MAHLE Showcases Advanced Thermal Management Systems for Battery, Electric, Hybrid, Diesel and Hydrogen Rail Applications at InnoTrans 2026

MAHLE Showcases Advanced Thermal Management Systems for Battery, Electric, Hybrid, Diesel and Hydrogen Rail Applications at InnoTrans 2026

(IN BRIEF) MAHLE will present thermal management technologies for diesel, battery, hybrid, electric and hydrogen rail vehicles at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, with a particular focus on a battery thermal management system for locomotives and an integrated cooling solution for electric multiple units. The locomotive BTMS is designed to provide precise temperature control for high-performance batteries, supporting power output, safety and longer battery service life even under demanding operating conditions. MAHLE’s combined EMU cooling system integrates thermal management for several vehicle systems, including traction motors and transformers, into a compact unit designed to reduce weight while improving efficiency and reliability. The company will also display fin/tube coolers and customized cooling plates for applications such as traction converters and battery systems. Christian Kuechlin, Vice President MAHLE Industrial and Special Solutions, said the company is supporting rail customers throughout the vehicle lifecycle as requirements for efficiency, range and reliability increase. MAHLE operates rail cooling manufacturing facilities on three continents and is expanding rail as a strategic growth area outside its traditional automotive business.

(PRESS RELEASE) STUTTGART, 10-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — MAHLE will present a broad portfolio of thermal management technologies for rail transport at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, demonstrating cooling solutions designed for diesel, battery-electric, hybrid, fully electric and hydrogen-powered rail vehicles.

The company’s exhibit will focus on a battery thermal management system (BTMS) for locomotives and a compact combined cooling system for electric multiple units (EMUs), alongside fin/tube coolers and customized cooling plates for demanding rail applications.

MAHLE said the technologies are designed to improve efficiency, reliability, performance and service life across modern rail propulsion and electrical systems. The company positions itself as a global systems supplier for complex traction cooling solutions for high-speed trains and as the European market leader in this field.

Battery thermal management system supports locomotive performance and safety

A central feature of MAHLE’s InnoTrans presentation will be its battery thermal management system for locomotives.

The system is designed to maintain high-performance batteries within their optimal operating temperature range, even under demanding environmental and operational conditions.

Precise thermal control is particularly important for battery-powered rail vehicles because temperature can directly affect available power, battery ageing, operational reliability and safety.

By maintaining stable battery temperatures throughout operation, MAHLE said the BTMS can help maximise battery performance while supporting a longer service life.

Combined cooling system integrates multiple EMU thermal functions

MAHLE will also demonstrate a compact combined cooling system developed for electric multiple units.

Rather than relying on separate cooling systems for individual components, the solution combines thermal management requirements for several vehicle systems within a single integrated unit.

These include components such as traction motors and transformers, both of which require reliable temperature management during operation.

MAHLE said the system’s combination of high energy efficiency, reduced weight and high reliability can contribute to lower operating costs and more sustainable rail operations.

Thermal management supports multiple rail propulsion technologies

The company is positioning its rail portfolio to support the industry’s increasingly diverse range of propulsion systems.

Rail manufacturers and operators are adopting combinations of conventional diesel, battery-electric, hybrid, overhead electric and hydrogen technologies depending on infrastructure, route conditions and operating requirements.

MAHLE said this transition is creating increasing demand for efficient and adaptable thermal management systems capable of supporting different propulsion architectures.

Christian Kuechlin, Vice President MAHLE Industrial and Special Solutions, said the transformation of rail transport is creating new requirements around efficiency, range and reliability.

He said MAHLE aims to support manufacturers and operators throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle, from development to maintenance, modernisation and servicing of existing fleets.

Fin/tube coolers and cooling plates target high-performance applications

Alongside its principal rail cooling systems, MAHLE will display fin/tube coolers and customized cooling plates designed for high-performance applications.

These technologies can be used to manage heat generated by systems including traction converters, which play a central role in controlling power within electric drive systems, as well as battery systems in electric rail vehicles.

Such components can generate significant thermal loads during operation, making dependable heat removal important for system efficiency, performance and durability.

MAHLE said reliable temperature regulation is therefore a critical factor in ensuring both the safety and service life of these systems.

Cooling technology increasingly important in electrified rail systems

As rail vehicles incorporate larger batteries, increasingly powerful electric drives and more complex power electronics, thermal management is becoming a more important element of vehicle design.

Components such as traction motors, converters, transformers and energy storage systems must operate within defined temperature limits across varying weather, route and load conditions.

MAHLE’s approach is to develop integrated thermal systems that reduce installation complexity while supporting efficient operation across the entire vehicle.

The company said compact system architecture can also help manufacturers address space and weight constraints in modern rolling stock.

MAHLE expands beyond traditional automotive business

The company is also using its rail activities to advance a broader strategy of growing businesses outside its traditional automotive operations.

MAHLE identifies rail transport as an important growth area within this diversification strategy.

The Group currently operates rail cooling manufacturing facilities on three continents, using its international production footprint and thermal-management expertise to serve rail customers in multiple regions.

The company sees this global presence as a way to scale industrial capabilities originally developed across its wider mobility activities into markets beyond road transport.

Industrial and Special Solutions division consolidates non-automotive activities

MAHLE has recently brought its activities outside the traditional automotive sector together within its Industrial and Special Solutions division.

The organizational structure combines sales, development and operational functions more closely, with the aim of accelerating the creation of customer-specific solutions.

For rail customers, this approach is intended to simplify coordination between product development, application engineering and production.

MAHLE said the structure supports the faster development of customized thermal management solutions for specialized operating environments.

Lifecycle support extends from development to fleet modernization

Beyond new vehicle development, MAHLE is also targeting opportunities related to the modernization and maintenance of existing rail fleets.

Rail vehicles often remain in service for decades, creating long-term requirements for replacement, refurbishment and cooling-system upgrades.

The company said its capabilities span the full lifecycle, allowing it to support customers during initial development as well as later maintenance and modernization programmes.

This lifecycle approach is intended to help operators improve the performance and efficiency of existing vehicles while adapting fleets to changing technology requirements.

MAHLE to exhibit in Hall 18 at InnoTrans

MAHLE will showcase its rail thermal management portfolio at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, one of the world’s largest international trade fairs for railway and transport technology.

The company’s exhibit will be located in Hall 18, Stand 460.

Visitors will be able to explore technologies covering battery cooling, integrated vehicle thermal management and specialized cooling solutions for electrical and power-control systems.

Media Contacts:

Elena Barth
Press Officer
Phone: +49 151 108 884 91

Kerstin Lau
Head of Media Relations
Phone: +49 173 6180956

SOURCE: MAHLE