In an in-vehicle structure described in the present specification, an electric-power converter is fixed onto a transaxle and positioned in front of a cowl top. The electric-power converter includes a capacitor configured to restrain a high-frequency fluctuation in a voltage of electric power supplied from a battery, and a discharge circuit configured to discharge the capacitor. A connector (a signal connector) to which a wiring harness for communication of a discharge instruction signal to operate the discharge circuit at a time of a collision is connected is provided on a side face of the electric-power converter, the side face of the electric-power converter being facing in a vehicle width direction.

Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine (ICE) selectable between a running state and a non-running state. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is in thermal contact with the ICE for converting thermal energy from the ICE to output electrical energy. The vehicle has an electric pump for circulating a liquid coolant through a coolant circuit. The electric pump is selectively powerable by the electrical energy output from the TEG. The coolant circuit is in fluid communication with the ICE, a radiator, and the TEG; and the TEG is downstream of the radiator in the coolant circuit.

A method is provided for diagnosing an AGS system fault in a hybrid electric vehicle. That method includes validating shutter movement and inferring shutter position based upon stall current of a shutter drive motor and current drawn by an HEV traction motor. A new and improved active grill shutter system for a hybrid electric vehicle is also disclosed.

A method for operating a vehicle system is provided. The method includes monitoring a change in a temperature of the fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank via a canister temperature sensor and adjusting operation of a fuel tank isolation valve based on the change in temperature of the fuel vapor canister.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles where a multiport power-packet-switching converter provides fully bidirectional power transfer among any of an engine motor, a drive motor, a vehicle battery and/or supercapacitor, and a connection to grid.

In a method performed by a control unit for controlling energy flows of a vehicle, where the vehicle includes a vehicle energy system which in turn includes a plurality of energy subsystems. Within each energy subsystem one form of energy is used. The energy subsystems are operationally connected by converters, wherein converters are devices converting at least one form of energy to another form of energy. By setting a price, limits for the converters converting energy between the energy subsystem the energy flows of the vehicle can be controlled by the control unit such that at least during period of times the order in which the energy subsystems of the vehicle is provided with energy can be changed.

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, an electric heater, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to recharge a battery through regenerative braking. The electric heater is configured to heat an engine coolant. The controller is programmed to redirect regenerative braking power to the electric heater in response to the engine coolant temperature being below a threshold.

In a positive torsion angle region in which a torque is transmitted from an engine side, a small hysteresis torque is generated at all times. Therefore, torsional vibrations of a small amplitude occurring during idle operation can be effectively attenuated by the small hysteresis torque, without switching to a large hysteresis torque, for example, during idle operation of the engine. As a result, the driver can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to switching to a large hysteresis torque during idle operation, and drivability can therefore be improved.

A vehicle has a vehicle system with a waste heat fluid. An expander, a condenser, a pump, and an evaporator are provided in sequential fluid communication in a thermodynamic cycle containing a working fluid. The evaporator is configured to transfer heat from the waste heat fluid to the working fluid. At least one valve adjacent to the pump is controlled to control fluid flow through at least one chamber to maintain a pressure of the fluid at a pump inlet at a threshold pressure above a saturated vapor pressure associated with a temperature at a condenser outlet when ambient temperature varies.