ITB’s Blog

Battery packs are changing to reduce complexity, cost, mass, and vehicle height while improving safety and facilitating rapid charging and driving range. The battery pack is secondary to cell improvements, but as battery cells become more mature pack design becomes more important. It is not efficient to put battery cells [...]

ITB projects high growth for global automotive natural refrigerant thermal systems from 2026 to 2034. ITB estimates the CAGR (Cumulative Annual Growth Rate) of light-duty vehicle thermal systems using R744 (CO₂) refrigerant will be nearly 50%, and over 100% CAGR for R290 (Propane). This does not mean fluorinated refrigerants go away, the share of light vehicles using [...]

Refrigerant regulations are becoming tighter in Europe, China, and possibly the USA. In parallel, the EV market is becoming highly competitive leading companies to develop new solutions for reduced cost. Natural refrigerants are expected to replace fluorinated refrigerants for automotive and non-automotive applications over the next 10-15 years. For some EVs, natural refrigerant system designs […]

China’s electric vehicle market is pushing the boundaries of thermal and battery system integration. In parallel, Chinese companies are leading development of new solutions such as natural refrigerant thermal systems. This progress isn't just about innovation - it’s about strategic simplification and […]

Battery pack design (outside the cells) will increasingly contribute to improving vehicle cost and performance. Battery pack systems may be complex but can and will be simplified over the next decade. Rather than emphasizing improved individual components, battery architecture changes will be a priority. A key to improving battery pack systems is working […]

In the dynamic landscape of the automotive industry, we delve into pivotal trends and transformative advancements. Today, our focus centers on a concise analysis of automotive interior developments in 2023, spanning sustainability, the evolution of displays and infotainment systems, and groundbreaking elements such as […]

Picture Source: Manufacturers and The ITB Group, Ltd.

Thermal management is an important factor influencing electric vehicle battery charge rates and cost. The latest BEV battery packs from Tesla, BYD, and Geely are simpler and scalable with lower cost and mass through cell-to-pack (CTP) and cell-to-chassis architectures. In parallel, thermal systems are evolving toward greater battery pack integration. A recent CATL CTP battery pack, with integrated thermal design, reduces complexity by  […]

Picture Source: The ITB Group, Ltd.

Electrification offers significant life-cycle benefits for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Transitioning to alternative fuel systems such as e-fuels and hydrogen can accelerate this reduction. Appropriately developed e-fuels can reduce emissions from the current parc and not only rely on a transition to a vehicle technology that relies solely on […]

Picture Source: Volkswagen

Volkswagen is developing a new in-house designed R744 heat pump refrigerant and coolant thermal module. This new optional heat pump module shows that VW is making major value improvement through cost reduction.  […]

Hydrogen systems for transport have the potential to revolutionize the way we power vehicles, offering a clean, efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Advanced onboard hydrogen storage systems can offer acceptable vehicle ranges while refueling times are  […]