Thermal Management of Traction Motors in Electrified Vehicles: A Critical Review on Cooling Technologies and Future Directions

Abstract

As sustainable transportation solutions, New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) have gained global prominence amidst escalating energy crises and environmental challenges. The operational stability and energy efficiency of traction motors—critical to NEV powertrain performance—are fundamentally dependent on advanced thermal management systems. This paper systematically reviews motor cooling technologies, including air cooling, liquid cooling, and evaporative cooling. Through patent analyses and case studies such as the Audi e-tron GT’s dual-loop liquid cooling system, the study identifies emerging trends in hybrid cooling integration and intelligent thermal regulation. The review concludes that next-generation cooling systems must balance efficiency, reliability, and lightweight design to enhance motor longevity and reduce energy consumption while addressing evolving performance demands in NEV applications [4].