A lubricant supply system for an electric vehicle includes a lubricant supported electric motor and a lubricant supply line extending from a high pressure source to the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant to the lubricant supported electric motor. In one arrangement, at least one powertrain component is disposed in fluid communication with the lubricant supply line and fluidly connected in parallel with the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant to the powertrain component. In an alternative arrangement, the powertrain component is fluidly connected in series with and downstream from the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant from the lubricant supported electric motor to the powertrain component. In either arrangement, the lubricant supported electric motor is incorporated into an existing lubricant supply system of the vehicle to reduce cost and complexity relative to prior designs which required a dedicated lubricant supply for the lubricant supported electric motor.

A cooling system includes a shared path; a first path connected to the shared path and having a first pump and a first heat exchanger exchanging heat with an inverter; a second path connected to the shared path in parallel with the first path and having a second pump and a second heat exchanger exchanging heat with a battery. The first and second paths are configured to be able to switch a flow state between a first state where the heat media flow through the shared path, and a second state where one of the heat media does not flow through the shared path. The control device controls the outputs of the pumps so that when switching the flow state between the first and second states, flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the first path becomes temporarily larger than the target flow rate.

This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.

A thermal management system may include a first cooling circuit cooling PE parts and including a first radiator, a first coolant line circulating a coolant between the first radiator and the PE parts, and a first electric water pump circulating the coolant along the first coolant line, a heat pump system including a compressor compressing a refrigerant, an internal condenser performing a heat exchange between the compressed refrigerant and air supplied inside a vehicle, a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant between the compressor and the internal condenser, and a heat exchanger for the heat exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant, a flow increase bypass line between the first coolant lines on the entrance and exit sides of the PE parts, and a coolant control valve provided at location where the flow increase bypass line is branched in the first coolant line and controlling a flow direction of the coolant.

A heat management system disclosed herein is used for an electric vehicle. The heat management system may comprise an oil cooler, an oil pump, a converter cooler, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first channel, a second channel, a channel valve, a bypass channel, and a controller. While executing the heat pump mode, the controller may be configured to periodically execute an operation of: switching the channel valve from the second valve position to the first valve position and activating the oil pump; and returning the channel valve from the first valve position to the second valve position and inactivating the oil pump in response to a predetermined time having passed.

A vehicle heat exchange system includes a coolant circulation circuit, a refrigerant circulation circuit, a pump controller, and a detector. In the coolant circulation circuit, a coolant is circulated. In the refrigerant circulation circuit, a refrigerant is circulated. The pump controller controls a flow rate of the coolant. The detector detects a liquid temperature of the coolant before cooling an electric unit. The coolant circulation circuit includes a radiator that dissipates heat of the coolant having cooled the electric unit. The refrigerant circulation circuit includes an exterior heat exchanger in rear of the radiator. The exterior heat exchanger causes the refrigerant to absorb heat from external air. When the detected liquid temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the pump controller maintains or increases the flow rate. When the detected liquid temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the pump controller decreases the flow rate.

A thermal system for a vehicle includes a high temperature coolant loop thermally coupled to a heater core, a low temperature coolant loop thermally coupled to at least one of an electric motor and power electronics, and a first four-way valve configured to selectively fluidly couple the high temperature coolant loop and the low temperature coolant loop such that coolant heated by the electric motor and/or the power electronics is directed to the heater core to facilitate heating of an airflow passing thereby.

To increase the stiffness of a floor panel while maintaining a large foot space for a rear-seat passenger. A vehicle-body structure includes a floor panel constituting a floor provided with front-row and rear-row seats, and a center frame disposed to be higher than and away from the floor panel at a vehicle-width-direction central portion and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction. A recessed portion having a bottom surface on which the feet of a passenger sitting on the rear-row seat can be placed is formed at the floor panel. The floor panel includes a cross member extending in a vehicle width direction at a rear portion of the recessed portion. A rear portion of the center frame is connected to the cross member.

A fuel cell vehicle comprising: a hydrogen tank which is mounted on the vehicle so as to have a center axis generally parallel to a front/rear direction of the vehicle; a high-voltage electric component which is positioned either forward or rearward of the hydrogen tank and which operates on high voltage; an aftercooler placed between the hydrogen tank and the high-voltage electric component to cool compressed air; and a fuel cell stack which is supplied with the cooled compressed air.

There is provided an air supply system and method for a fuel cell, the air supply system includes an air supply device configured to reduce a temperature of compressed air using heat exchange air and to provide the cooled air as power generation air to a fuel cell stack, and an indoor temperature adjustment device configured to provide external air as the heat exchange air to the air supply device or to cool the external air to provide the cooled external air as the heat exchange air to the air supply device, based on operation control information.