AUTONEWS

Electric Shell Triple 10 Challenge concept

Shell has quietly unveiled an electric concept called the Triple 10 Challenge, which it describes as "a groundbreaking vehicle concept designed to inspire a new design philosophy for the next generation of battery electric vehicles".

Designed to be compact and affordable, the car is named after three key goals. These include achieving 10 km/kWh, a lifetime CO2e footprint of 10 tonnes and a charging time of less than 10 minutes.

The car's battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent capacity in 9 minutes and 54 seconds. That's quite fast, and this time is achieved using a relatively common 175 kW DC fast charger.

The concept is also environmentally friendly thanks to its lightweight design, "optimised battery capacity" and the use of recyclable materials. Additionally, the EV is expected to use 100 percent renewable energy for charging, and the combination of these factors could lead to “a 50 percent reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to typical battery electric vehicles in the European market.”

When it comes to efficiency, Shell said the concept is “the first road-ready vehicle to successfully demonstrate the potential of a simplified, single-circuit cooling architecture to effectively manage the thermal load of the entire powertrain, even in the most extreme real-world fast-charging scenario.” This is actually the main point, because Shell has a new fluid it wants to sell.

In this case, it’s Recharge thermal fluid. The company said the dielectric fluid “enables direct immersion cooling of the battery and indirect cooling of drivetrain components, including the motor and electronics.” Shell claims the fluid has enabled it to “unlock the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency, using technologies that already exist and are scalable.”

While specific figures were scarce, it was reported to have "more than a 30 percent improvement in overall energy efficiency compared to many current-generation EVs." Shell also noted that the battery pack cost has been reduced by about 25 percent thanks to an efficient design with fewer modules, a simplified housing architecture, and the company's own fluids.

Shell did not go into specifics, but confirmed that Empel Systems developed the electric motor and drive unit, while RML worked on the battery and integration.

Details are scarce, but the Triple 10 looks like a small five-door hatchback with an upright front end and a large light bar. There are also digital side mirrors, flush-mounted door handles, and wheels with a "fake" aluminum design. There is also a fluid roof and a minimalist interior with what looks like a rotary transmission.

The evolution of electric vehicles has followed a trend of increasing battery capacity to extend driving range. However, this strategy presents challenges, such as increased weight, higher costs, and a larger environmental footprint associated with cell production.

With the Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car, Shell proposes a different approach. Instead of relying on larger batteries, the company aims to demonstrate how advanced thermal management can significantly improve electric vehicle efficiency, enabling better performance with more compact batteries.

Shell’s "Triple 10" challenge...The concept's name is directly linked to three goals set by Shell:

Enabling the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in less than 10 minutes.

Achieving an energy efficiency of 10 kilometers per kWh.

Keeping the vehicle's total carbon footprint below 10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its lifecycle.

To meet these targets, the concept employs a suite of solutions focused on weight reduction and optimizing the battery's thermal performance.

Immersion cooling is the standout technology... One of the most innovative features of the Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car is its immersion cooling system. In this process, the battery cells come into direct contact with a dielectric fluid developed by Shell, which is capable of dissipating heat more efficiently than conventional systems.

By better controlling the battery temperature, the system can support higher charging power and reduce energy losses. According to the company, this solution can help extend cell longevity and improve the vehicle's overall performance.

Furthermore, the concept was designed to be exceptionally lightweight, weighing close to 1,000 kg—significantly less than many compact electric vehicles currently on the market.