METHOD FOR THE THERMAL PRE-CONDITIONING OF A VEHICLE, SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM

Abstract

A method for the thermal pre-conditioning of a vehicle having an electric drive unit and an electrical energy reservoir. The method includes at least the following step: the thermal pre-conditioning of a component of the vehicle while the electrical energy reservoir of the vehicle is connected to the external electrical energy supply.

Claims

1. A method for thermal pre-conditioning a vehicle having an electric drive unit and an electrical energy reservoir, wherein the method comprises: thermally pre-conditioning a component of the vehicle while the electrical energy reservoir of the vehicle is connected to an external electrical energy supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal pre-conditioning of the component is carried out by the external electrical power supply.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal pre-conditioning includes either heating or cooling the component of the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises a body part of the vehicle and/or a shell of the vehicle and/or a part of the electric drive unit of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal pre-conditioning of the component of the vehicle by the external electrical power supply occurs while the vehicle is in a charging position.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal pre-conditioning of the component of the vehicle during a charging of the electrical energy reservoir occurs by means of the external electrical power supply.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component of the vehicle is configured as a shell component of the vehicle, wherein, in addition to the shell component, a shell structure of the vehicle comprises a further shell component, wherein the shell is thermally insulated against the further shell component by a thermal insulation; and/or wherein the component of the vehicle is configured as a body part of the vehicle, wherein, in addition to the body part, a body of the vehicle comprises a further body part, wherein the body part is thermally insulated against the further body part by a thermal insulation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a heating and/or cooling system, wherein the thermal pre-conditioning of the component is carried out by the heating and/or cooling system such that during the thermal pre-conditioning of the component, the heating and/or cooling system is fed through the electrical energy reservoir and/or the external electrical energy supply in such a way that the component is thermally pre-conditioned by the heating and/or cooling system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: either heating or cooling a vehicle cabin of the vehicle and/or of the electrical energy reservoir of the vehicle by means of the thermally pre-conditioned component during an operation of the vehicle and/or while driving the vehicle.

10. A system for the thermal pre-conditioning of a vehicle having an electric drive unit and an electric energy reservoir, wherein the system is configured to thermally pre-conditioning a component of the vehicle while the electrical energy reservoir of the vehicle is connected to an external electrical energy supply.

11. A vehicle comprising an electric drive unit, an electric energy reservoir, and the system of claim 10.

12. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by computer means, cause the computer program to perform a method comprising: thermal pre-conditioning a component of a vehicle while an electrical energy reservoir of the vehicle is connected to an external electrical energy supply.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Further advantages and details of the invention will be explained in the following with reference to the embodiment example shown in the drawing.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle according to an embodiment example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In particular, the vehicle 1 depicted schematically in FIG. 1 is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) comprising both a battery electric and an internal combustion engine drive train. The vehicle 1 thus comprises an electric drive unit 3 and an electrical energy reservoir 2, in particular a high-voltage battery. The vehicle is shown in FIG. 1 in a charging position, in which the energy reservoir 2 is charged by an external electrical power supply 20, for example a charging station or charging column. A cable connection between the vehicle 1 and the external electrical power supply 20 is typically configured for charging the electrical energy reservoir 2. While the electrical energy reservoir 2 of the vehicle 1 is connected to the external electrical energy supply 20, a component 11 of the vehicle 1 is thermally pre-conditioned, in particular heated or cooled. In this way, thermal energy is stored by means of the component 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the component 11 is part of the body and/or the shell 10 of the vehicle. Alternatively, it is possible for the component to be part of the electric drive train or the drive unit 3, for example. The thermal pre-conditioning of the component 11 is carried out, for example, by means of a heating and/or cooling system 4 of the vehicle 1. In this case, the component 10 comprises one or more heating and/or coolant lines. By means of these heating and/or coolant lines, heating and/or coolant can be guided through the component 11, thereby allowing the component 11 to be temperature-controlled. The electrical energy required by the heating and/or cooling system 4 is provided in particular by the external electrical power supply 20.

[0040] The thermal energy stored in the component 11 during the thermal pre-conditioning of the component 11 can then later be dissipated from the component 11 during operation of the vehicle 1, in particular while driving the vehicle 1 (preferably also by means of the heating and/or cooling system 4) and, for example, used in order to set a desired temperature of the vehicle cabin of the vehicle 1 or the electric energy reservoir 2 while driving. This can conserve electrical energy of electrical energy reservoir 2 and increase the range of the vehicle 1.

[0041] In a particularly advantageous manner, it is possible that the component 11, which stores thermal energy from the thermal pre-conditioning, is thermally insulated against one or more further components 12, for example adjacent components 12, and/or comprises a thermal insulation for these further components 12. The storage time of the thermal energy in the component 11 can thereby be increased, because the losses are reduced with further components 12.

[0042] Alternatively or in addition to the use of the heating and/or cooling system 4 for the thermal pre-conditioning of the component 11, it is possible that the component 11 is thermally pre-conditioned, in particular heated, during the thermal pre-conditioning by waste heat generated during the charging of the electrical energy reservoir 2. Waste heat, which typically arises anyway when a high-voltage battery is charged, can thereby be advantageously utilized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0043] 1 Vehicle [0044] 2 Electrical energy reservoir [0045] 3 Electric drive unit [0046] 4 Heating and/or cooling system [0047] 10 Body and/or shell [0048] 11 Component [0049] 12 Further component [0050] 20 External electrical power supply