Mahle Unveils Owl-Inspired Bionic Fan To Drastically Cut Noise In EVs

Automotive supplier Mahle is set to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) industry with its latest innovation: a bionic high-performance fan designed to significantly reduce noise in electric and fuel cell vehicles.

The new fan, inspired by nature and developed using artificial intelligence (AI), is designed to cut fan noise in trucks by up to 4 dB(A), effectively halving the sound output. Dr. Uli Christian Blessing, Head of Thermal Management Development at Mahle, likens this reduction to “turning off one of the speakers on a stereo system.”

Drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom, particularly the silent flight of owls, Mahle’s engineers used AI to analyze various natural designs before settling on the owl’s wing structure as the primary model.

According to Mahle, the resulting bionic fan blades mimic the noise-reducing properties of owl feathers, addressing a critical challenge in electric mobility: the sometimes disruptive fan noise during full load operation and nighttime charging in residential areas or at service stations.

Beyond noise reduction, the new fan delivers exceptional efficiency gains. It offers 10% better performance and is 10% lighter than conventional designs, further enhancing the overall efficiency of EVs.

Moreover, Mahle’s bionic fan is highly versatile with power options ranging from 300 watts to 35 kW. This scalability allows for applications in various vehicle types, from small electric cars to large, temperature-sensitive fuel cell trucks as several manufacturers are already testing the first prototypes.

Furthermore, the innovation extends beyond the fan blades. Mahle has also applied bionic principles to the fan cover and carrier, resulting in components that are more than 10% lighter while maintaining increased structural integrity. At the IAA Transportation 2024, Mahle will showcase the fan as part of a larger exhibit demonstrating their systemic approach to fuel cell trucks.

With these advancements, Mahle’s presence at the IAA Transportation 2024 underlines its devotion to technological diversity and innovative solutions for the automotive landscape by evolving EV technology. The IAA Transportation 2024 in Hanover, Germany, will occur from September 17 to 22.

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