Industry-First Battery Cooling Technology for EVs Developed by Dana

Dana Holding Corporation has decided to give a serious push forward to the electric vehicles industry and make some money while doing it. So they developed the first cooling system for car batteries for both hybrid and electric vehicles. The technology just debuted on Tesla Motors’ Roadster Sport.

The idea is not that complicated. The lithium-ion battery’s life depends on maintaining optimum operating temperature. Dana's technology cools the Roadster's battery by transferring heat generated within the battery to the vehicle's climate-control system. A temperature sensor mount provides continuous feedback to the climate-control system. This interface helps to maintain the battery's ideal temperature during operation, therefore helping to extend battery life.

"Dana is committed to providing our best-in-class engineering and manufacturing expertise to electric-vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla Motors," Dana President and CEO Jim Sweetnam said. "Our advanced battery technology solutions will help drive our growth in this exciting market segment."

"Advanced manufacturing capabilities such as our unique brazing process, combined with our research commitment to the hybrid and electric segment, position Dana as a valued contributor to hybrid-vehicle battery technology," said Ted Zielinski, director of engineering, Dana Thermal Products Group.

This is not Dana’s first interaction with the auto world, as the corporation supplies axles, driveshafts, and structural, sealing, and thermal-management products, as well as genuine service parts. The company employs approximately 22,500 people in 26 countries and reported 2008 sales of $8.1 billion.