Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for heating the interior of a motor vehicle capable of being powered by electricity or a liquid fuel. A canister stores vapors released from a vehicle fuel tank, and a heater in communication with the canister burns the vapors stored therein to generate heated exhaust gases. Coolant is circulated between a heating coil where the coolant absorbs heat from the heated exhaust gases and a heater core where at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the coolant is transmitted to the interior of the vehicle. A system controller receives a first input indicating a demand for heat in the interior of the vehicle, a second input indicating the state of charge of an electrical storage battery, and a third input indicating a time interval since the canister was previously purged.

Abstract: An energy management system for a hybrid vehicle having wheels drivingly connected to traction motors, which motors are alternatively energized by an internal combustion engine generator or an electrical storage battery. The system comprises an electrical storage battery, a high voltage electrically heated catalyst (300-400 volts) for treating the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the selective operation of the internal combustion engine to energize the traction motors and to sometimes produce electrical energy in excess of that consumed by the traction motors, and a high voltage controller for selectively transferring electrical energy generated by the internal combustion engine generator and the electrical energy produced by the traction motors when driven by the wheels to preferentially the electrically heated catalyst and secondarily to the storage battery.

Abstract: A series hybrid engine has an electric traction motor drive of the vehicle wheels and a regenerative braking system that converts the motor to a generator for the output of useful electrical energy, the latter being used either to charge the storage battery for a power source for the traction motor, or if the battery is charged, diverting the regenerative energy to a resistive heater located in the cooling circuit of an independently operated accessory driving ICE; the resistive heater providing heat to the coolant to preheat the ICE prior to engine start-up; or, alternatively, or concurrently to supply heat to the core of a heater for the passenger compartment of the vehicle, or, to store the heat in a heat battery type reservoir for future use.