Skip to content
ADVERTISEMENT
News

Shell unveils Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car 

This EV is designed to demonstrate electric vehicle capability and aims to offer the industry an alternative to the current reliance on ever-larger batteries.

4 min read
Share
Shell unveils Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car 
ADVERTISEMENT

Shell has unveiled its Triple 10 Challenge concept car, a proof-of-concept vehicle designed to inspire a new design philosophy for the next generation of battery electric vehicles (EVs).

The compact EV was designed to demonstrate electric vehicle capability, and to offer the industry an alternative to the current reliance on ever-larger batteries by re-imagining the fundamentals of thermal management.

The vehicle is designed to ‘Charge Faster’ in under 10 minutes, ‘Go Further’ with 10-km/kWh economy, and ‘Drive Cleaner’ with a life cycle 10-tonne CO2e footprint.

The Triple 10 Challenge was built to demonstrate the potential of a simplified, single-circuit cooling architecture to efficiently manage the thermal load of the car’s entire powertrain, even under the most extreme fast-charging scenario in real-world conditions.

Cara Tredget, VP of mobility and lubricants technology for Shell, said: “With the Triple 10 Challenge concept car, we have unlocked the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency by using our advanced thermal fluids.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Together with our co-engineering partners, we are proud to develop alternative options for sustainable EV development leveraging technologies that are available today and are scalable to support customers into the future.”

The Shell Triple 10 Challenge Concept car was designed to achieve 10 km/kWh in driving economy with a smaller, more efficient battery system, to add over 30% improvement in overall energy efficiency compared to many current-generation EVs, enabled by Shell’s advanced thermal fluids.

The Triple 10 Challenge vehicle is able to charge the battery from 10% to 80% charge in nine minutes 54 seconds, without compromise to thermal stability or lifespan, according to Shell.

ADVERTISEMENT

While some EVs in market today can charge in under 10 minutes, this requires using an ultra-fast charger in excess of 300kW, which is uncommon on the public charging network.

However, the Triple 10 Challenge vehicle can attain this on the existing charging network infrastructure using a standard 175kW charger, adding 24km/minute range, compared to typical BEVs at an average 13km/minute range on the same charger – equivalent to almost 90% more range added per minute of charge.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Triple 10 Challenge concept car is estimated to have a lifecycle carbon footprint of approximately 10 tonnes CO2e.

ADVERTISEMENT

Enabled by its lightweight design, optimised battery capacity, low-carbon and recyclable materials, together with 100% renewable electricity for vehicle charging, this is estimated to represent around a 50% reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to typical battery electric vehicles in the European market.

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather, said: “With over 2 million EVs in the UK, the electric revolution is here and innovations like this could offer even faster and more convenient charging for drivers.

“We’re backing the transition to electric by investing £7.5 billion – including saving over 120,000 drivers up to £3,750 off the cost of a new EV and speeding up the roll out of EV chargers across the country.”

The key to the Triple 10 Challenge car’s performance is Shell Recharge thermal fluid.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unlike traditional cooling systems that use water-glycol, Shell’s dielectric fluid allows for direct immersion cooling of the battery and indirect cooling of the powertrain components, including the motor and power electronics.

The car was unveiled at HORIBA MIRA’s proving ground.

By incorporating a more compact and efficient battery pack design with fewer modules and using Shell’s advanced thermal fluid, enabling a simplified housing architecture, Shell said these improvements contribute to about a 25% reduction in overall battery pack cost compared to a conventional EV.

Furthermore, Shell has integrated its full EV capabilities together under Shell Recharge, to create a stronger, single end-to-end offer for both B2B and B2C EV customers.

As part of this, the Shell EV-Plus brand will be retired.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related