Hyundai Wia explores thermal management solutions

[Courtesy of Hyundai Wia Corp.]

South Korean automotive parts manufacturer Hyundai Wia Corp is shifting its focus away from internal combustion engine parts to air conditioning systems for electric vehicles (EVs) in response to rapid vehicle electrification worldwide.

The company began mass-producing thermal management parts for EVs in 2023 and will cater to cabin thermal needs for battery-powered vehicles from 2025 onwards.

As part of its efforts, Hyundai Wia said the company would supply an integrated thermal management system (ITMS) for a purpose-built vehicle (PBV) by Kia Corp. The mid-sized PBV model, PV5, is slated for release in July 2025.

Kia Corp’s PV5

PBVs normally see lower sales volumes compared to passenger cars and are often driven under harsh conditions as they are manufactured for specific usages such as delivery vehicles and taxis. The ITMS concept focuses not only on the thermal management of critical components such as batteries and motors but an efficient flow of heat in the cabin as well.

ITMS may be a thermal management system similar to Tesla‘s Octovalve, a rotary valve with eight ports that allows coolant to flow in five loops. The former, however, is a more advanced system compared with the latter in terms of performance and efficiency, according to Hyundai Wia officials.

“As the need for internal combustion engine vehicles diminishes and electric vehicles gain traction, the shift toward thermal management systems for battery cars is the key to our survival,” Hyundai Wia senior managing director Kim Nam-young said.