A vehicle cabin thermal management system includes a first heat exchange system adapted to operate primarily based upon a convective mode of heat transfer within a vehicle cabin, a second heat exchange system adapted to operate primary based upon a non-convective mode of heat transfer within the vehicle cabin, and a controller in communication with the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system, wherein the controller controls a thermal output of the second heat exchange system, and wherein the controller controls the first heat exchange system to reduce the operating level of the first heat exchange system in response to the controller operating the second heat exchange system.

The air-conditioning control device is configured to control an air conditioner for a vehicle having a radiant heater and to output a cancel signal that allows an engine, which has been stopped in response to an idling stop control, to restart. The radiant heater is configured to generate radiant heat to heat an occupant in a compartment of the vehicle. The air conditioner is configured to heat an interior of the compartment using engine cooling water. The air-conditioning control device stops the engine in response to the idling stop control. The air-conditioning control device outputs a cancel signal allowing the engine to restart following the engine having been stopped such that an idling stop time is longer when the radiant heater is operated than when the radiant heater is not operated.

Vehicle air conditioning device of a heat pump system in which comfort is compatible with decrease of power consumption. The vehicle air conditioning device includes a heating medium circulating circuit 23 to heat air to be supplied from an air flow passage 3 to a vehicle interior, and in a heating mode, a controller has an energy saving prior mode in which the controller operates a compressor 2 at a maximum number of revolution and complements a shortage of a heating capability by a radiator 4 with heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of the heating medium circulating circuit 23, and a comfort prior mode in which the controller limits a number of revolution of the compressor 2 and complements the shortage of the heating capability by the radiator 4 with the heating by the heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of the heating medium circulating circuit 23.

A vehicle cabin thermal management system includes a first heat exchange system adapted to operate primarily based upon a convective mode of heat transfer within a vehicle cabin, a second heat exchange system adapted to operate primary based upon a non-convective mode of heat transfer within the vehicle cabin, and a controller in communication with the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system, wherein the controller controls a thermal output of the second heat exchange system, and wherein the controller controls the first heat exchange system to reduce the operating level of the first heat exchange system in response to the controller operating the second heat exchange system.

An electrically driven vehicle includes an electric motor, a power storage device, an air conditioner, a heat exchanger of a refrigerating cycle, a heater and a controller, the air conditioner includes an internal air suction port and the foot blowout port installed at a position close to the internal air suction port, and, when a remaining capacity of the power storage device exceeds a predetermined value, the controller operates the refrigerating cycle and the heater, and further, is switched to an internal air circulation in which conditioning air blown out of the foot blowout port is suctioned from the internal air suction port.

Methods and system for providing heat to a vehicle are presented. In one example, a refrigerant loop is operated to heat a passenger cabin via heat generated by a compressor and heat generated by a resistive heating element. The heat that is generated by the compressor and the heat that is generated by the resistive heating element is transferred to a refrigerant before it is transferred to the passenger cabin.

A vehicle includes an inverter, a climate control system, and a coolant system. The climate control system includes a housing, and a heater core and an electric heater disposed within the housing. The coolant system includes conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and the heater core. The inverter is disposed upstream of the heater core.

A vehicle temperature control system includes: an air conditioning unit configured to cool and heat an interior of a vehicle; a first thermoelectric module mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle and configured to be selectively heated or cooled; a second thermoelectric module mounted in a seat of the vehicle and configured to be selectively heated or cooled; and an integrated control unit configured to integrally control the air conditioning unit, the first thermoelectric module, and the second thermoelectric module, thereby obtaining an advantageous effect of improving temperature control efficiency and energy efficiency.

System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy, and providing optimized operating conditions associated with a vehicle's air-conditioning system when the vehicle is carrying a load, e.g., towing a trailer. Operating conditions including, for example, air-mix setting, coolant temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, and whether or not the vehicle is carrying the aforementioned load, may be considered when determining whether or not to activate or deactivate a vehicle heating element, such as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, steering wheel heater, etc.

An adaptive radiant heating system regulates a climate inside a motor vehicle cabin having a seat for a vehicle occupant. The system includes radiant heating tiles arranged proximate the seat and powered by an energy storage device. The system also includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the occupant and generating a first signal indicative thereof. The system additionally includes a second sensor for detecting a temperature within the cabin and generating a second signal indicative thereof. The system furthermore includes an electronic controller in operative communication with the tiles and the first and second sensors, and configured to regulate the climate proximate the seat via selective control of the tiles. The controller is configured to receive the first and second signals and activate at least one of the tiles in response to the first and second signals, to thereby regulate the climate proximate the seat.