Hanon Systems HICE Named Finalist for 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards

Hanon Systems announced that its Highly Integrated Cooling Entity (HICE) has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards. The thermal management solution combines an electric compressor, electronic expansion valve, combined water-cooled condenser and internal heat exchanger, and chiller within a single compact module. With a weight of 16 kg, the integrated system is designed to provide rapid and precise control of refrigerant flow and temperature. Its capabilities support thermal management under demanding operating conditions, including fast charging and high-performance driving, where effective temperature control is critical to electric vehicle efficiency and performance.

Compact Thermal Management Supports EV Efficiency

The HICE module is designed to improve electric vehicle energy efficiency while helping extend driving range through more precise thermal management. Its compact and lightweight architecture integrates multiple key cooling and refrigerant-management components into one unit, reducing the need for separate assemblies. The system also addresses vehicle refinement through a dedicated sound cover that enhances noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance. The technology has already moved beyond development into commercialization, demonstrating its production readiness for electric vehicles. Its first production vehicle application is the BMW iX3, providing a direct example of the technology being deployed in a series-production EV program.

Hanon Systems Reaches Ninth PACE Finalist Selection

The 2026 recognition represents the ninth time Hanon Systems has been selected as an Automotive News PACE Award finalist. The PACE Awards recognize automotive suppliers for innovation and technological development, making the finalist position a significant industry recognition for the HICE solution. The selection highlights the company’s focus on integrated thermal management technologies capable of addressing the increasingly demanding requirements of electric vehicles. By combining several thermal components into a single module and applying the technology to a production vehicle, HICE demonstrates a practical approach to packaging, thermal control, efficiency and vehicle refinement.

BMW iX3 Application Demonstrates Commercial Readiness

The first production application of the HICE technology is the BMW iX3, linking the integrated thermal management system directly to a production electric vehicle platform. The application demonstrates how a compact module can support demanding EV requirements such as fast charging and high-performance driving while maintaining precise refrigerant and temperature control. The 16 kg system combines the electric compressor, electronic expansion valve, water-cooled condenser, internal heat exchanger and chiller in one architecture. The inclusion of dedicated acoustic treatment further addresses NVH requirements, showing that the solution targets both thermal performance and vehicle-level refinement.

PACE Award Winners to Be Announced in November 2026

The final winners of the 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards will be announced during the PACE Award ceremony in Detroit, Michigan, in November 2026. Until the winners are announced, Hanon Systems’ HICE remains among the finalist technologies being considered for recognition. The nomination reflects the technology’s combination of integration, compact packaging, thermal control, EV efficiency potential and production commercialization. Its existing application in the BMW iX3 also provides evidence that the system has progressed into real-world vehicle deployment rather than remaining solely at the concept or prototype stage. The upcoming ceremony will determine whether HICE receives the final award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hanon Systems HICE?
Hanon Systems HICE is a Highly Integrated Cooling Entity designed to combine several key thermal management components into one compact electric vehicle module. The system integrates an electric compressor, electronic expansion valve, combined water-cooled condenser and internal heat exchanger, and chiller. Weighing 16 kg, it enables rapid and precise control of refrigerant flow and temperature during demanding conditions such as fast charging and high-performance driving. The technology is already commercialized and has its first production vehicle application in the BMW iX3, while its 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards finalist selection recognizes its technological development.