Hanon Systems' HICE Module Named Finalist for 2026 PACE Awards

HICE Module Integrates Core Refrigerant Thermal Management Functions into One Unit

Pioneering a New EV Thermal Management Paradigm with Efficient Space Utilization

Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Cabin Noise/Vibration Control

Selected as a PACE Awards Finalist for the Fifth Time

Hanon Systems' thermal management solution has once again proven its global competitiveness.

Hanon Systems HICE Module. Hanon Systems

On August 12, Hanon Systems announced that its independently developed “High Integration Compact Evaporative Module (HICE Module)” has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards.

The HICE Module is a thermal management solution that packages key refrigerant thermal management components—including the electric compressor, electronic expansion valve, water-cooled condenser, internal heat exchanger, and chiller—into a single, compact, high-performance unit. By replacing traditional refrigerant system structures, it dramatically reduces system complexity, streamlines assembly processes and optimizes packaging space for automakers, while also reducing material costs.

Even with its lightweight 16kg design, the module controls refrigerant flow and temperature both quickly and precisely, delivering optimal thermal management performance under rapid charging and high-performance driving conditions. This has led to significant improvements in electric vehicle energy efficiency and driving range. In addition, the adoption of a dedicated sound cover further enhances its ability to control noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) inside the cabin. The technology was first applied to the BMW iX3, where it demonstrated proven market competitiveness in commercial use.

With this latest finalist selection, Hanon Systems has earned its ninth spot as a PACE Awards finalist, once again underscoring its differentiated leadership in the global market. Hanon Systems was the first in the Asian HVAC industry to win a PACE Award in 2007 with its next-generation cooling fan module “Wave Fan & Toothed Shroud,” then won a second main award in 2013 for its “Metal Seal Fitting” technology. In 2016, it was a finalist for its “UV-LED Photocatalyst” technology, and in 2025, received a third main PACE Award for its “Visible-Light LED Photocatalytic Antimicrobial and Deodorizing HVAC Technology.”

Vice Chairman and CEO Lee Soo-il of Hanon Systems commented, “The HICE module represents not just optimization of components, but a complete redesign of system-level thermal management—a paradigm shift and a milestone in electric vehicle architecture innovation. With this recognition at the globally prestigious PACE Awards, we will continue to lead the market for next-generation EV thermal management solutions, building on our unrivaled systems integration expertise and NVH control technology.”

Now in its 31st year, the PACE Awards are organized by the U.S. automotive publication Automotive News, recognizing and awarding groundbreaking innovations in the automotive sector each year for their excellence in technology and business impact. This year, 32 innovative technologies—including Hanon Systems’ HICE Module—have been named finalists, with the final winners to be announced and awarded at the ceremony in Detroit, U.S., this November, after evaluation by a panel of judges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.