3 min read
In a significant development for electric vehicles (EVs), UK-based startup DectraValve has revealed a novel multi-zone battery-cooling system designed to boost charging speeds, extend driving range and improve battery safety.
Hydrohertz’s Dectravalve is a multi-zone valve system that redefines thermal flow control across complex systems, from EVs and data centres to agriculture and aviation. The new solution divides a battery pack into multiple cooling zones, each monitored and regulated independently. By doing so, the system keeps temperature more uniform across the pack, preventing hotspots and enhancing the rate at which charging current can be safely delivered.
According to the company, this advanced thermal management reduces internal battery temperatures during high-power charging, thereby enabling faster charge cycles without degrading the battery as quickly.
Why There’s A Need for Better EV Batteries
One of the major bottlenecks in ultra-fast EV charging is heat build-up. High charging currents generate significant temperatures inside battery cells, which can reduce lifespan or trigger safety safeguards. By actively managing heat across multiple zones, DectraValve’s tech seeks to mitigate those issues.
Moreover, faster charging not only improves convenience for users but also enhances the viability of EVs for longer trips and commercial applications. Reducing the “charging downtime” can significantly improve the user experience and help accelerate EV adoption.
Timing & Market Implications
DectraValve is targeting deployment in vehicle platforms within the next few years, with commercial integration expected by perhaps 2026. The startup is positioning its technology as a key enabler for the next generation of EVs that aim to charge in minutes rather than tens of minutes.
Given the competitive landscape, this cooling innovation places DectraValve alongside other efforts by fluid-management companies and battery makers seeking to break past current limitations. For example, a recent independent system by Purdue University researchers demonstrated liquid-to-vapor cooling inside charging cables to achieve very high currents.
Challenges & Considerations
While promising, the system faces engineering, cost and integration hurdles. Automakers will need to modify battery-pack designs to accommodate the multi-zone architecture, which may impact packaging, weight and thermal insulation.
There’s also the question of durability: advanced cooling systems add complexity, and long-term reliability under real-world charging cycles remains to be proven.
Finally, infrastructure must support higher current or higher voltage charging to fully realize the benefits of such cooling systems. Without corresponding upgrades to charging stations, improved thermal management alone may not deliver the full speed gains.
As EV makers push toward 800 V systems, 350 kW+ chargers and sub-10-minute charges, thermal-management innovations like DectraValve’s are becoming increasingly vital. If successfully adopted at scale, they could not only reduce “range anxiety” but also open new use-cases for EVs (fleet operations, fast-turnaround rentals, etc.).
