Valeo Named as CES Innovation Awards® 2026 Honoree for its Compact 5-Ways Refrigerant Valve for Next-Generation Electric Vehicles’ Heat Pump Systems

November 6, 2025 — Paris — Valeo, a world leader in thermal management for mobility and a pioneer in vehicle electrification, has been named a CES Innovation Awards® 2026 Honoree in the category “Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility” for its innovative compact 5-Ways Refrigerant Valve for Electric Vehicles’ Heat Pump Systems. Leveraging Valeo’s thermal and embedded systems expertise, this new development showcases the Group’s ability to combine mechanical innovation and advanced materials to address the needs of next-generation electric vehicles.

“We are proud that one of our innovations has once again been named a CES Innovation Awards® Honoree.” said Xavier Dupont, Valeo Power Division CEO. “This breakthrough perfectly embodies Valeo’s mission to make electric mobility more efficient, and sustainable. By simplifying thermal system design, we are helping our customers accelerate the transition toward smarter electrified vehicles.”

Simplifying Complexity in EV Thermal Systems

Thermal management is one of the biggest challenges in electric vehicles as the battery must stay at an optimal temperature to offer the best performance and range, but passenger climate comfort also needs to be taken into account. For this purpose, smart heat pump modules are required for improving energy efficiency and delivering heating and cooling to all auxiliaries.

A first-of-its-kind, Valeo’s new 5-Ways Refrigerant Valve, integrated in Valeo smart heat pump modules, replaces three solenoid valves (SOVs) and one check valve with a single compact unit using an innovative rotating plate mechanism to control the alignment of fluid channels. This mechanical solution eliminates the need for multiple valves and switches seamlessly between heating and cooling modes in less than five seconds, minimizing energy losses and enhancing overall reliability.

The simplified architecture also reduces wiring, components, and interfaces, saving both space and weight: the system can be integrated easily in various EV architectures. Designed to operate in extreme temperatures (–40°C to +105°C), it is compatible with R-1234yf and new low-impact refrigerants such as R-290, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and preparing EV platforms for the future.

Valeo’s new 5-Ways Refrigerant Valve replaces three solenoid valves (SOVs) and one check valve with a single compact unit using an innovative rotating plate mechanism.

Engineering Excellence for Efficiency and Sustainability

Behind the valve compact design lies Valeo’s long-standing expertise in thermal system engineering, where mechanical precision meets advanced materials science. To ensure durability and reliability, Valeo’s engineers selected high-performance polymer seals inspired by Teflon™ technology. These advanced materials withstand extreme temperatures and pressure while maintaining excellent leak-tightness. They also help reduce friction, vibration, and noise, which is key to maintaining comfort in quiet electric vehicles.

The system is ready for customer requests and will enter series production in September 2026.

The CES Innovation Awards®: Celebrating Excellence in Design and Engineering

The world-renowned CES Innovation Awards® program, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® , is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 36 tech product categories. Those with the highest score in each category receive the “Best of Innovation” distinction. An elite panel of industry expert judges, including members of the media, designers, engineers, and more, reviewed submissions. The CES Innovation Awards® class of 2026 honorees, including product descriptions and photos, can be found at CES.tech/innovation.

About Valeo
Valeo is a technology company and partner to all automakers and new mobility players worldwide. Valeo innovates to make mobility safer, smarter and more sustainable. Valeo enjoys technological and industrial leadership in electrification, driving assistance systems, reinvention of the interior experience and lighting everywhere. These four areas, vital to the transformation of mobility, are the Group’s growth drivers.
Valeo in figures: 21.5 billion euros in sales in 2024 | 106,100 employees, 28 countries, 155 plants, 64 research and development centers and 19 distribution platforms on February 28, 2025. Valeo is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
Learn more at www.valeo.com

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