Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a light assembly and an electronic controller. The light assembly includes one or more lights configured to illuminate an external area that is in a vicinity of the vehicle. The electronic controller is programmed to receive a battery status signal from a battery of the vehicle. The electronic controller is further programmed to control the light assembly to illuminate the one or more lights to display a status of the battery when the vehicle is in a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is at least one of a condition in which a remote electronic device is within a vicinity of the vehicle, a condition in which the vehicle has transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a condition in which the vehicle is about to be transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: A vehicle front end assembly includes a front portion of a vehicle frame structure. A bumper fascia is attached to the front portion of the vehicle frame structure. Further, a headlamp structure is attached to both the front portion of the vehicle frame structure and the bumper fascia.

Abstract: A passenger compartment storage assembly includes a storage structure, a first storage box and a box retaining structure. The storage structure is fixed to a floor of a passenger compartment of a vehicle and having a storage compartment defined therein. The first storage box has a predetermined overall shape. The box retaining structure is configured and dimensioned to releasably retain the first storage box. The storage compartment is dimensioned and configured to receive the first storage box and the box retaining structure within the storage compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a cockpit module skin, a cross-bar and a vehicle tracking unit. The cockpit module skin separates a passenger compartment into a first area and a second area. The cross-bar is supported to a vehicle body component in the first area. The vehicle tracking unit has an electric tracking module and a mounting bracket supporting the electric tracking module to the cross-bar.

Abstract: A door lock assembly for a vehicle door includes a door panel, a stiffener bracket, a lock assembly, and a door pad. The door panel includes an inner door panel and an outer door panel. A stiffener bracket is connected to the inner door panel. A lock assembly is connected to the inner door panel. A door pad is connected to the stiffener bracket. The door pad is configured to interfere with the lock assembly to prevent the lock assembly from unlocking the vehicle door upon an object impacting the outer door panel.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a light assembly and an electric control module. The light assembly is assembled to an underbody of the vehicle. The light assembly has a light bar and an image projector. The light bar has a plurality of first light sources. The image projector has a housing that is fitted to a longitudinal end of the light bar. The housing has a circuit board and an emitting portion that houses a second light source. The circuit board is electrically connected to the second light source to regulate electric current to the light source. The electric control module is electrically connected to the light bar and the circuit board to provide electrical power to both the light bar and the image projector.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door structure, an interior latch handle a panel and an interference member. The interior latch handle is installed to an inboard area of an inner door panel of the door structure. The interior latch handle has a housing and a release lever supported to the housing for pivotal movement. The panel is fixed to the inner door panel. The interference member is fixed to the panel and extends toward the release lever. With the door structure in a non-deformed state the interference member is spaced apart from the release lever. With the door structure in a deformed state in response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the panel can deformed and moves the interference member toward one end of the release lever preventing movement of the release lever to an door opening orientation.

Abstract: A vehicle center console assembly includes a vehicle body structure and a center console assembly. The vehicle body structure includes a passenger compartment floor with a front seat assembly installed to the floor and a pair of second row seats installed to the floor rearward of the front seat assembly. The center console assembly is releasably attached to the floor between the pair of second row seats. The center console has a manually operated latch mechanism operable between a locked orientation in which the center console is fixedly attached to the floor in an installed orientation and a release orientation in which the center console is released from attachment to the floor and is movable away from the installed orientation and out of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure defines a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle lateral direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction and includes a rear sill structure. The rear sill assembly at least partially defines a rear opening of the vehicle body structure. The rear sill assembly extends in the vehicle lateral direction. The rear sill assembly includes a first body panel and a second body panel. The first body panel extends from a first side of the rear opening to a second side of the rear opening. The second body panel overlays a portion of the first body panel. The second body panel has a main section that includes a plurality of recessed rib portions that extend in directions that define an acute angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A solid oxide electrochemical device comprises a solid electrolyte layer, the first surface and second surface having surface pores formed therein; a first composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and a solid electrolyte and having a first porosity; a second composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and the solid electrolyte and having the first porosity, the solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; a cathode on one of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; and an anode on another of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer. The anode comprises an anode metal layer comprising pores; anode active material; and reforming catalyst, wherein the anode active material and the reforming catalyst line walls of the pores in the anode metal layer.

Abstract: A universal adapter is disclosed for a cup holder included in the console of a vehicle. The universal adapter includes: a bezel; at least one receptacle extending from the bezel; and an electronic temperature control unit supported by the bezel. The bezel is configured in correspondence with a recess defined by the console such that movement of the universal adapter is inhibited via contact between an outer wall of the bezel and an inner wall of the console defining the recess. The at least one receptacle is receivable by the cup holder and is configured to receive a beverage container. The electronic temperature control unit is in electrical communication with the at least one receptacle such that energy is communicated to the at least one receptacle upon activation of the electronic temperature control unit to thereby vary a temperature of the universal adapter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing driver awareness of engine stoppage by a vehicle are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system includes a stop-start mechanism in communication with an engine operable to cause movement of the vehicle, the stop-start mechanism programmed to shut off the engine at a beginning of a nonoperational period and restart the engine at an end of the nonoperational period. The system also includes a vibration device triggered to cause at least one vehicle component to vibrate when the stop-start mechanism shuts off the engine at the beginning of the nonoperational period, and triggered to cease causing the at least one vehicle component to vibrate when the stop-start mechanism restarts the engine at the end of the nonoperational period.

Abstract: Controlling a vehicle using contextual navigation assistance can include defining a context for the vehicle using sensor data for a plurality of time points while the vehicle traverses between a starting and stopping location, the context being one of multiple contexts, and each associated with at least one candidate variable for inclusion in an ordered representation of information, classifying the vehicle into a phase of multiple phases associated with different proximities of the vehicle to a maneuver, each phase associated with at least one candidate variable for inclusion in the ordered representation, and generating, using the phase and the context, the ordered representation. The ordered representation is ranked from most likely to least likely information that is necessary, during a current phase, to successfully complete the maneuver. The ordered representation is produced by a user interface so that it can be used to control the vehicle.

Abstract: Running boards for vehicles are disclosed that each include a rail with one or more steps. The step(s) are releasably connectable to (supported by) the rail (e.g., via a plurality of removable mechanical fasteners) to allow for removal of the step(s) when additional ground clearance is necessary and/or desirable, such as, for example, during off-road use of the vehicle. The rail of each running board is connectable to an underside of the vehicle (e.g., via brackets) such that the rails are positioned to absorb impact from external objects, such as, for example, rocks, boulders, stumps, etc., traversed during travel across uneven ground, and thereby protect the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the rails may include internal supports (e.g., stiffening ribs) to increase the strength and/or the rigidity of the rail, and, thus, increase the protection to the vehicle provided by the running boards.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises cathode active material comprising particles of a transition metal oxide, each particle coated in an ion-conducting material that has an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 2.2 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being less than 2.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 4.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes an interior side wall, a floor structure and an airbag support member. The interior side wall defines a first door opening. The floor structure at least partially defines a passenger compartment of a vehicle along with the interior side wall. The floor structure defines seat supporting section adjacent to the first door opening. The airbag support member has an upper end and a lower end and an airbag attachment portion. The lower end is attached to the interior side wall at a first location above the floor structure between the first door opening and the seat supporting section, the upper end being attached to the interior side wall structure at a second location above the first location.

Abstract: A vehicle frame structure has a front side member that extends forward from a dashwall. An engine cradle is attached to the front side member with a lateral side portion of the engine cradle being located beneath and spaced apart from a lower surface of the front side member. An engine is installed to the engine cradle with a portion of the engine extending upward from the engine cradle adjacent to the inboard surface of the front side member. An inboard push structure has an inboard surface, an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is attached to an inboard surface of the front side member. The lower portion extends downward below a lower surface of the front side member. The inboard surface faces the engine proximate the lateral portion of the lateral side portion of the engine cradle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a bumper assembly defining opposite lateral ends and an overall width extending therebetween, the bumper assembly defining a recessed area located between the opposite lateral ends thereof; an electronic sensor supported by the bumper assembly in cantilevered relation; and an energy absorber positioned within the recessed area to protect the electronic sensor and reduce dislocation of the electronic sensor by absorbing energy resulting from an impact between the vehicle and an external object. The energy absorber defines opposite lateral ends and an overall width extending therebetween less than that the overall width of the bumper assembly such that the opposite lateral ends of the energy absorber are spaced inwardly from the opposite lateral ends of the bumper assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle frame structure has a front side member that extends forward from a dashwall. An engine cradle is attached to the front side member with a lateral side portion of the engine cradle being located beneath and spaced apart from a lower surface of the front side member. An engine installed to the engine cradle with a portion of the engine extending upward from the engine cradle adjacent to an inboard surface of the front side member, A push-off structure is attached to an outboard surface of the front side member adjacent to a front end surface of the front side member. A portion of the push-off structure extends outboard from the outboard surface. Another portion of the push-off structure extends downward below the lower surface of the front side member toward the lateral portion of the engine cradle and the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle reinforcement assembly includes a detector and a reinforcement member. The detector is configured to be housed in an interior compartment of a vehicle. The reinforcement member is configured to be housed in the interior compartment at a location adjacent to the detector. The reinforcement member has a vehicle forward facing end that extends closer to a vehicle front end than the detector extends to the vehicle front end.