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.

An electrical heater device comprises an heating element, which includes two electrodes and a heating body made of a polymer-based material having a PTC effect, in contact with the electrodes. Each electrode comprises a meshed structure, which extends in a length direction and in a width direction, and is embedded at least partially in the heating body. Each electrode further comprises an electrical-distribution element which is fixed to the meshed structure and includes a distribution portion that extends in the length direction, or in the width direction, or in both the length and width directions of the meshed structure.

A device is provided for activating a synchronous machine arranged in a vehicle. The vehicle has a gearbox and driven wheels in operative connection therewith. The synchronous machine is designed to drive the driven wheels via the gearbox. In the vehicle there is a lubricating unit, which is designed to lubricate the gearbox by way of a lubricant, for this purpose the lubricant flowing through the gearbox and at least part of the synchronous machine. The device is configured to operate the synchronous machine in a heating operating mode, which is different from a customary driving operating mode, when there are defined conditions that require heating when starting. At least one operating variable of the synchronous machine is set in the heating operating mode specifically such that, in the synchronous machine, there is a greater current heat loss in comparison with the customary driving operating mode, in order in this way to heat up the lubricant in the heating operating mode.

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 thermal management system comprises two pumps and three coolant loops. The loops are interconnectable such that most if not all of the functions of the thermal management system can be accomplished with one of the two pumps deactivated or inoperable. The thermal management system is selectively configurable to utilize waste heat from a battery, an electrical drivetrain system, and/or a wireless charger to heat cabin air. The thermal management system is further selectively configurable to heat or cool a battery, to cool an electrical drivetrain system, and to cool a wireless charger.

A vehicle floor structure is provided including: a vehicle interior opening formation section provided inside a vehicle cabin, and demarcating a vehicle interior opening that opens into the vehicle cabin; a vehicle exterior opening formation section provided further toward a vehicle lower side than a floor inside the vehicle cabin, and demarcating a vehicle exterior opening that opens toward a vehicle exterior; a storage section provided at the vehicle lower side of the floor, and demarcating a storage space that connects the vehicle interior opening and the vehicle exterior opening together; and a pull-out receptacle disposed inside the storage section at a position corresponding to the vehicle interior opening, and capable of moving from inside the storage section to the vehicle exterior through the vehicle exterior opening.

A temperature control apparatus of a vehicle of the invention flows a cooling medium in an engine circulation circuit and a battery circulation circuit and an activation of an engine heat exchanging system so as not to perform an engine heat exchanging when an engine temperature is lower than an engine warming end temperature and a battery temperature is lower than a predetermined battery temperature lower than a battery warming end temperature, and flows the cooling medium in the engine circulation circuit and the battery circulation circuit and the activation of the engine heat exchanging system so as to perform the engine heat exchanging when the engine temperature is lower than the engine warming end temperature, and the battery temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined battery temperature.

A heat exchange system for a vehicle includes: a first cooling circuit (L1-1, L1-2) is configured to cool an internal combustion engine a second cooling circuit (L2-1, L2-2) is configured to cool a driving electric motor outputs a driving force; a first heat exchanger (106) is configured to exchange heat between the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit; a first sensor (151) is configured to detect a temperature of the first cooling circuit; a second sensor (152) is configured to detect a temperature of the second cooling circuit; and a controller (155) is configured to execute control of performing heat exchange between a coolant in the first cooling circuit and a coolant in the second cooling circuit using the first heat exchanger when the temperature detected by the first sensor is lower than the temperature detected by the second sensor.

A cooling system of an electric vehicle includes: an integral valve with one or more coolant inlets and two or more coolant outlets, and which selectively discharges coolant through one of the coolant outlets; coolant paths that are connected with each other such that the coolant discharged through one of the coolant outlets is introduced back into the integral valve through the one or more coolant inlets after being supplied to a portion where coolant circulation is required; and a temperature controller that selectively controls a temperature of the coolant. The integral valve, at least a portion of the plurality of coolant paths, and the temperature controller may form one valve module.

A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a first battery module with a first heater and a second battery module with a second heater. The battery system also includes a control system configured to selectively activate the first or the second heater to dissipate energy from the first or the second battery module.