A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

Methods for fastening or coupling dissimilar materials to each other may include providing a first component with a first through hole and a second component with a second through hole that is at least partly aligned with the first through hole. A mixture including a first material and a second material may be injected into the aligned through holes of the first component and the second component. The mixture of the first material and the second material may expand in the through holes, e.g., due to a chemical reaction, thereby connecting the first component and the second component together.

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.

Methods for fastening or coupling dissimilar materials to each other may include providing a first component with a first through hole and a second component with a second through hole that is at least partly aligned with the first through hole. A mixture including a first material and a second material may be injected into the aligned through holes of the first component and the second component. The mixture of the first material and the second material may expand in the through holes, e.g., due to a chemical reaction, thereby connecting the first component and the second component together.

An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.

A vehicle includes a battery module and an exhaust duct to discharge air from the battery module. A first side member is provided along a first side trim to provide a space between the first side member and the first side trim in a vehicle width direction. The space is connected to the battery module via the exhaust duct. A rear seat is provided in a vehicle interior. A first exhaust port is connected to the exhaust duct via the space and provided in the vehicle interior below the rear seat in a vehicle height direction. A second exhaust port is connected to the exhaust duct via the space and provided in the vehicle interior behind the rear seat in a front-rear direction. The air is discharged from the exhaust duct through the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port via the space.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal dissipation system of an electric vehicle that includes: a heat exchanger arranged at the front part of the electric vehicle for providing heating or cooling to an air conditioning system of the electric vehicle; a first heat sink and a second heat sink, which are respectively arranged at the two sides of the front part of the heat exchanger; a number of rotatable and adjustable air deflectors for changing the flow direction of the air flowing through the heat dissipation system. Temperature sensors are included within the thermal dissipation system for sensing the working temperatures and the environmental temperatures of a battery pack and a motor of the electric vehicle. Opening and closing states of the air deflectors are adjusted in accordance with data provided by the temperature sensors.

A vehicle includes a floor panel, a battery module, a heater duct, and an exhaust duct. The battery module is disposed on the floor panel under a seat. The heater duct is disposed on the floor panel to discharge air output from an air conditioner through the heater duct. The exhaust duct is provided on the floor panel to discharge air output from the battery module through the exhaust duct. The exhaust duct intersects the heater duct viewed in a height direction of the vehicle.

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and method of operation, which include a cabin, a battery, an emission aftertreatment catalyst, and a thermal management system coupled to a compressor and a chiller that each have cooling capacities and respective refrigerant and coolant distribution systems. The HEV also includes one or more controllers configured to precondition temperatures of the battery, cabin, and catalyst in response to a predicted vehicle start-time and/or a detected action that indicates likelihood of HEV start. The controller(s) utilize respective conditioning profiles for each of the battery, cabin, and catalyst to achieve the preconditioning temperatures at rates adjusted according to power availability from the battery and an external power source. The preconditioning is terminated upon HEV start or if the predicted start-time expires without HEV start. The HEV and method are adapted to learn from changes in actual start-times and driver actions resulting in HEV starts or no-starts.

Vehicle operating systems for operating a vehicle having a driving seat for a vehicle driver and at least one passenger seat for passengers are described. The vehicle operating system may include one or more camera devices for shooting images of hand actions of the driver or images of hand actions of a passenger, and a storage device for storing operating signals corresponding to hand actions. A processing device may be configured to select the driver or the passengers as a gesture command operator, and to control the camera device to shoot hand action images of the selected gesture command operator. The command system may also be configured to convert the shot hand action images into corresponding operating signals according to hand action indicia stored in the storage device. The operating signals may be sent to execution devices, that execute the corresponding operations.