Abstract: A cooling system for an electrified vehicle powertrain includes a cooling circuit fluidly coupling at least a traction battery, an electric motor, a pump, a heat exchange device and an expansion and contraction tank. The tank provides a sealed volume in the circuit for thermal expansion and contraction of the dielectric fluid as the temperature of the dielectric fluid increases or decreases. The tank includes an elastic member bifurcating an interior volume of the tank and separating the dielectric fluid on one side of the bladder from a volume of air functioning as a fluid spring on the other side of the bladder. The gas is configured to compress with the thermal expansion of the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: A motion control device may have a main body having a right grip and a left grip fixed to the main body, wherein the right grip and the left grip are separated by the main body. The right grip and the left grip may be configured to be grasped by a hand and/or one or more fingers of a vehicle occupant to control the rotation of the motion control device about an axis. A right paddle and a left paddle mounted to the main body may be actuatable by one or more fingers of the vehicle occupant between a first position and a second position to control acceleration, friction braking, regenerative braking, or other vehicle functions.

Abstract: A tailgate cable tensioner having a body. A securement mechanism attaches and secures the body to a cable terminal of a cable. A biasing member applies a force on a bolt retaining the cable terminal for taking sag out of the cable.

Abstract: A vehicle that includes a controller and a battery pack including a casing having a plurality of battery cells stored therein. The casing includes a plurality of vents for discharging battery exhaust gases. A sensor is in communication with an interior of the casing and the controller, and the sensor is configured to generate either a signal indicative of a temperature of the interior of the casing or a signal indicative of a pressure within the interior of the casing. A plurality of thermal barriers are attached to the vehicle that are configured to deploy based on an instruction received from the controller that is based on the signal indicative of the temperature or the signal indicative of the pressure.

Abstract: A high-voltage battery quick release system for an electrified vehicle and related method for using same is provided. In one exemplary implementation, the high-voltage battery quick release system includes a first quick release switch that sends an activation signal indicative of a battery disconnect request. A mechanical decoupled is configured to mechanically decouple the high-voltage battery from the vehicle. An electrical decoupler is configured to electrically disconnect the high-voltage battery from the vehicle. A controller receives a signal from the first quick release switch and, responsive to the activation signal, (i) sends a signal to the mechanical decoupler that mechanically decouples the high-voltage battery from the vehicle and (ii) electrically disconnects the high-voltage battery from the vehicle.

Abstract: A coast control system and method for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) include determining a minimum pedal torque for the BEV corresponding to a minimum accelerator pedal position to maintain the BEV traveling at a given speed on a flat surface and carrying a nominal load and, based thereon, calculating maximum acceleration thresholds for the BEV for entry to and exit from a coast control feature of the BEV, respectively. When a set of preconditions for the coast control feature are satisfied and a vehicle acceleration of the BEV is greater than the maximum acceleration threshold for entry into the coast control feature, the coast control feature is executed by decreasing a driver torque request for the BEV and the minimum pedal torque by a coast control offset.

Abstract: Static state of charge (SOC) correction for a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system of an electrified vehicle includes in response to a power-off of the electrified vehicle, (i) determining an initial SOC of the LFP battery system, (ii) initiating a power-off timer and (iii) initiating a periodic temperature measurement of the LFP battery system, in response to a subsequent power-on of the electrified vehicle, (i) stopping the power-off timer, (ii) determining an average of the periodic temperature measurements of the LFP battery system, and (iii) accessing a calibrated look-up table to determine a self-discharge rate of the LFP battery system based on a value of the power-off timer and the measured temperature of the LFP battery system, and determining a corrected SOC for the LFP battery system by determining an SOC change based on the determined self-discharge rate and subtracting the SOC change from the initial measured SOC.

Abstract: A quick release check strap assembly configured between a vehicle door and a vehicle body includes a check arm, a pin clip assembly, and a clevis bracket assembly. The check arm extends between the vehicle door and the vehicle body. The pin clip assembly includes a pin and a retention spring clip. The pin includes a head and a shaft, the head defining a pin passage. The retention spring clip has an upper loop section, a lower loop section and an intermediate arm section including first and second spring arms, wherein the upper loop section extends through the pin passage. The clevis bracket assembly has upper and lower mounting bores that receive the pin, upper spring locating features that define an upper notch, and lower spring locating features that define a lower notch.

Abstract: An electric motor system, such as for an electrified vehicle, includes a permanent magnet motor (PMM) including a hollow cylindrical stator defining a circular inner portion with a plurality of slots, defined between a respective plurality of ferromagnetic teeth, and having a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in the plurality of slots, respectively, and a cylindrical rotor disposed within the stator and defining a circular outer portion having N pairs of permanent magnets arranged thereabout to define N rotor poles, respectively, wherein at least one pair of the N pairs of permanent magnets is asymmetrically staggered or offset relative a symmetric N pole positioning, and wherein N is an even integer greater than or equal to four, and a controller configured to control the PMM to mitigate or eliminate magnetic cogging.

Abstract: A vehicle seat configured to be disposed within a vehicle includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a storage compartment system. The storage compartment system includes a storage compartment disposed within the seat bottom and configured to receive an electronic device, and a wireless charger configured to charge the electronic device. A cooling module is configured to provide cooling to the storage compartment to cool the electronic device.

Abstract: An active damping system for an electric motor driven vehicle having spaced apart front wheels coupled to the vehicle by suspension components, includes a first sensor, a first actuator and a controller. The first sensor is coupled to one or both of a first front wheel or a suspension assembly for the first front wheel, and the first sensor provides an output indicative of a force on a component to which the first sensor is coupled. The first actuator is coupled to the vehicle and has a movable mass driven by the first actuator. The controller is configured to receive the output from the first sensor and the controller is configured, in response to at least an output from the first sensor that is beyond a threshold, to provide an output to the first actuator to displace the movable mass and at least partially damp vibrations in the vehicle.

Abstract: A wind harness for a vehicle includes a low profile duct intake that extends along a roof and sides of a vehicle. At least one duct extends from the duct intake on each side of the vehicle. The ducts are positioned in the rear pillars directing air and through along the pillars. A wind turbine is positioned inside a body panel of the vehicle. The ducts have an exhaust nozzle directed at the turbine for delivering an air flow to rotate the turbine.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, a motor/generator configured to start the internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a powertrain control system including a controller having one or more processors. The controller is programmed to monitor the transmission for a gear shift while the HEV operates in an EV mode where the electric traction motor provides propulsion for the HEV, detect a driver torque request during the gear shift, and turn the internal combustion engine on to provide torque to the HEV during the gear shift.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle powertrain having a normally aspirated engine includes an advanced device, a main catalyst, a cold light off catalyst (CLOC), a CLOC valve and a controller. The advanced device is positioned in an exhaust of the normally aspirated engine. The main catalyst positioned in the exhaust downstream of the advanced device. The CLOC is positioned in a bypass passage around the advanced device. The CLOC valve selectively routes exhaust flow from the normally aspirated engine between advanced device and the CLOC. The controller is configured to: determine a temperature of a main catalyst; determine, based on a temperature of the main catalyst being less than a temperature threshold, a first engine torque request; and command, based on the first engine torque request being less than a first torque threshold, the CLOC valve to operate in a CLOC mode.

Abstract: A high voltage management system for an electrified vehicle having firmware over-the-air (FOTA) capability receives, via a wireless communication medium, a FOTA flash update for a set of components of the electrified vehicle, receives, from a customer, a customer input indicating a desired time to perform the FOTA flash update, coordinates the FOTA flash update of a set of components based on the customer input, controls an electrified powertrain, including a high voltage system, of the electrified vehicle, and ignores or rejects a plurality of valid high voltage wakeup requests for the high voltage system to prevent interruption of the FOTA flash update of the set of components.

Abstract: A lane departure warning (LDW) system that implements a corrective action strategy based on driving conditions for a vehicle is provided. The LDW system comprises a drive unit, first, second, third and fourth wheel speed sensors and a controller. The wheel speed sensors provide a wheel speed signal for a respective first, second, third and fourth vehicle wheel. The controller: receives the wheel speed signals from the respective vehicle wheels, wherein each of the wheel speed signals are indicative of a wheel speed of the respective vehicle wheel; and performs the corrective action strategy based on the determination at least one wheel speed signal satisfies the frequency threshold. The corrective action strategy includes one of: (i) communicating a message to a human machine interface (HMI) in the vehicle indicative of a lane departure event; and (ii) communicating a signal to a steering system to provide a corrective steering input.

Abstract: A method and system for unlatching a latch includes positioning a ratchet with a compartment door in a closed position with a cinch lever, a cinch actuator and a pawl in a home position, the ratchet closed with a striker fully engaged, and activating the cinch actuator to engage the cinch lever to hold the ratchet in the fully closed position. The method includes moving the pawl to an open position, returning the cinch actuator and the cinch lever to the home position to moving of the ratchet from a home position to a secondary position while returning the pawl to the home position, positioning the ratchet in the secondary position and the cinch lever, the pawl, and the cinch actuator and cinch lever in the home position. The method includes releasing the pawl to the fully opened position and moving the ratchet to a fully opened position to allow the striker to release from the ratchet.

Abstract: A mild hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine; a low voltage electric starter/generator motor of a belt-driven starter/generator (BSG) unit connected to a crankshaft of the engine, wherein the electric starter/generator motor is powered by a low voltage battery system; a hybrid dual clutch transmission (DCT) coupled to an output of the engine, wherein the DCT includes an electric traction motor; and a control system configured to control the engine, the dual clutch hybrid transmission and the electric traction motor to charge the high voltage battery system while the vehicle is in a standstill condition or a neutral gear state and the low voltage motor of the BSG unit is not used to charge the high voltage battery.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method includes determining that a vehicle is operating in a reduced power mode, determining a destination of the vehicle, determining more than one route to the destination, determining one or more energy thresholds for each route, selecting one of the routes as a chosen route, and guiding the vehicle along the chosen route. The chose route may be selected based on the one or more energy thresholds and as a function of the energy output available from the vehicle.