Battery thermal management

US10953726B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Michael H. Carlson · Farmington Hills, US
• Eugene V. Gonze · Pinckney, US
• Lawrence P. Ziehr · Maumee, US
• Tanner E. Goeson · Bowmanville, CA
• Kyle Holihan · South Lyon, US
• Cameron P. Smith · Milford, US
• Michele Bilancia · Torino, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 2019
• Grant date: Mar 23, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 22, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/14
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for managing thermal energy of a vehicle having a battery and an electric propulsion system is provided. The system monitors a current battery temperature, after the vehicle is connected to an outside power source at a plug time, and determines an outside air temperature. The system predicts a cabin heating temperature for a subsequent drive cycle. The subsequent drive cycle occurs when the vehicle is no longer connected to the outside power source. If the predicted cabin heating temperature is greater than the outside air temperature, the system heats the battery to a thermal storage temperature that is greater than a target operating temperature of the battery. Therefore, thermal energy is stored within the battery, and may be transferred to heat the cabin.