A novel hybrid battery thermal management system, combining air-forced convection with phase change material, is proposed. The effectiveness of the system is proved experimentally. The maximum temperature difference and the maximum temperature are controlled within the optimum range in the proposed thermal management system even though the dynamic charge/discharge current rate is 4 C rate. Meanwhile, the thermal performance is also compared under the passive and active strategy. The result shows that the thermal performance under the active mode is obviously superior to that under the passive mode. Comparing with the passive mode, the maximum temperature difference and the maximum temperature in the active mode are reduced 1.2 degrees C and 16 degrees C under 3 C rate, respectively. Moreover, the mathematical model, based on the three dimension heat transfer model coupled with the electrochemical model, is carried out and then validated with experimental data. Taking advantage of the mathematical model, the space of designed structures is further optimized.