Apple electric vehicle patent features CO₂ thermal management system

California-based Apple Inc. has submitted a patent application for a new thermal management system designed for electric vehicles.

The application was published by the US Patent & Trademark Office yesterday and can be found here.

The patent identifies "an increased need for more efficient power management systems, particularly in the area of vehicle thermal management," for battery-powered electric or hybrid vehicles.

The use of R744 as a refrigerant is described within the patent's detailed description.

"Through use of R744 refrigerant," the patent states, "the system can operate as a heat generator in temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius. In this manner, the refrigerant loop operates as a heat pump to generate heat from a refrigerant cycle."

According to the website Patently Apple, the patent application is related to 'Project Titan' — the code name for Apple's long-rumored electric vehicle project.