Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery thermal management system for maintaining the temperature of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle below a maximum operating temperature threshold. The system comprises a battery pack having a plurality of electronically linked cells and a supply air diffuser having a pattern of openings therein for diffusing exhausted air at a substantially uniform flow throughout the battery pack. The system further comprises sensors for monitoring the temperature of at least a portion of the cells, a fan comprising an inlet through which air is drawn in and an outlet in communication with at least the supply air diffuser, for exhausting air into the first diffuser to lower the temperature of the battery pack, and an electronic control unit in communication with the sensors and the fan for controlling operation of the fan based on temperature signals received from the sensors to maintain the temperature of the battery pack below a maximum operating temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery management system for lithium ion batteries capable of determining a battery pack's state of capacity; determining a battery pack's state of charge limits; adjusting for voltage drops and power losses over a battery's internal and/or connector impedances; adjusting the upper and lower voltage limits of a battery pack; and of actively balancing the cells making up the battery pack. In order to achieve this functionality, the battery pack management system includes an electronic control unit, which unit is coupled to module and cell-level circuitry that is designed to measure operating conditions of the battery such as voltage and current at any given time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an auxiliary power unit, at least one energy storage device, at least one electric drive motor for traction, and a controller with associated memory. The method initially involves the steps of acquiring data for the current vehicle operating state for a variable control interval and storing the vehicle operating state data as measured operating state variables. Simulated vehicle operating state data is generated by inputting the measured vehicle operating state variables into a simulation model running on-board in the controller memory.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle ensures the best possible utilization of onboard energy resources for different operating conditions of the vehicle. The control system utilizes a strategy modified in real time depending on the input from sensors measuring vehicle speed, the current and voltage levels at different locations in the system. The vehicle has an auxiliary power unit, at least one energy storage device and at least one electric drive motor for traction. The vehicle has a high load driving condition, a low load driving condition and a regenerative braking condition. A voltage control sets system voltage to a charging voltage in the low load condition and regenerative braking condition, and sets system voltage to an output voltage from the energy storage device for the high load condition.