Renowned Experts Gather to Chart the Future Path of New Energy Vehicle Thermal Management

Longquan News Network (Reporters: Jiang Jiali, Wu Biwang, Wang Yacheng) From August 2nd to 3rd, the 2025 Expanded Council Meeting of the Automotive Thermal Systems Branch of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), together with the exchange activity on provincial key laboratory for new energy vehicle thermal management and cutting-edge technologies, and the investment promotion and recommendation activity for the thermal management industry, was held in our city. Wang Guofeng, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Longquan, attended and delivered a speech. Niu Hongwei, Chairman of the Thermal Management Branch of CAAM, Xue Qingfeng, Secretary-General, and other guests also participated.

Experts from the Automotive Thermal Systems Branch of CAAM and the field of new energy vehicle thermal management, as well as representatives of relevant parts enterprises and universities, gathered together to conduct in-depth exchanges on topics such as cutting-edge innovation in thermal management technology, in-depth integration of industry, academia and research, and expansion of international cooperation, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the industry.

Where there are automobiles, there are products made in Longquan. As the largest block-shaped industrial cluster in the field of automotive thermal management in China, our city has gathered more than 200 related enterprises, with the total industrial output value exceeding 10 billion yuan, and has become the fastest-growing, largest-scale and most potential characteristic pillar industry in the region.

The successful establishment of the "Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Vehicle Thermal Management" in June this year marks a new stage in Longquan's industrial upgrading. In his speech, Chairman Niu Hongwei pointed out: "Longquan's automotive thermal management industry is accelerating into a new track by riding the wave of new energy, and building the 'Longquan Model' for leapfrog and high-quality development of a small mountain city with a mighty momentum."

During the Keynote Speech Session, Li Ming, Vice Dean of the College of Automotive Engineering at Jilin University, Dr. Wang Dandong from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Associate Professor Yin Xiang from Xi'an Jiao Tong University shared cutting-edge technologies around Research on New Theories and Methods of Thermal Fluid Science for Low-Carbon and Environmentally Friendly Working Fluids, Research on Intelligent Design and High-Efficiency Integration Technology of Core Components, and Research on Intelligent Control and Performance Evaluation Technology of Management Systems respectively, providing thoughts and directions for the development of automotive thermal management.

Li Ming pointed out that Longquan's automotive thermal management industry should rely on the provincial key laboratory to gather talents, strengthen R&D to solve common technical problems, and give play to the role of academic exchanges and standard formulation. He suggested deepening cooperation with universities, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and other parties. Yin Xiang believed that Longquan has a solid industrial foundation and obvious cluster advantages, and should focus on the fields of environmentally friendly refrigerant components, integrated modules and battery cold plates to enhance global competitiveness. Wang Dandong suggested that enterprises set up R&D centers in first-tier cities and overseas, get close to talents and markets, and promote industrial upgrading by integrating resources through "going global".

The practical paths for industry-academia-research integration became the focus of the discussion. Yao Yi, Chief Engineer of Huayu SDAC, proposed a three-fold positioning for the laboratory: to serve as a "connector" linking basic university research with industrial needs, a "decoder" transforming experimental data and process parameters, and a "lookout tower" foreseeing industry technological trends. Chen Wei, Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Chaoli, emphasized the need to take the laboratory as a hub to integrate resources and promote China's thermal management technology to lead the world. Regarding technology transformation and globalization, Gao Qiang, Vice Dean of SANHUA Holding Group, shared the three-step strategy of "sales first, manufacturing follow-up, and R&D globalization", having established R&D centers in Germany, the United States, Mexico and other countries. Wang Zhigang, Chairman of SDAC (China), detailed Hisense's experience of "technology incubating industry", and proposed breaking through industrialization bottlenecks through special teams, equity incentives, pilot test platforms and external evaluation systems.

Key consensus was reached at the meeting: the laboratory should focus on tackling the R&D of core technology applications such as modular products, electric compressors and electronic expansion valves, strengthen international technological exchanges, clarify differentiated positioning, and truly become an engine for industrial upgrading. Secretary-General Xue Qingfeng specially emphasized: "The core mission of the laboratory is to serve enterprises, especially to root in Longquan and local enterprises in Zhejiang." He suggested expanding the radiation scope by improving technical service capabilities and obtaining certification qualifications, and accelerating the commercialization and implementation of technological achievements.

During the meeting, local enterprises in Longquan displayed their latest thermal management components and products. Participants also conducted on-site inspections of the Science and Technology Innovation Base in Southwest Zhejiang and the Automotive Air Conditioning Industry Innovation Service Complex, and held in-depth docking with local entrepreneurs. This industry event gathering government, industry, academia and research sectors not only mapped out a blueprint for building a technological highland for Longquan's thermal management industry, but also provided the "Longquan Plan" for the high-quality development of China's automotive thermal management industry through the collision of cutting-edge ideas and exploration of pragmatic cooperation.