A vehicle utilizes an internal combustion powertrain to propel front wheels and an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) to propel rear wheels. In some circumstances, a controller may need to limit motor torque in the ERAD to avoid overheating the motor, which reduces fuel efficiency. To reduce the likelihood of needing to limit motor torque, refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system is circulated through the motor housing. In response to commands from a controller, a valve routes the refrigerant either through the air conditioning system evaporator or through the motor housing.

A vehicle utilizes an internal combustion powertrain to propel front wheels and an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) to propel rear wheels. In some circumstances, a controller may need to limit motor torque in the ERAD to avoid overheating the motor, which reduces fuel efficiency. To reduce the likelihood of needing to limit motor torque, refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system is circulated through the motor housing. In response to commands from a controller, a valve routes the refrigerant either through the air conditioning system evaporator or through the motor housing.

An example system includes a power take-off (PTO) device that selectively couples to a driveline of a vehicle, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) compressor selectively coupled to the PTO device, and an electric machine selectively coupled to the HVAC compressor and further selectively coupled to the driveline of the vehicle through the PTO device. The example system further includes a controller configured to determine a protective start value for the HVAC compressor, and to perform, in response to the protective start value, a start-up operation for the HVAC compressor. The start-up operation includes de-coupling the electric machine and the HVAC compressor from the driveline of the vehicle, and performing a controlled start of the HVAC compressor with the electric machine.

A compressor system for a vehicle comprising a vehicle internal combustion engine and a vehicle heating and cooling system. The compressor system comprising a compressor/motor generator defining a compressor motor/generator shaft, a compressor mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft; and a engine clutch mechanically connected to the compressor motor/generator shaft and to the vehicle internal combustion engine.

An air conditioning refrigerant circuit (6) includes an engine-driven compressor (7) and an electric compressor (11), which are arranged in parallel. When the engine is running, the engine-driven compressor (7) is used. When the engine stops, e.g., when idling stops, the electric compressor (11) is used. At the startup of the engine by a manual operation such as ignition by a key, the engine-driven compressor (7) is kept at rest and instead, the electric compressor (11) is operated for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time, the engine-driven compressor (7) is operated. In this way, the oil recovery to the electric compressor is promoted.

A vehicle air-conditioning system, including: a DC-to-AC inverter, for supplying alternating current to the alternator of the vehicle from a battery, for rotating the wheel of the alternator; mechanical connection between the alternator wheel and a wheel of the air-conditioner of the vehicle; and an operating element, for user-operating the DC-to-AC inverter and the clutch of the mechanical connection, thereby operating the air-conditioner without power of the engine wheel.

A hybrid vehicle, an air conditioning system and a method for controlling the air conditioning system are provided. The air conditioning system includes: an electric compressor; a mechanical compressor, connected with the electric compressor in parallel; a power battery, connected with the electric compressor and configured to supply power to the electric compressor; an engine, connected with the mechanical compressor and configured to supply a power source to the mechanical compressor; an engine controller, connected with the engine and configured to start the engine when the mechanical compressor is to be started; a battery manager, connected with the power battery and configured to detect a state of charge of the power battery; and a controller, connected with the engine controller and the battery manager and configured to start the electric compressor and the mechanical compressor at different time according to the state of charge of the power battery.

Disclosed are climate systems for vehicles and methods for controlling the climate systems. In some implementations, a climate system includes: (1) a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature within the compartment of the vehicle; (2) a user interface configured to receive a desired temperature from a user; (3) a first compressor powered by an engine of the vehicle to compress a refrigerant; (4) a second compressor driven by an electric motor to compress the refrigerant; and (5) a controller electrically coupled to the first compressor and the second compressor. The controller configured to: (1) calculate a thermal load of the compartment based on a difference between a desired temperature and a measured temperature; and, (2) based on the calculated load, selectively activate: (i) the engine, (ii) the first compressor, and/or (iii) the second compressor.

A vehicle having an integrated function of assisting an engine and compressing a refrigerant includes a motor unit and a compression unit coupled within a housing, and a first clutch unit coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor unit or a rotation shaft of the compression unit and that connects or releases a driving force of an engine and a driving force of the motor unit.

Processes for converting and adapting a vehicle into a hybrid-driven vehicle include coupling an electric motor generator unit to an engine of the vehicle, including to a through-bolt extending through a crankshaft pulley. Also included is a process for converting a vehicle's mechanically-driven air conditioning compressor to operate as an electro-mechanical air conditioning compressor by detaching the air conditioning compressor from the crankshaft and operating the air conditioning compressor using an electric motor. A temperature of rechargeable vehicle batteries of an alternate power unit of the vehicle is managed and maintained at a predetermined desired temperature.