Thermal management in EV wireless charging: Breakthroughs, challenges, and next-generation cooling strategies

High-power wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are pivotal for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the decarbonization of transportation. However, thermal issues arising from Joule heating and hysteresis losses in high-power (≥100 ​kW) systems remain a critical bottleneck, compromising efficiency, reliability, and safety. This review comprehensively examines the fundamental principles and recent advancements in magnetic field-coupled WPT technology. We then provide a critical analysis of state-of-the-art thermal management solutions—including air cooling, immersion cooling, microchannel cooling, phase change materials, nanofluids, heat pipes, and composite systems—evaluating their thermal performance, electromagnetic compatibility, and carbon footprints. Notable achievements include microchannel cooling maintaining temperatures at 108 ​°C in megawatt-level coils, and phase change material-based solutions limiting heating plate temperatures below 80 ​°C. Despite progress, challenges persist in electromagnetic compatibility, system compactness, and dynamic response. Future research should prioritize developing advanced cooling architectures for efficiency-carbon trade-off optimization, focusing on low-eddy-current liquid cooling and electromagnetic compatibility-optimized phase change material enclosures. This review links thermal management breakthroughs to scalable, low-carbon EV infrastructure, offering actionable insights to accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral transportation.