Newly founded Obrist Technologies can build on more than a decade of engineering expertise in vehicle thermal management and components development for cooling and heating solutions. As a Gold Partner of cars21.com, it is working with US manufacturers of next-generation plug-in hybrids to enhance battery cooling and thermal management.

Obrist Technologies, a subsidiary of Austrian engineering expert Obrist Engineering, was founded in March 2009 in Los Angeles, California, to expand its range of innovative battery cooling, heating and thermal management solutions to the growing market of electric vehicles. Building on more than 15 years of thermal management, refrigeration and heating expertise in automotive and stationary applications, Obrist Technologies is set to become a leading partner for automobile manufacturers investing in next-generation full-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles.

Battery cooling with climate-friendly refrigerants

As the development partner of Californian plug-in hybrid manufacturer Fisker Automotive, Obrist is currently working on state-of-the art cooling solutions for lithium-ion battery packs of about 23 kWh capacity. The company has investigated several cooling concepts, among them air cooling, coolant cooling, and refrigerant cooling systems. Energy-efficient cooling and fan modules (CRFM), efficient cabin heating with a minimum use of additional electrical heaters and/or heat pump technology, and efficient Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) with evaporator temperature control are issues Obrist is approaching in the development process.

“As an independent engineering company, Obrist Technologies works with all mayor Tier 1 suppliers for Thermal Management and integrates their components and modules into the most energy efficient system for each different vehicle application”, says Rainer Schulz, COO Obrist Technologies.

Services Portfolio

For the automotive sector, Obrist Technologies is offering the following services in the field of Vehicle Thermal Management:

• Mobile Air Conditioning: compressor, components & systems development and testing for MAC systems using environmentally-friendly refrigerants
• Battery heating and cooling systems
• Under hood airflow and heat management
• Cabin comfort with automatic climate control
• Heat Pumping Technology for cabin heating
• Vehicle Combustion Engine Periphery
• Variable Valve Timing, Clutch, Exhaust Gas Energy Recovery
• Vehicle Fuel Cell Periphery

About Obrist Technologies & Obrist Engineering

Founded in 1996, Obrist Engineering started with a strong focus on the development of fuel cell technology for vehicles and on compressors using the natural refrigerant CO₂ (R744). The main activities over the last 10 years have been dedicated to the development of not only R744 compressors, but also other components for use in CO₂ MAC systems, commercial and transport refrigeration, as well as heat pumps.

Obrist Technologies was founded in March 2009 to expand the range of engineering services to better support manufacturers of electric and fuel cell vehicles in their quest for highly energy-efficient and sustainable powertrain solutions. It is planning to expand its services in the field of non-automotive and residential HVAC in the near future.

Contact Information

If you would like to contact Obrist Engineering for any enquiries, you may send a request to Rainer Schulz directly.