Vehicle Thermal Management Systems Conference and Exhibition - VTMS17

Summary

VTMS 17: dedicated to discussing the latest international developments in Vehicle Thermal Management Systems.

VTMS17 will continue to discuss and explore the necessity and complexity of battery analysis through differing simulation techniques and offer a system engineering approach to balancing duration, durability, and immersive coolant technologies. Through the presentation of topic areas ranging from off highway and heavy-duty commercial vehicles to motorsport applications.

Open call for presentations: closes 29 May 2026

We would like to invite you to submit a proposal to our open call for presentations.

Abstracts are up to 500 words and are submitted via the Oxford Abstracts portal. You will just need to log in or create a free account. The conference is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and all submissions undergo peer review. You do not have to be an IMECHE member to submit.

Topics include:

• Integrated Vehicle Thermal Systems: cabin comfort, climate control, and airflow management across diverse propulsion types, including xEV, hydrogen, and alternative fuel vehicles
• Critical Component Thermal Management: batteries, including fast charging and immersion cooling, motors, power electronics, and fuel cells
• Advanced Components, Materials and Fluids: innovation in heat exchangers, next-generation and transitional refrigerants, coatings, and advanced manufacturing
• System Efficiency, Decarbonisation and Sustainability: waste heat recovery, decarbonised powertrain thermal strategies, and lifecycle analysis from design to recycling
• Development Methodologies: experimental, simulation, and AI-driven approaches to thermal system design and predictive control
• Emerging and Future Technologies: two-phase and immersion cooling, software-defined thermal management, and novel approaches not yet captured by existing categories

To submit your proposal, please follow these steps:

1. Click the link below to access the portal
2. Create a free account or log in if you have submitted previously
3. Complete the submission form with your details and abstract (up to 500 words)
4. Click submit, and you will receive a confirmation email

Please be advised that acceptance of a submission is conditional upon the presenter paying the applicable discounted delegate fee to attend and present at VTMS.

Who should attend?

All engineers, suppliers, researchers, and academics involved in the development of vehicles and their components will benefit from the discussions and networking, particularly those involved with

• Thermal and cooling systems engineering
• Vehicle design and development
• Vehicle performance optimisation
• Materials selection and development
• Battery development and cooling
• Ride comfort
• Vehicle system and component simulation
• Refridgerant selection and development

How will I benefit?

• Benefit from keynote presentations from OEMs, tier 1 suppliers and experts and more
• Gain a more detailed and thorough representation of current battery thermal management techniques
• Delve further into technologies and applications for off highway
• Gather greater insight into coolants within both the context of a battery pack and a fuel cell
• Find out about the most recent options available for enhanced cooling, more efficient materials
• Gain fresh approaches to common challenges and discuss potential solutions
• Enjoy networking breaks, lunch meetings and drinks receptions in an inspiring venue that showcases the best of British automotive engineering
• Meet with, learn from and make face-to-face contact with members of this specialised international engineering community

Key topics

• xEV cooling system design and optimisation
• Integrated thermal management systems
• Heating, air conditioning, thermal comfort and climate control
• Vehicle air flow optimisation
• Thermal management system life cycle analysis
• New thermal experimental and simulation methodologies

• Battery and energy storage thermal systems
• Ultra-fast charger thermal management
• Fuel cell thermal systems and control
• Traction motor thermal management
• Power electronics thermal management
• Decarbonised IC engine thermal management
• Waste heat recovery systems

• Heat exchanger advanced design, manufacturing and materials
• Advanced active and passive thermal components
• Advanced cooling and refrigerant fluids
• Advanced thermal coatings and surface treatments
• Component advanced manufacturing and recycling/repurposing
• Future requirements on heat exchanger components