VEHICLE WITH TRACTION MOTOR WITH PREEMPTIVE COOLING OF MOTOR FLUID CIRCUIT PRIOR TO COOLING OF BATTERY FLUID CIRCUIT

摘要

A thermal management system for an electric vehicle includes a controller that carries out a method of cooling a battery of the electric vehicle. The method includes: a) when charging the battery using an external electrical source but prior to the temperature of the battery reaching a selected temperature, cooling a motor of the electric vehicle by a selected amount by circulating fluid between the motor and a radiator of the electric vehicle, and b) after step a) cooling the battery of the electric vehicle by circulating fluid between the battery, the motor and the radiator while charging the battery using the external electrical source.

主权项

1. A thermal management system for an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including a traction motor, a battery, and a passenger cabin, the thermal management system comprising:
a motor circuit for cooling a motor circuit thermal load including the traction motor, the motor circuit including a radiator and a motor circuit pump; a battery circuit for cooling a battery circuit thermal load including the battery, the battery circuit including a battery circuit pump; a valve having a first position that allows fluid to flow between the motor circuit and the battery circuit when the battery circuit pump is on and a second position that prevents fluid from flowing between the motor circuit and the battery circuit when the battery circuit pump is on; and a controller, wherein, when the battery is being charged by an external electrical source the controller is configured to operate the motor circuit pump to preemptively cool the motor circuit thermal load while the valve is in the second position, and to subsequently position the valve in the first position and operate the battery circuit pump to cool the battery circuit thermal load using the radiator.