Abstract: A sensor for detecting leaked cooling fluid in a battery pack or container. The sensor is part of a sensor wire, where one end of the wire is electrically coupled to the positive terminal or the negative terminal of the battery pack and the other end of the wire is positioned at a location where the leaked cooling fluid may accumulate. A fault isolation detection circuit monitors a voltage output from the sensor and determines that there is a cooling fluid leak if the measured voltage potential is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold.

Abstract: Data collection and analysis processes include collecting energy consumption data from an in-vehicle energy source sensor, collecting emissions data from an in-vehicle emissions sensor, the emissions data reflecting emissions produced by a vehicle, and collecting mileage data from a mileage sensor in the vehicle. The data collection and analysis processes also include processing the energy consumption data and the emissions data as a function of the mileage data, calculating an efficiency rating from the processing, and transmitting results of the processing to a data collection system.

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: A method and system for determining the temperature of cells in a battery pack, without using temperature sensors, by measuring the impedance of the cells and using the impedance to determine the temperature. An AC voltage signal is applied to the battery pack, and a time sample of voltage and current data is obtained. The voltage and current data is narrowed down to a simultaneous time window of interest, and a fast fourier transformation is performed on the windowed voltage and current data to identify voltage and current magnitudes at one or more specific frequencies. The voltage and current magnitudes are used to determine the impedance at the one or more frequencies. Finally, the impedance is used to determine the temperature of the cell or cells using a look-up table, where the impedance, the frequency, and a state of charge are used as input parameters for the look-up.

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: A sensor for detecting leaked cooling fluid in a battery pack or container. The sensor is part of a sensor wire, where one end of the wire is electrically coupled to the positive terminal or the negative terminal of the battery pack and the other end of the wire is positioned at a location where the leaked cooling fluid may accumulate. A fault isolation detection circuit monitors a voltage output from the sensor and determines that there is a cooling fluid leak if the measured voltage potential is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold.

Abstract: A method for controlling charging and discharging of a battery pack for an electric or hybrid vehicle to prevent overheating damage. Current flowing into or out of the battery pack is monitored, and root mean square (RMS) current is integrated over a time window and compared to a threshold to determine if power needs to be regulated in order to prevent damage to the cells in the battery pack. If the time-integrated RMS current exceeds the threshold, a closed-loop proportional-integral (PI) controller is activated to regulate power input or output. The controller will continue to regulate power until the time-integrated RMS current drops below the threshold. Various thresholds can be defined for different time windows. The gains used in the PI controller can also be adjusted to scale the amount of power regulation.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the temperature of cells in a battery pack, without using temperature sensors, by measuring the impedance of the cells and using the impedance to determine the temperature. An AC voltage signal is applied to the battery pack, and a time sample of voltage and current data is obtained. The voltage and current data is narrowed down to a simultaneous time window of interest, and a fast fourier transformation is performed on the windowed voltage and current data to identify voltage and current magnitudes at one or more specific frequencies. The voltage and current magnitudes are used to determine the impedance at the one or more frequencies. Finally, the impedance is used to determine the temperature of the cell or cells using a look-up table, where the impedance, the frequency, and a state of charge are used as input parameters for the look-up.

Abstract: Data collection and analysis processes include collecting energy consumption data from an in-vehicle energy source sensor, collecting emissions data from an in-vehicle emissions sensor, the emissions data reflecting emissions produced by a vehicle, and collecting mileage data from a mileage sensor in the vehicle. The data collection and analysis processes also include processing the energy consumption data and the emissions data as a function of the mileage data, calculating an efficiency rating from the processing, and transmitting results of the processing to a data collection system.

Abstract: A method for controlling charging and discharging of a battery pack for an electric or hybrid vehicle to prevent overheating damage. Current flowing into or out of the battery pack is monitored, and root mean square (RMS) current is integrated over a time window and compared to a threshold to determine if power needs to be regulated in order to prevent damage to the cells in the battery pack. If the time-integrated RMS current exceeds the threshold, a closed-loop proportional-integral (PI) controller is activated to regulate power input or output. The controller will continue to regulate power until the time-integrated RMS current drops below the threshold. Various thresholds can be defined for different time windows. The gains used in the PI controller can also be adjusted to scale the amount of power regulation.

Abstract: A hydrogen blower is provided and includes a housing having a drive unit and a compressor unit disposed therein. The drive unit is separated from the compressor unit by a neutral chamber, whereby the neutral chamber effectively seals the drive unit from the compressor unit. The drive unit includes a drive shaft, whereby the drive shaft extends generally between the drive unit and the compressor unit to selectively drive the compressor. In addition, the drive shaft fixedly supports a series of fan blades such that rotation of the drive shaft imparts a pressure on the neutral chamber to effectively seal the drive unit from the compressor unit. In this manner, the drive motor, compressor, and drive shaft may be packaged in a single housing while effectively sealing the drive unit from the compressor unit through cooperation between the fan blades and the neutral chamber.

Abstract: A hydrogen blower is provided and includes a housing having a drive unit and a compressor unit disposed therein. The drive unit is separated from the compressor unit by a neutral chamber, whereby the neutral chamber effectively seals the drive unit from the compressor unit. The drive unit includes a drive shaft, whereby the drive shaft extends generally between the drive unit and the compressor unit to selectively drive the compressor. In addition, the drive shaft fixedly supports a series of fan blades such that rotation of the drive shaft imparts a pressure on the neutral chamber to effectively seal the drive unit from the compressor unit. In this manner, the drive motor, compressor, and drive shaft may be packaged in a single housing while effectively sealing the drive unit from the compressor unit through cooperation between the fan blades and the neutral chamber.

Abstract: A price-calculating scale for self-service use equipped with an input keyboard with key fields provided with pictographs of goods, the price per kilogram of which is entered in the scales by means of the appropriate key field. For the purpose of adaptation to the current type of goods to be priced, an exchangeable key pads having a varied arrangement of the key fields is provided. The scale is programmable to automatically adapt to each key pad.