At SUBCON Thailand 2025, a regional event focused on industrial parts sourcing and business matching, MAHLE will present its recent developments in thermal management and electrification technologies.

From 14th to 17th May 2025, visitors will be able to examine MAHLE's bionic battery cooling plate - intended to improve battery performance and sustainability - and its liquid management modules, designed to increase thermal efficiency for traction drives and e-motors. These products will be on display at the BITEC Exhibition Centre, Hall 104, Booth D52.

"By understanding thermal systems in vehicles as integrated units and developing application-specific concepts, MAHLE offers a differentiated approach," stated Jumana Al-Sibai, Member of the Management Board responsible for the Thermal Management and Fluid Systems Business Unit.

Bionic battery cooling plate: technical overview

Inspired by structural patterns found in nature, MAHLE engineers have developed a bionic design for the cooling channels within the battery cooling plate. This structure results in a 10% increase in cooling capacity, a 20% reduction in pressure loss, and a more uniform temperature distribution across battery cells.

These changes support improved battery operation, faster charging, and increased durability. Consistent temperature control limits the risk of overheating. Material efficiency has also been improved, leading to up to a 15% reduction in materials used and a corresponding 15% reduction in CO₂ emissions.

"Our bionic cooling plate is an example of how natural principles can be applied in technical design," said Jakob Ruemmler, Managing Director of MAHLE Services Thailand. "This product will be introduced to the ASEAN market at SUBCON Thailand 2025."

Liquid management modules: functional integration

MAHLE will also introduce its Liquid Management Modules, developed for transmission and motor cooling in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hybrid vehicles.

These modules incorporate cooling, filtration, and fluid supply functions into one unit. Core components include an electrically driven oil pump, heat exchanger, and filter. Optional elements - such as an integrated oil reservoir, thermostat, de-foaming unit, drying unit, and temperature and pressure sensors - can be added according to customer specifications. Housing materials include plastic, aluminium die-cast, or hybrid configurations, depending on the application.

The integrated design supports oil cooling in compact motor configurations, enabling motors to maintain continuous peak performance levels above 70%, compared to around 50% with standard water jacket cooling. The design also improves thermal management and reduces pressure losses. Additional features include reduced noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), increased flow rates, and lower risk of cavitation and foaming. The compact form allows for up to a 20% reduction in space and weight, which may contribute to packaging efficiency and lower production costs.

Combining multiple thermal management functions into one unit can assist manufacturers in improving system efficiency, reducing the number of components, and modifying overall vehicle design.

Relation to the MAHLE 2030+ strategy

These developments are consistent with MAHLE's 2030+ strategy, which is focused on three areas: electrification, thermal management, and efficient internal combustion engines. The company continues to invest in both electric and traditional powertrain technologies as part of its overall product development strategy.

MAHLE Thailand's participation in SUBCON Thailand 2025

SUBCON Thailand 2025 serves as a venue for companies to display technological developments and engage with regional industry participants. MAHLE Thailand will be located at Hall 104, Booth D52, where its current thermal management and electrification solutions will be available for examination.

"We aim to address the challenges related to electrification, efficiency, and sustainability," said Jakob Ruemmler. "Visitors are invited to review the technologies we will present at SUBCON Thailand 2025."