Shell unveils ‘Triple 10 Challenge’ concept

MANILA: Shell has unveiled its latest proof-of-concept vehicle, designed to inspire a new design philosophy for the next generation of battery electric vehicles (EV).

In a statement, the company said the compact, mass-market EV—called the Triple 10 Challenge concept car—offers the industry an alternative to the current reliance on ever-larger batteries by reimagining the fundamentals of thermal management.

According to Shell, the vehicle addresses three key concerns surrounding EV adoption: charging speed, driving range, and carbon footprint.

The company claims the Triple 10 Challenge is the first roadworthy vehicle to successfully demonstrate the potential of a simplified, single-circuit cooling architecture that efficiently manages the thermal load of the entire powertrain, even under extreme fast-charging conditions in real-world scenarios.

“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,” Shell Vice President for Mobility and Lubricants Technology Cara Tredget said.

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Vehicle capabilities

Thanks to its smaller yet more efficient battery, the Shell Triple 10 Challenge concept car can travel up to 10 kilometers per kilowatt-hour, reflecting a 30-percent improvement in overall energy efficiency compared with many EVs currently on the market. This was achieved through the use of Shell Recharge advanced thermal fluids, which provide optimal thermal management.

The model can also be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in less than 10 minutes—nine minutes and 54 seconds, to be exact—without compromising thermal stability or battery lifespan. Shell explained that while some EVs can already achieve sub-10-minute charging, they typically require ultra-fast chargers exceeding 300 kilowatts (kW), which remain uncommon on public charging networks.

In contrast, the Triple 10 Challenge concept car achieves this using a standard 175-kW charger, adding 24 kilometers of driving range per minute of charging. This compares with the average 13 kilometers per minute delivered by typical battery EVs using the same charger, or nearly 90 percent more range added per minute.

The Shell Triple 10 Challenge concept car is also estimated to have a lifecycle carbon footprint of approximately 10 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Enabled by its lightweight design, optimized battery capacity, low-carbon and recyclable materials, and the use of 100-percent renewable electricity for charging, the vehicle is estimated to reduce lifecycle emissions by around 50 percent compared with typical battery EVs in the European market.

Shell Recharge's role in the Triple 10 Challenge's performance

The key to the Triple 10 Challenge concept car's performance is Shell Recharge thermal fluid.

Unlike traditional water-glycol cooling systems, Shell's dielectric fluid enables direct immersion cooling of the battery and powertrain components, including the motor and power electronics.

“By redefining heat management across the battery and powertrain, the team has unlocked the potential for faster charging, lighter systems and improved lifecycle efficiency – using technologies that exist and can scale today, as we look to leading in this space in our business tomorrow,” Shell said.

Unveiled at HORIBA MIRA's proving ground, the concept car is the culmination of Shell's Triple 10 Challenge. According to the company, combining a compact, efficient battery pack with fewer modules and Shell's advanced thermal fluid reduces overall battery pack costs by 25 percent compared with a conventional EV.

Shell also announced that it is consolidating its EV offerings under the Shell Recharge brand, bringing together charging, thermal fluids, and battery solutions into a single end-to-end offering for both B2B and B2C customers. As part of this move, the Shell EV-Plus brand will be retired.

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