Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, hood, DC energy storage system, power inverter module, high-voltage AC device, sensors, and a controller. The sensors are operable for determining input signals and conditions, including a position sensor operable for detecting an open/closed position of the hood. The controller is programmed to execute a method for preventing access or exposure to the AC-side of the high-voltage system in an ignition-on state, to receive the input signals and conditions, and to selectively prevent access to the AC-side via a corresponding control action using the received input signals and conditions. The input signals and conditions include the open/closed position of the hood, a PRNDL position, and a powertrain mode of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a target temperature and/or adjusting a temperature associated with a battery, such as a vehicle battery. In some implementations of such methods, a temperature-scaled battery capacity of at least a portion of a battery may be determined at a measured temperature. The temperature-scaled battery capacity may be compared with a capacity threshold and, upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery may be determined and/or set.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, hood, DC energy storage system, power inverter module, high-voltage AC device, sensors, and a controller. The sensors are operable for determining input signals and conditions, including a position sensor operable for detecting an open/closed position of the hood. The controller is programmed to execute a method for preventing access or exposure to the AC-side of the high-voltage system in an ignition-on state, to receive the input signals and conditions, and to selectively prevent access to the AC-side via a corresponding control action using the received input signals and conditions. The input signals and conditions include the open/closed position of the hood, a PRNDL position, and a powertrain mode of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric machine includes the following steps: (a) sending data indicative of a current location of the hybrid vehicle to a command center after the hybrid vehicle experiences the loss of propulsion; (b) sending data indicative of a desired destination to the command center; (c) receiving a remedial action command from the command center, wherein the remedial action command is based, at least in part, on vehicle operating parameters, the current location of the hybrid vehicle, and the desired destination; and (d) commanding the hybrid vehicle to perform a remedial action corresponding to the remedial action command, wherein the remedial action allows the hybrid vehicle to travel from the current location to a predetermined location after the hybrid vehicle has experienced the loss of propulsion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles provide for cooling of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A control system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to cool the RESS. The control system includes a passive cooling system for cooling the RESS, an active cooling system for cooling the RESS, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the passive cooling system and the active cooling system, and is configured to determine whether conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, initiate cooling of the RESS using the passive cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, and initiate cooling of the RESS using the active cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are not present for effective use of the passive cooling system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric machine includes the following steps: (a) sending data indicative of a current location of the hybrid vehicle to a command center after the hybrid vehicle experiences the loss of propulsion; (b) sending data indicative of a desired destination to the command center; (c) receiving a remedial action command from the command center, wherein the remedial action command is based, at least in part, on vehicle operating parameters, the current location of the hybrid vehicle, and the desired destination; and (d) commanding the hybrid vehicle to perform a remedial action corresponding to the remedial action command, wherein the remedial action allows the hybrid vehicle to travel from the current location to a predetermined location after the hybrid vehicle has experienced the loss of propulsion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that provide for cooling of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A cooling system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to cool the RESS. A control system is coupled to the cooling system, and is configured to determine whether the RESS is charging, determine whether the vehicle is in a propulsion ready state, and initiate cooling of the RESS if the RESS is not charging and the vehicle is not in the propulsion ready state, provided further that one or more conditions are present that would promote faster than desired capacity loss for the RESS.

Abstract: Noise control for a vehicle is implemented by identifying sources of noise that are indicative of vehicle noise producing components. The sources of noise include a thermal management device of a hybrid-electric component of the vehicle and non-hybrid-electric components of the vehicle. The noise control is further implemented by determining a decibel value of the noise produced by each of the vehicle noise producing components, selecting the decibel value of one of the vehicle noise producing components having a highest decibel value as a mask limit, and determining an operational limit for the thermal management device. The operational limit includes a lowest threshold operating value which, when implemented, maintains a threshold level operating efficiency of the hybrid-electric component.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a system using an element. The element is controlled in accordance with a first control strategy via a processor if a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices is within a first range, a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices is within a second range, and an inlet temperature of the system is within a third range. The element is controlled via the processor in accordance with a second control strategy via the processor if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range.

Abstract: A thermal system includes fluid-cooled devices, a controller, and a thermal loop or loops each having a cooling actuator and fluid passages. The controller executes device-specific control logic to arbitrate between cooling requests having different relative priorities. The controller receives raw speed requests and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for each device, and processes the raw speed requests and NVH limits to determine a relative cooling priority for each device. The controller outputs a speed command to the actuator(s) for each thermal loop in order to cool the devices at a level required by the device having the highest relative cooling priority. A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission that is selectively connected to the traction motor, fluid-cooled devices each in electrical communication with the motor, and a controller configured to execute the arbitration method noted above.

Abstract: A method of operating a RESS thermal system in a vehicle having a coolant loop for directing a coolant through a RESS and a refrigerant loop configured to selectively cool the coolant flowing through a chiller in the coolant loop, including: determining a current target temperature range for the RESS based on a current vehicle operating mode and ambient temperature; determining a temperature of the RESS; determining if the temperature of the RESS needs to increase or decrease to be within the current target temperature range; if the determination is made that the temperature of the RESS needs to increase, determining if an active heating or a passive heating of the coolant will be employed, the active heating using a greater amount of energy over a shorter time period than the passive heating; and activating the determined active heating or passive heating of the coolant.

Abstract: A method for starting a hybrid vehicle when the vehicle is already connected to an external power source. In some hybrid vehicles, it can be undesirable for an external power source (e.g., an AC power outlet) and an internal power source (e.g., an internal combustion engine/generator) to simultaneously provide the vehicle with electrical energy. There are a variety of reasons why this may be true. For instance, some hybrid vehicles may have difficulty accurately estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery when both external and internal power sources are simultaneously providing electrical energy to the vehicle's high voltage bus. The method described herein can arbitrate or otherwise determine which power source is preferable for the circumstances and then activate or enable that power source accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a target temperature and/or adjusting a temperature associated with a battery, such as a vehicle battery. In some implementations of such methods, a temperature-scaled battery capacity of at least a portion of a battery may be determined at a measured temperature. The temperature-scaled battery capacity may be compared with a capacity threshold and, upon determining that the temperature-scaled battery capacity is below the capacity threshold, a target battery temperature for the at least a portion of the battery may be determined and/or set.

Abstract: Noise control for a vehicle is implemented by identifying sources of noise that are indicative of vehicle noise producing components. The sources of noise include a thermal management device of a hybrid-electric component of the vehicle and non-hybrid-electric components of the vehicle. The noise control is further implemented by determining a decibel value of the noise produced by each of the vehicle noise producing components, selecting the decibel value of one of the vehicle noise producing components having a highest decibel value as a mask limit, and determining an operational limit for the thermal management device. The operational limit includes a lowest threshold operating value which, when implemented, maintains a threshold level operating efficiency of the hybrid-electric component.

Abstract: A thermal system includes fluid-cooled devices, a controller, and a thermal loop or loops each having a cooling actuator and fluid passages. The controller executes device-specific control logic to arbitrate between cooling requests having different relative priorities. The controller receives raw speed requests and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for each device, and processes the raw speed requests and NVH limits to determine a relative cooling priority for each device. The controller outputs a speed command to the actuator(s) for each thermal loop in order to cool the devices at a level required by the device having the highest relative cooling priority. A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission that is selectively connected to the traction motor, fluid-cooled devices each in electrical communication with the motor, and a controller configured to execute the arbitration method noted above.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that provide for cooling of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A cooling system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to cool the RESS. A control system is coupled to the cooling system, and is configured to determine whether the RESS is charging, determine whether the vehicle is in a propulsion ready state, and initiate cooling of the RESS if the RESS is not charging and the vehicle is not in the propulsion ready state, provided further that one or more conditions are present that would promote faster than desired capacity loss for the RESS.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles provide for cooling of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A control system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to cool the RESS. The control system includes a passive cooling system for cooling the RESS, an active cooling system for cooling the RESS, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the passive cooling system and the active cooling system, and is configured to determine whether conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, initiate cooling of the RESS using the passive cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are present for effective use of the passive cooling system, and initiate cooling of the RESS using the active cooling system if it is determined that the conditions are not present for effective use of the passive cooling system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that provide for thermal conditioning of a vehicle rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A thermal conditioning system is coupled to the RESS, and is configured to thermally condition the RESS. A control system is coupled to the thermal conditioning system, and is configured to estimate an amount of time after which a temperature of the RESS will be outside a predetermined range and provide instructions to the thermal conditioning system to thermally condition the RESS after the amount of time.

Abstract: A programmable cabin conditioner for an electric vehicle includes a power charging system configured to provide power to a battery of the electric vehicle. Also included is a cabin conditioning system configured to receive input from a user to provide a desired cabin conditioning environment prior to a departure time, wherein the cabin conditioning system is operated during operation of the power charging system and subsequent to a fully charged state of the battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for thermally controlling a plurality of devices of a system using an element. The element is controlled in accordance with a first control strategy via a processor if a temperature of a first device of the plurality of devices is within a first range, a temperature of a second device of the plurality of devices is within a second range, and an inlet temperature of the system is within a third range. The element is controlled via the processor in accordance with a second control strategy via the processor if the temperature of the first device is not within the first range, the temperature of the second device is not within the second range, or the inlet temperature is not within the third range.