Abstract: Crawl operations for four-wheel steering vehicles are described herein. An example vehicle described herein includes four wheels, a front steering actuator to turn the front wheels, a rear steering actuator to turn the rear wheels, a front drive motor to drive the front wheels, and a rear drive motor to drive the rear wheels. The vehicle also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) to activate the front steering actuator to turn the front wheels in a first direction, activate the rear steering actuator to turn the rear wheels in a second direction opposite the first direction such that the front wheels and the rear wheels are turned in opposite directions, activate the front drive motor to drive the front wheels in a reverse direction, and activate the rear drive motor to drive the rear wheels in a forward direction while the front wheels are driven in the reverse direction.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for assigning alternative energy vehicles to travel routes based on vehicle wear-and-tear ratings. Wear-and-tear ratings may be influenced by factors such as, for example, road grade, travel speed, electric motor use, and battery use, on various travel routes. An example method for determining a wear-and-tear rating of an alternative energy vehicle may involve determining an amount of stress imposed upon an electric motor of an alternative energy vehicle due to a grade of a road on a travel route, and an amount of energy consumed from a battery of the alternative energy vehicle due to a speed of travel on the travel route. The wear-and-tear rating of the alternative energy vehicle may then be determined based on the amount of stress imposed upon the electric motor and/or the amount of energy consumed from the battery on the travel route.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger cabin and a human machine interface (HMI) located remote from the passenger cabin. The HMI includes an electronic display and at least one power outlet adapted to selectively supply power to non-vehicle equipment. The HMI may be accessed to control the vehicle in a Power Generation mode.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.

Abstract: A vehicle and control method include a traction battery having a first nominal voltage, an auxiliary battery having a second nominal voltage, a bi-directional voltage converter configured to convert voltage between the first nominal voltage and the second nominal voltage, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to provide propulsive power to the vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a plurality of electric accessories, and a controller programmed to control the DC/DC converter and the electric machine to supply power from the auxiliary battery through the DC/DC converter to the electric machine for a specified period of time in response to electric machine power demand being between a first threshold and a second threshold, and to reduce power supplied to at least one of the plurality of electric accessories in response to the electric machine power demand exceeding the second threshold.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for assigning alternative energy vehicles to travel routes based on vehicle wear-and-tear ratings. Wear-and-tear ratings may be influenced by factors such as, for example, road grade, travel speed, electric motor use, and battery use, on various travel routes. An example method for determining a wear-and-tear rating of an alternative energy vehicle may involve determining an amount of stress imposed upon an electric motor of an alternative energy vehicle due to a grade of a road on a travel route, and an amount of energy consumed from a battery of the alternative energy vehicle due to a speed of travel on the travel route. The wear-and-tear rating of the alternative energy vehicle may then be determined based on the amount of stress imposed upon the electric motor and/or the amount of energy consumed from the battery on the travel route.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inducing vehicle side slip. In one example, a method includes opening a sole driveline disconnect clutch positioned between an engine and an electric machine upstream of a transmission, and closing the sole driveline disconnect clutch within a predetermined amount of time after opening the sole driveline disconnect without shifting gears of the transmission. In this way, vehicle drift may be reliable initiated in a hybrid electric vehicle with an automatic transmission, without shifting gears of the transmission.

Abstract: Crawl operations for four-wheel steering vehicles are described herein. An example vehicle described herein includes four wheels, a front steering actuator to turn the front wheels, a rear steering actuator to turn the rear wheels, a front drive motor to drive the front wheels, and a rear drive motor to drive the rear wheels. The vehicle also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) to activate the front steering actuator to turn the front wheels in a first direction, activate the rear steering actuator to turn the rear wheels in a second direction opposite the first direction such that the front wheels and the rear wheels are turned in opposite directions, activate the front drive motor to drive the front wheels in a reverse direction, and activate the rear drive motor to drive the rear wheels in a forward direction while the front wheels are driven in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A vehicle and control method include a traction battery having a first nominal voltage, an auxiliary battery having a second nominal voltage, a bi-directional voltage converter configured to convert voltage between the first nominal voltage and the second nominal voltage, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to provide propulsive power to the vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a plurality of electric accessories, and a controller programmed to control the DC/DC converter and the electric machine to supply power from the auxiliary battery through the DC/DC converter to the electric machine for a specified period of time in response to electric machine power demand being between a first threshold and a second threshold, and to reduce power supplied to at least one of the plurality of electric accessories in response to the electric machine power demand exceeding the second threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, a traction battery and a heating unit. The heating unit is disposed within a cargo bed of a vehicle and selectively powered by the traction battery. A heating unit powering method includes powering a heating unit within a cargo bed of a vehicle using a traction battery of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a coolant tube. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine has a stator that includes an array of windings that are arranged in a radial configuration. The coolant tube forms a loop that is routed along an axial end of the stator and adjacent to the array. The tube defines an inlet orifice configured to receive coolant and a plurality of outlet orifices configured to direct the coolant onto the windings.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inducing vehicle side slip. In one example, a method comprises opening a sole driveline disconnect clutch positioned between an engine and an electric machine upstream of a transmission, and closing the sole driveline disconnect clutch within a predetermined amount of time after opening the sole driveline disconnect without shifting gears of the transmission. In this way, vehicle drift may be reliable initiated in a hybrid electric vehicle with an automatic transmission, without shifting gears of the transmission.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a coolant tube. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine has a stator that includes an array of windings that are arranged in a radial configuration. The coolant tube forms a loop that is routed along an axial end of the stator and adjacent to the array. The tube defines an inlet orifice configured to receive coolant and a plurality of outlet orifices configured to direct the coolant onto the windings.

Abstract: An assembly includes a first housing and a sensor in the first housing. The assembly includes a second housing. The assembly includes a first spool and a second spool rotatably supported in the second housing and spaced from each other. The assembly includes a transparent film extending from the first spool around the first housing and received by the second spool.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to start the engine. The controller is programmed to pre-flux the electric machine with current that has a magnitude that changes as temperature of the engine changes within a predefined range.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, a traction battery and a heating unit. The heating unit is disposed within a cargo bed of a vehicle and selectively powered by the traction battery. A heating unit powering method includes powering a heating unit within a cargo bed of a vehicle using a traction battery of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to start the engine. The controller is programmed to pre-flux the electric machine with current that has a magnitude that changes as temperature of the engine changes within a predefined range.