Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for thermal event mitigation during vehicle towing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such intelligent control systems. A method of operating a host vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller verifying the host vehicle is an incapacitated state. Responsive to the incapacitation of the host vehicle, the controller detects the host vehicle being towed by a tow vehicle and identifies a wireless-enabled portable computing device (PCD) within a predefined range of the host vehicle. Responsive to the host vehicle being towed, the controller determines if the wireless-enabled PCD is on the tow vehicle while towing the host vehicle. Upon detection of a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the host vehicle's battery system while the host vehicle is being towed, the controller responsively commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the thermal event.

Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for thermal event mitigation during vehicle towing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such intelligent control systems. A method of operating a host vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller verifying the host vehicle is an incapacitated state. Responsive to the incapacitation of the host vehicle, the controller detects the host vehicle being towed by a tow vehicle and identifies a wireless-enabled portable computing device (PCD) within a predefined range of the host vehicle. Responsive to the host vehicle being towed, the controller determines if the wireless-enabled PCD is on the tow vehicle while towing the host vehicle. Upon detection of a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the host vehicle's battery system while the host vehicle is being towed, the controller responsively commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the thermal event.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that includes an electric machine as a propulsion source. In one example, a motor stall assessment level is generated based on an amount of time that the motor is stalled and an amount of torque that is generated by the motor. Mitigating actions may be performed if the motor stall assessment level exceeds a threshold level or value.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that includes an electric machine as a propulsion source. In one example, a motor stall assessment level is generated based on an amount of time that the motor is stalled and an amount of torque that is generated by the motor. Mitigating actions may be performed if the motor stall assessment level exceeds a threshold level or value.

A vehicle powertrain has a first electrical machine with first power electronics and a second electrical machine with second power electronics. In symmetrical operation, the first and second electrical machines are loaded or operated with the same torque and with the same torque gradient. In a non-symmetrical operation, the first and second electrical machines are loaded or operated with a different torque and/or with a different torque gradient. If, after non-symmetrical operation the symmetrical operation is resumed, a subsequent modified operation can be used in which the electrical machine that was loaded or operated in non-symmetrical operation with higher torque and/or a higher torque gradient, is loaded or operated with a limited torque and/or with a limited torque gradient or is switched off or decoupled for a defined period of time, thereby at least partially compensating for a different aging of the electrical machines due to non-symmetrical operation.

A vehicle powertrain has a first electrical machine with first power electronics and a second electrical machine with second power electronics. In symmetrical operation, the first and second electrical machines are loaded or operated with the same torque and with the same torque gradient. In a non-symmetrical operation, the first and second electrical machines are loaded or operated with a different torque and/or with a different torque gradient. If, after non-symmetrical operation the symmetrical operation is resumed, a subsequent modified operation can be used in which the electrical machine that was loaded or operated in non-symmetrical operation with higher torque and/or a higher torque gradient, is loaded or operated with a limited torque and/or with a limited torque gradient or is switched off or decoupled for a defined period of time, thereby at least partially compensating for a different aging of the electrical machines due to non-symmetrical operation.

When the temperature of a battery is high, the output power of the battery is limited to suppress the temperature rise. Upon fulfillment of three conditions of (i) the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, (ii) the vehicle traveling load is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling load, and (iii) the operating load of a battery cooling device is equal to or greater than a predetermined operating load, the output power of the battery is limited using a high-load output limiting value less than an output limiting value for the normal condition in a temperature range equal to or higher than a second power restrictive lower limit temperature that is equal to or lower than a first power restrictive lower limit temperature for the normal condition.

When the temperature of a battery is high, the output power of the battery is limited to suppress the temperature rise. Upon fulfillment of three conditions of (i) the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, (ii) the vehicle traveling load is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling load, and (iii) the operating load of a battery cooling device is equal to or greater than a predetermined operating load, the output power of the battery is limited using a high-load output limiting value less than an output limiting value for the normal condition in a temperature range equal to or higher than a second power restrictive lower limit temperature that is equal to or lower than a first power restrictive lower limit temperature for the normal condition.

A torque-speed curve or data of load that is used as a standard to determine an external condition in which an electric vehicle is operating such as incline or no incline, head wind or no headwind, high temperature or low temperature. The system compares samples of actual torque-speed of load data to the standard. Based on the comparison, the system determines the external condition (going up a hill, traveling into a headwind, operating at high temperature) or an abnormal operation of the vehicle powertrain, for example, low tire pressure, elevated friction, wheels out of alignment. Based on the determination, the system takes an action to govern a maximum torque output of the motor to control temperature of the vehicle battery; to raise a wind deflector; to govern maximum speed of the vehicle to reduce danger resulting from low tire pressure, elevated powertrain friction or out of alignment wheels; or to initiate an indication of abnormal conditions.

A torque-speed curve or data of load that is used as a standard to determine an external condition in which an electric vehicle is operating such as incline or no incline, head wind or no headwind, high temperature or low temperature. The system compares samples of actual torque-speed of load data to the standard. Based on the comparison, the system determines the external condition (going up a hill, traveling into a headwind, operating at high temperature) or an abnormal operation of the vehicle powertrain, for example, low tire pressure, elevated friction, wheels out of alignment. Based on the determination, the system takes an action to govern a maximum torque output of the motor to control temperature of the vehicle battery; to raise a wind deflector; to govern maximum speed of the vehicle to reduce danger resulting from low tire pressure, elevated powertrain friction or out of alignment wheels; or to initiate an indication of abnormal conditions.