A system for use with a block heater connected to an engine for pre-start heating of the engine. The system includes a power source, a relay assembly coupled to the power source, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The relay assembly, when closed, electrically connects the power source to the block heater, to thereby energize the block heater to heat the engine. The temperature sensor senses an ambient temperature indicative of a temperature of the engine. The controller is programmed to selectively activate the relay assembly to energize the block heater such that the engine coupled to the block heater is heated from the sensed ambient temperature to a target temperature at approximately a target time.

A control device for controlling a device provided in a vehicle is provided. The device includes a starting unit capable of starting the device, an identification unit configured to identify a place of stay where an occupant of the vehicle spends time after getting out of the vehicle, an estimation unit configured to estimate a stay period of the occupant at the place of stay, and a determination unit configured to determine, based on the stay period, a scheduled time at which the starting unit is to start the device before the occupant gets into the vehicle.

The commissioning of an air conditioning system requires a series of manual steps, which leads to inefficient commissioning. A method is therefore provided for commissioning an air conditioning system of a vehicle, including the following: a) Reading in a target data record indicating a target vehicle state; b) Recording an actual data record indicating an actual vehicle state by measuring at least one signal and/or communicating with at least one vehicle component; c) Comparing the actual vehicle state with a target vehicle state; d) Activating at least one function of the air conditioning system only if the actual vehicle state corresponds to the target vehicle state.

An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.

A vehicle air-conditioning system has an intake door that switches between an inside air recirculation mode to take in air from an inside air introduction port and an outside air introduction mode to take in air from an outside air introduction port, a blower that blows the air introduced through any of the inside air introduction port and the outside air introduction port toward inside of a vehicle cabin, a heater that heats the air blown by the blower, and a controller that activates the heater when there is a request for heating the inside of the vehicle cabin, controls air conditioning such that an environment inside the vehicle cabin becomes a desired environment by set estimated time of departure.

A method, apparatus, system, vehicle, and/or computer program provides that one or more components of a vehicle are operated as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

A method for controlling a vehicle feature includes registering a GPS-based vehicle speed based on information from a vehicle GPS-receiver, and changing an operating setting of, or activating, the vehicle feature when the GPS-based vehicle speed is more than zero km/h, specifically more than 3 km/h, and more specifically more than 6 km/h, while the vehicle is parked.

A control system includes a manual-type air conditioner, and a control device which causes the manual-type air conditioner to execute remote air conditioning in response to a command from outside of a vehicle. The control device starts actuation of the manual-type air conditioner with a maximum temperature as a target blowout temperature of an air-conditioning air and a maximum air quantity as a target air quantity in response to a trigger command of the remote air conditioning, and gradually changes and reduces the target air quantity while gradually changing the target blowout temperature toward a target intermediate temperature with elapse of time. The control device changes the target blowout temperature and the target air quantity respectively to a set blowout temperature and a set air quantity at a time of previous disembarkment, when boarding of a user to the vehicle is detected.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.