Shell has unveiled its Triple 10 Challenge concept car, a proof-of-concept vehicle designed to inspire a new design philosophy for next-generation battery electric vehicles (EVs). The compact, mass-market EV demonstrates advanced capabilities by reimagining thermal management, offering an alternative to the industry's reliance on ever-larger batteries.
Triple 10 Goals: Faster Charging, Greater Efficiency, Lower Emissions
The vehicle meets three ambitious goals: charge time under 10 minutes, driving economy of 10 km/kWh, and a lifecycle carbon footprint of 10 tonnes CO2e. It is the first road-worthy vehicle to successfully demonstrate a simplified, single-circuit cooling architecture that manages thermal load across the entire powertrain, even under extreme fast-charging conditions.
Cara Tredget, VP Mobility & Lubricants Technology for Shell, said: “With the Triple 10 Challenge concept car, we have unlocked the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency by using our advanced thermal fluids. Together with our co-engineering partners, we are proud to develop alternative options for sustainable EV development leveraging technologies that are available today and are scalable to support customers into the future.”
Advanced Thermal Fluids Enable Smaller Battery, Faster Charging
The concept car achieves 10 km/kWh with a smaller, more efficient battery system, adding over 30% improvement in overall energy efficiency compared to many current-generation EVs. This is enabled by Shell's advanced thermal fluids that provide optimal thermal management. The vehicle charges from 10% to 80% in 9 minutes 54 seconds without compromising thermal stability or battery lifespan. Unlike some EVs that require ultra-fast chargers exceeding 300 kW to achieve sub-10-minute charging, the Triple 10 Challenge attains this on existing infrastructure using a standard 175 kW charger, adding 24 km of range per minute—almost 90% more range per minute than typical BEVs, which average 13 km/minute on the same charger.
Lifecycle Carbon Footprint Reduced by 50%
The Triple 10 Challenge concept car is estimated to have a lifecycle carbon footprint of approximately 10 tonnes CO2e. Enabled by lightweight design, optimized battery capacity, low-carbon and recyclable materials, and 100% renewable electricity for charging, this represents around a 50% reduction in lifecycle emissions compared to typical battery electric vehicles in the European market.
