Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a battery thermal management system for maintaining the temperature of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle below a maximum operating temperature threshold. The system comprises a battery pack having a plurality of electronically linked cells and a supply air diffuser having a pattern of openings therein for diffusing exhausted air at a substantially uniform flow throughout the battery pack. The system further comprises sensors for monitoring the temperature of at least a portion of the cells, a fan comprising an inlet through which air is drawn in and an outlet in communication with at least the supply air diffuser, for exhausting air into the first diffuser to lower the temperature of the battery pack, and an electronic control unit in communication with the sensors and the fan for controlling operation of the fan based on temperature signals received from the sensors to maintain the temperature of the battery pack below a maximum operating temperature.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are a method, apparatus and memory for charging or discharging a powertrain battery of a hybrid electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes obtaining driving conditions along a route to be travelled by the vehicle; projecting a driving period during which the vehicle will be subject to the driving conditions; determining whether the powertrain battery will fully discharge during the driving period; and charging the powertrain battery, prior to the driving period, when it is determined that the powertrain battery will fully discharge during the driving period. Alternatively, the method includes obtaining a current cost of electricity; and charging the powertrain battery when the current cost of electricity is below a certain threshold.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a battery management system for lithium ion batteries capable of determining a battery pack's state of capacity; determining a battery pack's state of charge limits; adjusting for voltage drops and power losses over a battery's internal and/or connector impedances; adjusting the upper and lower voltage limits of a battery pack; and of actively balancing the cells making up the battery pack. In order to achieve this functionality, the battery pack management system includes an electronic control unit, which unit is coupled to module and cell-level circuitry that is designed to measure operating conditions of the battery such as voltage and current at any given time.