Abstract: A heater system for an electric vehicle that is void of engine coolant. The heater system can include an air duct having an opening into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a heater unit attached to the air duct. The heater unit can have a self-contained quantity of oil within an oil reservoir and an oil channel in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. The oil channel can be located between a front wall and a back wall of the heater unit and the unit can also have an electric heating element at least partially within the oil reservoir. The electric heater unit can be operable to heat oil in the oil reservoir and thereby result in the oil flowing through the oil channel and heating the front wall and the back wall of the unit.

Abstract: A bracket assembly configured to mount an engine component to the vehicle body is provided. The bracket assembly includes a first body bracket, a second body bracket, a rod and a third body bracket. The first body bracket is configured to hold the component. The second and third body brackets are both configured to attach to the structure within the engine compartment. The rod may be dimensioned so as to place the third body bracket in a desired spatial orientation with respect to the first and second body brackets. Accordingly, the bracket assembly is operable to accommodate two of the same components within the engine compartment by allowing the components to be in different spatial relationships relative to the engine compartment.

Abstract: Elastically deformable air inlets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an air inlet includes a first portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a second portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface and including at least one deformation zone. The first portion and the second portion define a hollow space. The air inlet also includes at least one support member including a first end and a second end that extends from the interior surface of the first portion toward the interior surface of the second portion. The second end of the support member contacts the deformation zone, wherein when an external force is applied to the air inlet, the second end of the support member extends through the deformation zone.

Abstract: Elastically deformable air inlets are disclosed. In one embodiment, an air inlet includes a first portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a second portion having an interior surface and an exterior surface and including at least one deformation zone. The first portion and the second portion define a hollow space. The air inlet also includes at least one support member including a first end and a second end that extends from the interior surface of the first portion toward the interior surface of the second portion. The second end of the support member contacts the deformation zone, wherein when an external force is applied to the air inlet, the second end of the support member extends through the deformation zone.

Abstract: A bracket assembly configured to mount an engine component to the vehicle body is provided. The bracket assembly includes a first body bracket, a second body bracket, a rod and a third body bracket. The first body bracket is configured to hold the component. The second and third body brackets are both configured to attach to the structure within the engine compartment. The rod may be dimensioned so as to place the third body bracket in a desired spatial orientation with respect to the first and second body brackets. Accordingly, the bracket assembly is operable to accommodate two of the same components within the engine compartment by allowing the components to be in different spatial relationships relative to the engine compartment.