Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a traction motor and a battery pack. The thermal management system comprises a battery circuit for cooling a battery circuit thermal load including the battery pack, a battery circuit temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature relating to a temperature of the battery circuit thermal load, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the battery circuit to maintain the temperature sensed by the battery circuit temperature sensor below a first battery circuit temperature limit when the controller detects that the vehicle is not connected to an external electrical source, and to maintain the temperature sensed by the battery circuit temperature sensor below a second battery circuit temperature limit that is lower than the first battery circuit temperature limit when the controller detects that the vehicle is connected to the external electrical source.