A waste-heat collection system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an exhaust manifold via which exhaust manifold hot exhaust gas coming from the internal combustion engine is introduced into an engine-side segment of an exhaust system. The exhaust manifold and/or the engine-side segment of the exhaust system, an exhaust gas turbocharger and/or a catalytic converter are at least partially surrounded by a waste-heat collecting housing. Air contained in the waste-heat collecting housing is heated by waste heat of these components and the heated air is used to charge a latent heat accumulator.

A vehicle air conditioner includes an air-heating switching portion that switches between a first air-heating mode of heating ventilation air by a heating heat exchanger and a second air-heating mode of heating the ventilation air by a condenser. The vehicle air conditioner includes a heat-exchange adjustment portion that adjusts an amount of heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant and the ventilation air in the condenser, and a heat-exchange control unit that controls the heat-exchange adjustment portion. The heat-exchange control unit controls the heat-exchange adjustment portion to decrease the amount of heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant and the ventilation air in the condenser if a condition satisfies in which temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser is equal to or lower than temperature of the ventilation air heated by a heating heat exchanger before passing through the condenser, when the air-heating switching portion switches from the first air-heating mode to the second air-heating mode.

A vehicle air conditioner includes an air-heating switching portion that switches between a first air-heating mode of heating ventilation air by a heating heat exchanger and a second air-heating mode of heating the ventilation air by a condenser. The vehicle air conditioner includes a heat-exchange adjustment portion that adjusts an amount of heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant and the ventilation air in the condenser, and a heat-exchange control unit that controls the heat-exchange adjustment portion. The heat-exchange control unit controls the heat-exchange adjustment portion to decrease the amount of heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant and the ventilation air in the condenser if a condition satisfies in which temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser is equal to or lower than temperature of the ventilation air heated by a heating heat exchanger before passing through the condenser, when the air-heating switching portion switches from the first air-heating mode to the second air-heating mode.

An automobile vehicle exhaust gas heat recovery system includes an engine having a turbocharger. A cooling pump provides coolant flow to the engine and the turbocharger. A combined coolant discharge header receives coolant discharged from the engine and the turbocharger. A main rotary valve receives coolant discharged from the combined coolant discharge header. The main rotary valve includes multiple rotary valves selectively distributing all of the coolant in the combined coolant discharge header to at least one of an engine heater, a heater core and a transmission oil heater during a cold start operation. An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) device is positioned to receive the coolant discharged from any one, any two or all of the engine heater, the heater core and the transmission oil heater and in a path to return the coolant to the cooling pump during the cold start operation of the engine.

An automobile vehicle exhaust gas heat recovery system includes an engine having a turbocharger. A cooling pump provides coolant flow to the engine and the turbocharger. A combined coolant discharge header receives coolant discharged from the engine and the turbocharger. A main rotary valve receives coolant discharged from the combined coolant discharge header. The main rotary valve includes multiple rotary valves selectively distributing all of the coolant in the combined coolant discharge header to at least one of an engine heater, a heater core and a transmission oil heater during a cold start operation. An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) device is positioned to receive the coolant discharged from any one, any two or all of the engine heater, the heater core and the transmission oil heater and in a path to return the coolant to the cooling pump during the cold start operation of the engine.

A cabin heating system includes an exhaust heat exchanger having a cabin air conduit. That cabin air conduit includes a check valve, a pressure relief valve and a heat exchange section between the check valve and the pressure relief valve. The cabin heating system also includes a control module configured to maintain cabin air in the cabin air conduit at a first pressure P.sub.1 while exhaust gas in an exhaust bypass has a second pressure P.sub.2 where P.sub.1>P.sub.2.

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.

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.