Shell Lubricants has announced a breakthrough in electric vehicle (EV) charging technology with the development of its new EV-Plus Thermal Fluid. The advanced immersion cooling fluid, created using Shell’s proprietary Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) technology, has been shown to significantly reduce charging times while maintaining battery safety, stability, and lifespan.

In partnership with UK-based RML Group, Shell demonstrated the fluid in a 34 kWh battery pack capable of charging from 10% to 80% in less than 10 minutes. By reducing thermal stress, the fluid allows batteries to accept much higher charging currents. When paired with lightweight, aerodynamic vehicle design, this could enable range gains of up to 24 km per minute of charging—five times the rate of many current EVs.

Unlike conventional air or liquid cooling systems, Shell’s immersion-cooled approach fills all spaces within the battery pack, ensuring direct contact with each cell. This improves heat transfer, controls temperature variation, and provides an additional safeguard against thermal runaway.

“This innovation shows how we can combine safety with faster charging and greater efficiency—critical for making EVs more practical and appealing,” said Jason Wong, Global EVP of Shell Lubricants. “It is also an example of how we are leveraging decades of experience in specialty fluids and cooling technologies to accelerate the energy transition.”

The new technology will be featured at The Battery Show North America in Detroit this October.

For more information, visit www.shell.com/ev-pluslus.