This scalable fluid control technology, which can be used across various powertrains, is particularly effective for managing the intricate glycol thermal needs of fully electric or hybrid vehicles by enabling the switching, splitting, and regulating of fluid flow.
As the automotive industry evolves toward an electrified future, component manufacturers are innovating to assist automakers in streamlining thermal management systems to boost vehicle efficiency and range. Cooper Standard has recently launched the inaugural product of its new eCoFlow line.
The eCoFlow Switch Pump, developed in collaboration with Italy’s Saleri Group, combines the functionalities of an electric water pump and an electrically driven valve into one cohesive coolant control module. This scalable fluid control technology, suitable for all types of powertrains, particularly excels in the complex glycol thermal management required by fully electric or hybrid vehicles. It facilitates fluid flow switching, splitting, and regulating, merging the roles of water pumps and valves into a singular unit that significantly enhances automaker efficiency through parts consolidation, reduced electrical wiring, and minimized packaging space.
Chris Couch, President of Fluid Handling Systems and Chief Technology Officer at Cooper Standard, characterizes the eCoFlow Switch Pump as a pioneering solution that streamlines the vehicle’s thermal management system and boosts its overall efficiency. Couch explains that this innovative system not only results in significant savings but also offers alternatives that may decrease the number of battery cells required for achieving the desired vehicle range, thus enhancing the vehicle’s carbon footprint.
Cooper Standard reports that the eCoFlow system boosts thermal management efficiency by eliminating the pressure drops and waste typically seen with conventional pumps and valves.
The eCoFlow system’s design improvements ensure smoother flow transitions, helping to mitigate pressure pulsations and spikes that might otherwise cause system noise. A single electrical connection handles both the pumping and advanced fluid control functionalities, eliminating the need for extra connectors, wire harnesses, and vehicle input/output channels. This integrated approach allows the system to occupy roughly half the space compared to the traditional components it replaces.
