and steering wheels and turning heaters off when not in the vehicle, will get more range between charging sessions.

EV technology is now viable across dozens of vehicle segments. Engineers have made advancements in thermal management that are putting commercial EVs on the path to outperform their ICE predecessors. Backed by the spirit of innovation, rapidly growing demand, incentives and guidelines from governments, and broad support to reduce emissions, the electrification of commercial transportation is already more advanced than most prognosticators thought it would be. 

• “Why the economics of electrification make this decarbonization transition different,” McKinsey.

• “Does Cold Weather Affect Lithium Batteries? The Effects of the Temperature on Battery Performance,” Lithium FAQ. “How Temperature Affects EV Range,” Recurrent.

• “The History of the Electric Car,” Energy.gov.

Gina Bonini is the vice president and general manager of advanced thermal systems for Modine Manufacturing.