CPC H01M 10/613 (2015.04) [H01M 10/615 (2015.04); H01M 10/63 (2015.04); H01M 10/6552 (2015.04); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
1. A thermal management system for an electric vehicle which includes an energy storage system and a vehicle component that requires cooling, wherein the vehicle component is one of a drive train, e-motor, inverter, or DC/DC converter, wherein there is a preferred temperature range within which the energy storage system is to be operated, and the range is between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature, the thermal management system comprising:
a heater arranged to heat the energy storage system, wherein the heater is arranged to be powered by either the energy storage system or an external power source,
a control unit arranged to control the heater and configured to identify when the heater is powered by the external power source, and to, when the heater is powered by the external power source:
receive data associated with the ambient temperature,
determine whether the ambient temperature is below or above the minimum temperature,
control the heater to heat, when the ambient temperature is below the minimum temperature, the vehicle component and the energy storage system, and
wherein the control unit is arranged to direct excess heat from the vehicle component to the energy storage system when the heater is powered by the energy storage system.
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