Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to vent a battery pack for an electric vehicle. The battery pack comprises a pack housing subdivided by a crossmember. The crossmember defines a multidirectional vent passage configured to allow venting with a first bay and a second bay. A pressure release valve is arranged on the pack housing and configured to release pressure based on the multidirectional vent passage.

Abstract: A thermal management system and method for a vehicle, including: a heat-cold source thermal management circuit; an energy storage system thermal management circuit; a power electronics thermal management circuit; and a multi-port valve assembly coupled to the heat-cold source thermal management circuit, the energy storage system thermal management circuit, and the power electronics thermal management circuit and adapted to, responsive to an operating state of the vehicle, selectively couple and isolate the heat-cold source thermal management circuit, the energy storage system thermal management circuit, and the power electronics thermal management circuit to and from one another.

Abstract: A gun for firing a round of caseless ammunition, a round of such ammunition having a projectile and a modular propellant, the projectile and a modular propellant being disposable for firing in a gun tube, includes an actuatable valve being selectively openable to the gun tube, the valve for drawing a negative pressure in the gun tube, the negative pressure acting to pull the round into contact with a breech face such that when a firing pin is forceably released, the firing pin reliably strikes a primer of the modular propellant, the primer igniting the modular propellant, the ignited propellant forcefully discharging the projectile from the gun tube. A firing pin and valve assembly and a method of operating a gun are further included.