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Shell and FAW TRUCKS advance Immersion Cooling Battery Technology for Commercial Vehicles

Changchun, China – Shell Lubricants (‘Shell’) and FAW TRUCKS have reached an important milestone in the development of battery thermal management technology for commercial vehicles.

A jointly developed battery pack featuring Shell's immersion cooling fluid technology has been successfully tested on the Shell Starship 3.0 Hybrid concept truck, ready for future use in FAW TRUCKS’s hybrid commercial vehicles. This milestone reflects Shell's continued investment in technologies that help improve commercial vehicle efficiency and support the industry's transition toward lower-carbon mobility.

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."

The new battery pack uses Shell's electrically insulating immersion cooling fluid to surround battery cells, enabling more effective heat management than conventional battery cooling approaches. Having successfully completed industry-standard testing, the battery pack was integrated into the Shell Starship Hybrid for vehicle validation under demanding commercial vehicle operating conditions, including sustained high-power charging and discharging.

Initial vehicle validation indicates potential improvements including 1:

  • Up to 98% increase in maximum gradability
  • 0.8% improvement in energy efficiency*
  • Potential battery life improvement of up to 32%

The battery pack has also undergone industry-standard testing and Starship vehicle evaluations, with independent verification by China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC). Final performance data will be released 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 battery pack is being evaluated for potential use in future FAW TRUCKS hybrid commercial vehicles. Shell will continue to develop immersion cooling fluids for broader commercial vehicle applications while leveraging experience gained through the Starship program.

The latest validation progress, along with the Shell Starship Hybrid vehicle equipped with the immersion cooling battery pack, will be showcased at the FAW TRUCKS booth during IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany from 14 September 2026.

*A 0.8% vehicle-level energy efficiency improvement is considered significant in the commercial vehicle industry, particularly as it was achieved through optimization of a single hybrid battery system rather than changes to the core powertrain.

Notes to editors

About Shell Starship 3.0 Hybrid

  • Shell Starship 3.0 Hybrid is a collaborative technology demonstration platform (concept vehicle) developed by Shell and FAW TRUCKS to showcase innovations that improve the efficiency of commercial vehicles and reduce carbon emissions. Building on the original Shell Starship program, the project serves as a platform for evaluating advanced lubrication, hybrid powertrain and battery thermal management technologies under real-world operating conditions.

About the battery pack & technology

  • First introduced in 2025 among China's first immersion cooling solutions for commercial vehicle batteries, the jointly developed battery pack represents the next evolution of the Shell Starship program. Created to demonstrate technologies that improve freight efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, the platform has expanded to include innovations that support hybrid and electrified commercial vehicles.
  • China was selected for the latest evolution of the Starship platform because of its leadership in commercial vehicle manufacturing and transportation innovation. Through its collaboration with FAW TRUCKS, Shell has gained valuable application insights while developing technologies with potential relevance beyond China.
  • At the heart of the jointly developed battery pack is Shell's immersion cooling technology. Unlike conventional systems that primarily cool from the bottom, Shell's immersion cooling fluid enables direct contact with battery cells across a much larger surface area. This approach helps improve heat transfer, maintain more consistent cell temperatures and support battery performance under demanding operating conditions.

About FAW TRUCKS

Media Enquiries

Shell China Corporate Communications: SCHINA-Spokesperson@shell.com

UK / International Media Relations: +44 20 7934 5550

Shell Starship  Hybrid KV

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[1} All data is based on joint testing conducted by FAW Trucks and Shell under specific test conditions.