Abstract: A control system of a vehicle comprising an electric motor that drives the vehicle, a battery that provides electrical power to the electric motor, a wireless transceiver that communicates with a weather data server, and a vehicle range prediction module coupled to the wireless transceiver. The vehicle range prediction module receives from the weather data server a plurality of wind characteristic data, each of the wind characteristic data associated with one of a plurality of points along a predetermined route to be traveled by the vehicle and a plurality of solar energy data, each of the solar energy data associated with one of the plurality of points along the predetermined route to be traveled by the vehicle. The vehicle range prediction module determines the predicted range of the vehicle based on the wind characteristic data and the solar energy data.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: Systems and method are provided for controlling a first vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of determining road surface information for a first vehicle at a vehicle location includes: obtaining a first value of a friction coefficient for a road surface; obtaining environmental data at the vehicle location; calculating a second value of the friction coefficient based on the first value and based on the environmental data at the vehicle location; and controlling the first vehicle based on the second value.

Abstract: An electrical system is usable with an offboard charging station and configured to dynamically adjust a power limit of the electrical system during a battery charging process. The system includes a battery pack, charge coupler, power electronic components, temperature sensor(s), and a controller. The components include a most-limiting component, and are electrically connected to the battery pack with corresponding temperature-based operating performance information. The information describes a maximum allowed charging current over different time intervals. The most-limiting component has a lowest allowed charging current. The controller executes a method by determining a component temperature using the measured temperature(s), and requests increased charging current from the power supply over one or more of the time intervals to supply the battery pack with the maximum allowed charging current of the most-limiting component.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: Systems and method are provided for controlling a first vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of determining road surface information for a first vehicle at a vehicle location includes: obtaining a first value of a friction coefficient for a road surface; obtaining environmental data at the vehicle location; calculating a second value of the friction coefficient based on the first value and based on the environmental data at the vehicle location; and controlling the first vehicle based on the second value.

Abstract: An electrical system is usable with an offboard charging station and configured to dynamically adjust a power limit of the electrical system during a battery charging process. The system includes a battery pack, charge coupler, power electronic components, temperature sensor(s), and a controller. The components include a most-limiting component, and are electrically connected to the battery pack with corresponding temperature-based operating performance information. The information describes a maximum allowed charging current over different time intervals. The most-limiting component has a lowest allowed charging current. The controller executes a method by determining a component temperature using the measured temperature(s), and requests increased charging current from the power supply over one or more of the time intervals to supply the battery pack with the maximum allowed charging current of the most-limiting component.

Abstract: An electric motor control system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module that determines a vehicle speed. A closed loop (CL) module determines a CL torque based on a difference between a target vehicle speed and the vehicle speed. A motor torque module determines a motor torque based on the CL torque and a motor torque request determined based on a position of an accelerator pedal. A switching control module controls switching of an inverter based on the motor torque to control application of power to an electric motor of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric motor control system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module that determines a vehicle speed. A closed loop (CL) module determines a CL torque based on a difference between a target vehicle speed and the vehicle speed. A motor torque module determines a motor torque based on the CL torque and a motor torque request determined based on a position of an accelerator pedal. A switching control module controls switching of an inverter based on the motor torque to control application of power to an electric motor of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for predicting the duration of a future charging process for a vehicle battery. The method comprises estimating a future charge amount of the battery corresponding to the start of the future charging process. The method further comprises estimating a future temperature of the battery. The method still further comprises determining a future charging power or a characteristic thereof to be applied to the battery during the future charging process, wherein the future charging power or characteristic thereof is based on the estimated future charge amount and the estimated future temperature and is representative of a charging amount or characteristic thereof that will maintain the temperature of the battery at or below a threshold temperature during the future charging process. The method still further comprises predicting a duration of the future charging process based on the estimated future charge amount and the determined future charging power or characteristic thereof.

Abstract: A method for predicting the duration of a future charging process for a vehicle battery. The method comprises estimating a future charge amount of the battery corresponding to the start of the future charging process. The method further comprises estimating a future temperature of the battery. The method still further comprises determining a future charging power or a characteristic thereof to be applied to the battery during the future charging process, wherein the future charging power or characteristic thereof is based on the estimated future charge amount and the estimated future temperature and is representative of a charging amount or characteristic thereof that will maintain the temperature of the battery at or below a threshold temperature during the future charging process. The method still further comprises predicting a duration of the future charging process based on the estimated future charge amount and the determined future charging power or characteristic thereof.

Abstract: A computer processor is embedded in a vehicle and a display device embedded in the vehicle is communicatively coupled to the computer processor. The computer executes logic to receive a price per unit of energy that is stored in the vehicle, compute an energy consumption rate of the vehicle over a time period, multiply the price per unit by the energy consumption rate to determine a cost of the energy consumption rate over the time period, and display the cost of the energy consumption rate for the time period on the display device in the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.

Abstract: A computer processor is embedded in a vehicle and a display device embedded in the vehicle is communicatively coupled to the computer processor. The computer executes logic to receive a price per unit of energy that is stored in the vehicle, compute an energy consumption rate of the vehicle over a time period, multiply the price per unit by the energy consumption rate to determine a cost of the energy consumption rate over the time period, and display the cost of the energy consumption rate for the time period on the display device in the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door and a method of operating the handle assembly is disclosed. The door handle assembly may include a pivot bracket mounted in the vehicle door, a handle arm pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket, a handle alignable flush with a door handle cutout, and a motor assembly operatively engaging the handle arm to selectively cause pivoting of the handle arm relative to the pivot bracket. The door handle assembly may also include a handle depression limit switch, a handle flush button, or a handle extension limit switch in communication with a control module that controls the motor.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door and a method of operating the handle assembly is disclosed. The door handle assembly may include a pivot bracket mounted in the vehicle door, a handle arm pivotally mounted to the pivot bracket, a handle alignable flush with a door handle cutout, and a motor assembly operatively engaging the handle arm to selectively cause pivoting of the handle arm relative to the pivot bracket. The door handle assembly may also include a handle depression limit switch, a handle flush button, or a handle extension limit switch in communication with a control module that controls the motor.