Shell and FAW TRUCKS have reached a development milestone in battery thermal management technology with the successful testing of a jointly developed immersion-cooled battery pack for commercial vehicles.
Shell, of course, is a global energy and lubricants company with operations in more than 70 countries including the US and Canada. Its global headquarters are in London, England, United Kingdom, and has been involved in the development of advanced mobility, lubrication, and energy technologies for more than a century.
FAW TRUCKS, formally known as FAW Jiefang Group Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Changchun, Jilin, China. A majority-owned subsidiary of CHINA FAW GROUP CO., LTD., the company is one of China's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers and serves markets around the world.
The newly developed battery pack was validated on the Shell Starship 3.0 Hybrid concept truck and is being evaluated for potential future use in FAW TRUCKS hybrid commercial vehicle applications. The project is aimed at improving battery performance and durability while supporting the industry's ongoing shift toward lower-carbon transportation solutions.
According to Shell, the battery pack uses an electrically insulating immersion cooling fluid that surrounds battery cells, providing more effective heat management than conventional battery cooling methods. After completing industry-standard testing, the battery system was integrated into the Starship Hybrid platform for vehicle validation under demanding operating conditions, including sustained high-power charging and discharging.
Cara Tredget, Vice President of Mobility & Lubricants Technology at Shell, said “Innovation is at the heart of how Shell is helping shape the future of mobility. As commercial vehicles continue to evolve, so do the technologies needed to support them. By working closely with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) like FAW TRUCKS, we're developing advanced fluid solutions designed to support evolving vehicle technologies, including electrification powertrains and thermal management systems. The Shell Starship Hybrid vehicle demonstrates what's possible when collaboration and innovation come together."
Initial vehicle validation results identified several potential benefits, including up to a 98 percent increase in maximum gradability, a 0.8 percent improvement in vehicle energy efficiency, and a potential battery life improvement of up to 32 percent.
The battery pack has also undergone independent verification by China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd., with final performance data expected following completion of the validation process.
"Battery thermal management is becoming increasingly important as commercial vehicles demand higher power, greater efficiency and faster charging capabilities," said Wang Jianyu, President of Commercial Vehicle Development Institute of FAW TRUCKS. " By working with Shell, we have combined FAW TRUCKS' expertise in commercial vehicle engineering with Shell's advanced immersion cooling technology to develop a solution for these evolving challenges. Validation on the Starship Hybrid brings us closer to commercial application, with the potential to enhance performance, durability and safety for the next generation of hybrid commercial vehicles."
The latest validation progress and the Starship Hybrid vehicle equipped with the immersion-cooled battery pack was displayed at the FAW TRUCKS booth during IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany, September 15-20, 2026.
For more information, visit www.fawtrucks-global.com.