Drive unit with two couple-able cooling circuits to preheat a combustion engine and method

摘要

The unit (1) has a combustion engine (2) and a power electronics unit (5) connected with first and second cooling circuits (10, 20) exhibiting cooling devices (6, 7). The cooling circuit of the combustion engine and the cooling circuit of the power electronics unit are connected through a connector (9) to form a common third cooling circuit (30). An electric motor (4) is connected to one of the cooling circuits, where waste heat occurred by the operation of the electric motor and transported via one of the cooling circuits is used for preheating the combustion engine. An independent claim is also included for a method for preheating a combustion engine of a drive unit for driving a vehicle with electrical energy.