A thermal management system for a motor vehicle includes a heating circuit with an interior compartment heat exchanger; a refrigeration circuit with a compressor; a condenser which is arranged in the heating circuit and in the refrigeration circuit, wherein the heating circuit and the refrigeration circuit are fluidically separated from one another in the condenser; and a chiller, which is arranged in the heating circuit and in the refrigeration circuit. The heating circuit and the refrigeration circuit are fluidically separated from one another in the chiller. In a heating mode, the interior compartment heat exchanger, the chiller and the condenser are connected in series in the heating circuit.

A vehicle has a prime mover to propel the vehicle, and a fluid circuit that defines a fluid passage and contains a coolant. The fluid circuit in thermal communication with the prime mover. A camera is positioned to image coolant within the fluid passage. A controller is configured to receive image data from the camera, process the image data to determine a state of the coolant in the fluid circuit, and output an indication to a user regarding the state of the coolant. A method of monitoring a fluid circuit in a vehicle is also provided.

A coolant system for an electric vehicle having first and second heat generating components includes a fluid circuit that circulates a coolant therethrough and a coolant assembly. The coolant assembly decreases the temperature of a portion of the coolant to a first temperature and supplies the portion of coolant to the first heat generating component via a first supply branch of the fluid circuit, and decreases the temperature of a remaining portion of the coolant to a second temperature and supplies the remaining portion of coolant to the second heat generating component via a second supply branch of the fluid circuit. The system includes a first pump unit, arranged downstream of the coolant assembly in the first supply branch, that directs the portion of coolant to the first heat generating component, and a second pump unit that directs the remaining portion of coolant to the second heat generating component.

A directional control valve for handling fluids, such as cooling and/or heating fluids, may be used in a motor vehicle, such as an electrically operated motor vehicle. The directional control value may include: a valve housing defining at least one fluid channel including at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, and at least one fluid connecting piece adapted to the at least one fluid inlet or fluid outlet. The fluid connecting piece may be positively connected to the valve housing using a bayonet mechanism. The directional control may include a multi-way valve.

A battery heating device of an electric vehicle, a battery heat adjustment method, a storage medium, and an electronic device are provided. The device includes a battery heating circuit, an engine cooling circuit and a three-way valve. The three-way valve connects the battery heating circuit and the engine cooling circuit to mix a first liquid in the engine cooling circuit and a second liquid in the battery heating circuit, and transmits a mixed liquid to the battery heating circuit to heat a battery in the battery heating circuit. By means of the disclosure, the problems of large overall weight and packaging space of a system caused by the use of a heat exchanger and high manufacturing cost in a conventional art are solved, the overall weight and packaging space of the system are reduced, additional components are reduced, and the cost is reduced.

Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body. Specific functional components of such vehicle platforms, and the relative placement of the various functional components, to allow for implementation of a self-contained vehicle platform are also provided.

A battery coolant heater assembly including a coolant manifold having liquid coolant pathways and a heat transfer surface for transferring heat to liquid coolant flowable within the coolant manifold, an electric heater element thermally contacted to the heat transfer surface of the manifold, and a cover sealably enclosing the heating element between the heat transfer surface and the cover via a gasket. The electric heater element is electrically connected via an electrical connector extending through and formed integrally with the gasket.

Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body. Specific functional components of such vehicle platforms, and the relative placement of the various functional components, to allow for implementation of a self-contained vehicle platform are also provided.

A battery coolant heater assembly including a coolant manifold having liquid coolant pathways and a heat transfer surface for transferring heat to liquid coolant flowable within the coolant manifold, an electric heater element thermally contacted to the heat transfer surface of the manifold, and a cover sealably enclosing the heating element between the heat transfer surface and the cover via a gasket. The electric heater element is electrically connected via an electrical connector extending through and formed integrally with the gasket.

An exemplary thermal management system includes, among other things, a valve, a radiator loop configured to be connected to the valve, a power electronics loop configured to be connected to the valve, a heater loop configured to be connected to the valve, and a battery loop configured to be connected to the valve. The valve is configured to connect one or more of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops together and the valve is configured to isolate at least one of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops from any remaining loops of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops.