In order to extend electric vehicle battery life, by protecting batteries from extremes of temperatures, Constellium plans to use wax-based PCMs in aluminium body sections (see http://www.autonews.com/article/20170731/OEM10/170739985/ev-bodies-part-of-the-power-source).
The body structure consists of extruded aluminum members that have a hollow cavity, which is filled with a phase change material that acts as a passive cooling system for a battery.
The properties of the phase change material, which can be engineered to the customer’s vehicle specifications, enable the material to hold heat or to “melt” like a wax to carry heat away from the battery. By shielding the battery from temperature extremes, the body structure helps extend the battery’s life.