Abstract: A glass run channel and applique attachment for a door having a door frame and an openable window includes a glass run channel, an applique, and a fastener. The glass run channel has a first locating feature adapted for attachment to the door frame and a first snap-fit feature. The applique has a second locating feature and a second snap-fit feature. The applique is located relative to the glass run channel in a located position when the first locating feature contacts the second locating feature and is attached to the glass run channel in the located position when the first snap-fit feature engages the second snap-fit feature. The fastener mounts the first locating feature to the door frame and is concealed from view on the interior surface of the door by the door frame and on the exterior surface of the door by the applique.

Abstract: A duct is configured for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis. The vehicle body includes a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion, a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end. The duct has a fully-enclosed structure in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal body axis. The duct also has a first port positioned to receive a portion of the oncoming airflow and a second port positioned to exhaust the portion of the oncoming airflow from the duct. The first and second ports together with the fully-enclosed structure are configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a porous hydrophilic substrate, an electroactive material, and a binder. The porous hydrophilic substrate includes a plurality of voids and may be formed from cellulose or cellulosic derivative material. The electroactive material is dispersed in at least a portion of the voids of the hydrophilic substrate. In other aspects, another electrode material for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a porous hydrophilic substrate, an electroactive material, an electrically conductive particle, and a binder. The porous hydrophilic substrate includes a plurality of voids and may be formed from cellulose or cellulosic derivative material. The electroactive material and the electrically conductive particle are dispersed in at least a portion of the voids of the hydrophilic substrate. In still other aspects, the porous hydrophilic substrate comprises a coating that is electrically conductive.

Abstract: In an example of a method for heating or cooling a vehicle, an application resident on an electronic memory of a mobile communications device is launched. The electronic memory is coupled to a microprocessor. The microprocessor is operatively connected to a mobile device communications platform (MDCP). Preset climate control modes are displayed on a display. A user input identifying a selected preset climate control mode is received at a user interface. In response to receiving the user input, the selected preset climate control mode is transmitted to a vehicle communications platform (VCP). In response to receiving the selected preset climate control mode, a climate control instruction is transmitted by the VCP to a climate control system. In response to receiving the climate control instruction at the control module of the climate control system, the selected preset climate control mode is caused to be implemented in the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric cycle with a frame that may include a tube and an opening. The tube may extend from a first end to a second end and may define a tube interior volume in fluid communication with the opening. An electric power unit may be mounted to the frame proximal the second end of the tube and may have a cooling air inlet and an exhaust port. A cooling path may be defined through the tube interior volume and at least a portion of the electric power unit. The cooling path may be in fluid communication with the opening so that air may flow into the opening, through the tube, into the cooling air inlet and out of the exhaust port of the electric power unit.

Abstract: A belt drive system for rotatably coupling an internal combustion engine to an electric machine is described. The belt drive system includes a serpentine belt and a hydraulic strut tensioner, wherein the hydraulic strut tensioner is disposed to exert a tension force on the serpentine belt. A controller is operatively connected to the electric machine and includes an instruction set that is executable to periodically induce a reduction in torque output of the electric machine.

Abstract: A steering wheel and column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column housing and a steering column shaft rotatably coupled to the steering column housing. A steering wheel includes a central hub coupled to the steering column shaft and a steering wheel rim connected to the central hub by one or more spokes extending radially from the central hub. A dampening system cooperates with the steering wheel and includes at least one mass damper body disposed adjacent to central hub. One or more vibration damping elements extend at least partially through the at least one mass damper body and the central hub. One or more resilient support members cooperate with the at least one mass damper body, central hub and the one or more vibration damping elements to absorb vibrations in the steering wheel and column assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are model predictive control (MPC) systems, methods for using such MPC systems, and motor vehicles with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) employing MPC control. An SCR-regulating MPC control system is disclosed that includes an NOx sensor for detecting nitrogen oxide (NOx) input received by the SCR system, catalyst NOx sensors for detecting NOx output for two SCR catalysts, and catalyst NH3 sensors for detecting ammonia (NH3) slip for each SCR catalyst. The MPC system also includes a control unit programmed to: receive desired can conversion efficiencies for the SCR catalysts; determine desired can NOx outputs for the SCR catalysts; determine maximum NH3 storage capacities for the SCR catalyst; calculate the current can conversion efficiency for each SCR catalyst; calculate an optimized reductant pulse-width and/or volume from the current can conversion efficiencies; and, command an SCR dosing injector to inject a reductant into an SCR conduit based on the calculated pulse-width/volume.

Abstract: Disclosed are air rail assemblies for improved vehicle aerodynamics, methods for making and methods for using such air rail assemblies, and motor vehicles employing air rail assemblies for reducing turbulent flow and wake bubbles in and around the rear cargo bed. An air rail assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed that includes an inlet port that extends through the rear quarter panel of a cargo bed sidewall. The inlet port intakes passing fore-aft airflow. An outlet port extends through a rail cap and ejects airflow intake from the cargo sidewall. An air duct, which attaches to an inboard surface of the rear quarter panel, fluidly connects the air inlet and outlet ports. The air duct includes transverse and vertical channels that cooperatively redirect the airflow intake in an inboard and upward direction. The air duct includes convergent portions that constrict and accelerate the airflow intake.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a voltage bus, battery pack, power inverter module (PIM), electric machine, first contactor, and controller. The PIM is connected to the battery pack and has a capacitor, voltage sensor, and semiconductor switches. The electric machine having phase legs with a corresponding phase winding and resistive path. The first contactor connects the PIM to a positive rail of the bus. The controller opens the first contactor in response to a power-off event, commands a discharge of the capacitor through the resistive paths, diagnoses a state of health (SOH) of the first contactor using a first threshold decay rate of the capacitor output voltage upon opening the first contactor, and executes a control action with respect to the electrical system using the diagnosed SOH. The three possible SOH are unhealthy/hard-welded contactor, unhealthy/soft-welded contactor, and healthy/normally-functioning contactor condition. A vehicle and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a compression-ignition engine having a combustion chamber. The method includes establishing, via an injection driver, electronic communication with a primary clock configured to generate a primary time signal. The method also includes commanding an injector to introduce into the combustion chamber injections of fuel having respective pulse widths timed using the primary time signal to generate combustion within the combustion chamber. The method additionally includes detecting a loss of the primary time signal and subsequently establishing an electronic communication between the injection driver and an auxiliary clock configured to generate an auxiliary time signal. Furthermore, the method includes commanding the injector to introduce into the combustion chamber a number of injections of fuel having respective pulse widths timed using the auxiliary time signal and thereby continuing combustion within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber formed by cooperation of a cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a piston. A combustion ignition device is disposed in the combustion chamber and includes a nozzle defining a pre-chamber, a barrier discharge plasma igniter, including a tip portion disposed in the pre-chamber and a plurality of apertures disposed in the nozzle. The pre-chamber is in fluidic communication with the combustion chamber via the plurality of apertures. A controller is in communication with the engine and the barrier discharge plasma igniter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protecting device; for protecting a battery effectively by absorbing an impact energy which can be received from a lateral direction of an electrical automobile; and for preventing a secondary damage due to the breakage of the battery, and the present disclosure relates to the battery protecting device of the electrical automobile including: a frame (10) for forming a body of a floor (30) positioned in a lower portion of the electrical automobile (100); and at least one protecting bar (20) positioned inside the frame (10), and the vertical cross-section of the protecting bar (20) is a shape including: a pair of closed spaces (21); and a brim (22) for forming the pair of closed spaces (21), in which the brim (22) is connected between the pair of closed spaces (21) so as to make the pair of closed spaces (21) separated by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A transmission for a hybrid powertrain includes a first input, a second input, a third input, and an output. A sun gear is attached to and rotatable with the first input. A carrier is attached to and rotatable with the third input. The carrier rotatably supports a plurality of pinions. Each of the pinions includes a first pinion gear and a second pinion gear. Each second pinion gear of the pinions is disposed in meshing engagement with the sun gear. A first ring gear is disposed in meshing engagement with each first pinion gear of the pinions. The first ring gear is disposed in torque communication with the second input. A second ring gear is disposed in meshing engagement with each second pinion gear of the pinions. The second ring gear is disposed in torque communication with the output.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes a housing defining a cavity. An end plate is disposed within the cavity and divides the cavity into a gear section and an end section. A gear set is disposed within the gear section and comprises at least one gear rotatable about an axis. The end plate is movable longitudinally along the axis for compressing the gear set. A channel is in fluidic communication with the end section for supplying a fluid to the end section to force the plate toward the gear set.