Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.

Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.

Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.

A vehicular heat management system includes a heat pump cycle capable of heating a heat-exchanging-object fluid by using exhaust heat of an in-vehicle device as a heat source that radiates heat during operation, and an exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit that releases the exhaust heat to outside air through an exhaust-heat refrigerant. The heat pump cycle includes a recovery heat exchange portion that performs heat exchange between a heated air heated by the exhaust heat and a cycle refrigerant circulating in the heat pump cycle. The exhaust-heat refrigerant circuit includes an exhaust-heat exchange portion that performs heat exchange between the heated air and the exhaust-heat refrigerant. The recovery heat exchange portion and the exhaust-heat exchange portion are integrally formed as a combined heat exchanger capable of transferring heat between the cycle refrigerant and the exhaust-heat refrigerant.

A vehicular heat management system includes a heat medium circuit, a heat source portion, and a device. A heat medium cooling an engine circulates in the heat medium circuit. The heat source portion heats the heat medium. The device is configured to function and heat the heat medium when the heat medium flowing into the device is at or above a predetermined temperature. When the engine is being warmed up, heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine. According to this, since the heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine when the engine is being warmed up, the engine can be warmed up early.

A vehicular heat management system includes a heat medium circuit, a heat source portion, and a device. A heat medium cooling an engine circulates in the heat medium circuit. The heat source portion heats the heat medium. The device is configured to function and heat the heat medium when the heat medium flowing into the device is at or above a predetermined temperature. When the engine is being warmed up, heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine. According to this, since the heat generated by the heat source portion is supplied to the device in preference to the engine when the engine is being warmed up, the engine can be warmed up early.

Envisaged is an exhaust gas heat recovery system comprising a heat pump, a mixer and a flow regulating means. The heat pump is configured to pump heat from a refrigerant. The heat pump has an inlet and an outlet wherein the exhaust gas stream leaving the outlet is split into two streams: a stream rejected to atmosphere and a recirculating exhaust stream re-circulated back to the heat pump. The mixer is provided at the inlet of the heat pump to mix an inlet exhaust stream with the recirculating exhaust gas stream to get a resultant exhaust stream at an intermediate temperature of the two streams. The flow regulating means is adapted to compress the recirculating exhaust stream.

Envisaged is an exhaust gas heat recovery system comprising a heat pump, a mixer and a flow regulating means. The heat pump is configured to pump heat from a refrigerant. The heat pump has an inlet and an outlet wherein the exhaust gas stream leaving the outlet is split into two streams: a stream rejected to atmosphere and a recirculating exhaust stream re-circulated back to the heat pump. The mixer is provided at the inlet of the heat pump to mix an inlet exhaust stream with the recirculating exhaust gas stream to get a resultant exhaust stream at an intermediate temperature of the two streams. The flow regulating means is adapted to compress the recirculating exhaust stream.

Envisaged is a regeneration system for a metal hydride heat pump of a damper type. The system comprises a plurality of reactor assembly modules configured to act as a heat pump, an ambient air inlet and a fluid recirculation circuit. The plurality of reactor assembly modules includes first, second, third and fourth metal hydride reactor assembly modules. The fluid recirculation circuit comprises a mixer, a fluid stream switching means, a flow regulating means and an exhaust out let. The mixer is adapted to mix a portion of a recirculation stream received from the exhaust outlet and the exhaust gas stream to provide a resultant stream. The fluid stream switching means is coupled to the mixer and is adapted to switch flow of the resultant stream as received from the mixer and the ambient air stream in a cyclic manner in a series of half-cycles of operation.

Envisaged is a regeneration system for a metal hydride heat pump of a damper type. The system comprises a plurality of reactor assembly modules configured to act as a heat pump, an ambient air inlet and a fluid recirculation circuit. The plurality of reactor assembly modules includes first, second, third and fourth metal hydride reactor assembly modules. The fluid recirculation circuit comprises a mixer, a fluid stream switching means, a flow regulating means and an exhaust out let. The mixer is adapted to mix a portion of a recirculation stream received from the exhaust outlet and the exhaust gas stream to provide a resultant stream. The fluid stream switching means is coupled to the mixer and is adapted to switch flow of the resultant stream as received from the mixer and the ambient air stream in a cyclic manner in a series of half-cycles of operation.