Sensata R290 P+T Sensor Supports EV Thermal Management

Sensata Launches R290 Pressure and Temperature Sensor

On September 2, Sensata Technologies announced the launch of its R290 Pressure + Temperature (P+T) Sensor, developed to support automotive manufacturers adopting R290, or propane, refrigerant in electrified vehicle thermal management systems. The new sensor combines pressure and temperature measurement in a single solution optimized for R290 applications. Its introduction addresses the measurement requirements of increasingly complex electric vehicle thermal architectures, where accurate sensing can support system control and diagnostics. The solution is intended to help original equipment manufacturers adopt R290 refrigerant technologies while maintaining reliable measurement performance within automotive thermal management applications.

Sensor Combines Pressure and Temperature Measurement

The R290 P+T Sensor from Sensata Technologies is designed to provide accurate and reliable pressure and temperature measurement through one integrated solution. Combining both measurements can support improved control and diagnostics within automotive air conditioning and thermal management systems. The sensor also features a leakage-optimized design intended to help minimize refrigerant loss over the vehicle lifetime. This characteristic supports OEM targets while helping reduce the environmental impact associated with refrigerant loss. The design is specifically optimized for R290 applications, addressing the requirements of vehicle systems that use propane refrigerant as electrified vehicle thermal architectures become more complex.

R290 Sensor Targets BEVs and PHEVs

The Sensata Technologies R290 P+T Sensor is intended for automotive air conditioning and thermal management systems across multiple electrified vehicle platforms. Its applications include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and other electrified platforms that use R290 refrigerant. By integrating pressure and temperature measurement into a single sensor solution, the technology is positioned to support OEM efforts to implement R290-based thermal management systems. The sensor's measurement capabilities and leakage-optimized design are relevant to vehicle architectures where thermal control, system diagnostics, refrigerant retention, and environmental considerations must be managed together.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Sensata's R290 sensor development could support broader adoption of propane-based refrigerant systems as automakers refine thermal management architectures for electrified vehicles. The combination of pressure and temperature measurement in one solution may help OEMs address sensing requirements while the leakage-optimized design supports refrigerant retention over vehicle lifetimes. The immediate relevance is greatest for manufacturers developing BEV, PHEV, and other electrified platforms using R290, particularly where thermal management performance and diagnostics are important to system design. Further vehicle-level adoption will depend on OEM implementation of R290 technologies and the integration of compatible thermal management systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sensata's R290 P+T Sensor designed to do?
Sensata's R290 P+T Sensor is designed to measure refrigerant pressure and temperature in automotive thermal management systems using R290 refrigerant. The sensor combines both measurements in a single solution optimized for R290 applications, helping support system control and diagnostics. Its leakage-optimized design is intended to minimize refrigerant loss over the vehicle lifetime while supporting OEM targets and reducing environmental impact. The sensor is designed for battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and other electrified platforms that use R290 refrigerant in automotive air conditioning and thermal management applications.