Abstract: A battery assembly includes a thermal shield. The thermal shield protects battery cells in the battery assembly from hot gases vented by a neighboring cell experiencing thermal runaway. The thermal shield acts as a one-way valve, allowing the cell experiencing thermal runaway to properly vent away hot gases, but still protecting the rest of the cells in the battery pack from the hot gases.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a frame having a motor module, a tunnel connected to the motor module, a suspension module connected to the motor module, a motor, a handlebar, a ski operatively connected to the handlebar and a front suspension assembly operatively connecting the ski to the suspension module and to the motor module. The front suspension assembly has a suspension arm having a proximal end positioned longitudinally between the motor module and the suspension module. The proximal end pivots about a pivot axis extending through an interior portion of the suspension module. A proximal fastener passes through the proximal end of the suspension arm and extends from the interior portion of the suspension module to the motor module. The proximal fastener thereby pivotally connects the suspension arm to the suspension module and to the motor module about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine has a crankcase, a cylinder block defining at least one cylinder, a cylinder, a crankshaft, at least one piston, at least one scavenge port, at least one throttle body for supplying air to an interior of the crankcase, at least one direct fuel injector fluidly communicating with at least one combustion chamber for injecting fuel directly in the at least one combustion chamber; and at least one port fuel injector fluidly communicating with the interior of the crankcase for injecting fuel upstream of the at least one combustion chamber. Methods for controlling an engine having at least one direct fuel injector and at least one port fuel injector are also described.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a frame including an inverted U-shaped tunnel having top, left and right portions at least partly enclosing a space. A drive track, operatively connected to an engine, is disposed around a rear suspension and at least partly in the space. An air intake system has a heat exchanger surface disposed in or adjacent to the space. Air flowing through the intake system contacts the heat exchanger surface to be cooled thereby before entering the engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine of a vehicle going downhill with a throttle operator in an idle position, and a driven pulley of a CVT initially having a driven pulley speed below a predetermined driven pulley speed, includes: determining a first speed, the first speed being proportional to the driven pulley speed; as the driven pulley speed increases and the driven pulley speed is below the predetermined driven pulley speed, increasing an actual engine speed as the driven pulley speed increases; the actual engine speed being an engagement speed when the driven pulley speed is the predetermined driven pulley speed; and as the driven pulley speed continues to increase and the driven pulley speed is above the predetermined driven pulley speed: controlling the engine to operate under conditions corresponding to an engine braking speed thereby causing engine braking, the engine braking speed being less than the actual engine speed.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a deck and a hull having a transom, right and left side portions a tunnel, and a bottom portion. An air intake system disposed in the engine compartment and fluidly communicating with an engine includes an air compressor and an intercooler. The intercooler includes a housing having a lower surface extending generally along the bottom hull portion, an upper surface extending thereabove, an intercooler air inlet, an intercooler air outlet spaced from the intercooler air inlet at least in a direction parallel to the lower surface, a water inlet, and a water outlet. An intercooler core enclosed within the housing defines at least one air channel fluidly communicating with the intercooler air inlet and the intercooler air outlet. At least one water channel fluidly communicating with the water inlet and outlet is diathermally connected with the at least one air channel for cooling air flowing therein.

Abstract: A retractable anchor fixture for accessories is described. The retractable anchor fixture is adapted for being movably disposed in a surface aperture in a surface and includes a fixture body, a fixture base extending from the fixture body, the fixture base including a stopper portion adapted for abutting an edge of the surface aperture, a first aperture defined by the fixture body, the first aperture being adapted to receive therethrough a portion of an anchor for anchoring an accessory to the anchor fixture, and an anchor chamber defined by the fixture body and communicating with the first aperture. An anchor fixture system including a retractable anchor fixture is also described.

Abstract: A container assembly for a vehicle having a container receiving base having one of a catch and a catch receiving space and a removable container selectively disposed on the container receiving base, the removable container having a container body defining an item receiving space, and a handle pivotally connected to the container body and being movable between a locked and an unlocked position, the handle having an other one of the catch and the catch receiving space, the other one of the catch and the catch receiving space being movable with the handle, where in the locked position, the catch is received in the catch receiving space, preventing separation of the container from the base and in the unlocked position, the catch is out of the catch receiving space, allowing separation of the container from the base. A removable container and a vehicle incorporating the container assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A snowmobile includes a frame with a tunnel, a fuel tank disposed thereon and an engine connected thereto. A throttle body fluidly communicates with the engine. A throttle valve is disposed in the throttle body for regulating fluid flow through the throttle body into the engine, a position of the throttle valve being movable between an open position and a closed position. A throttle operator connected to the frame to control the position of throttle valve is moveable between an idle position and a drive position. A throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve and the throttle operator controls a position of the throttle valve based at least in part on the throttle operator position, the throttle valve actuator being an electric throttle valve actuator and disposed longitudinally between the fuel tank and the engine. Vehicles and methods of operating the vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame and left and right suspension assemblies connected to the frame. Each suspension assembly has a suspension support connected to the frame; a lower control arm having an inner end pivotally connected to the suspension support at two longitudinally spaced positions; an upper control arm having an inner end pivotally connected 5 to the suspension support at two longitudinally spaces positions; a knuckle pivotally connected to outer ends of the lower and outer control arms; and a shock absorber having an upper end pivotally connected to the suspension support and a lower end pivotally connected to one of the lower and upper control arms. A sway bar has ends connected to two of the control arms and is pivotally connected to the suspension supports. Wheels are rotationally 10 connected to the knuckles.