Method and system for controlling an electric vehicle while charging
First Claim
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1. A vehicle comprising:
- a traction battery having a plurality of cells, the traction battery having a first pack exposed to a cabin temperature and a second pack spaced apart from the first pack and exposed to an external environmental temperature;
a thermal circuit connected to the traction battery, and having a thermal source, a thermal sink, and a valve system; and
a controller connected to the traction battery and the thermal circuit, the controller configured to;
(i) charge the traction battery using a maximum charging current based on a lowest temperature cell while the traction battery is connected to a charger and external power source, (ii) heat the traction battery if the lowest temperature cell is below a predetermined temperature while the traction battery is charging, and (iii) control the valve system to bias heating to the pack having the lowest cell temperature.
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Abstract
A vehicle includes a traction battery having a thermal circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) charge the traction battery using a maximum charging current defined by the lowest temperature cell while the traction battery is connected to the charger, and (ii) heat the traction battery if the lowest temperature cell is below a predetermined temperature while the traction battery is charging. A method for controlling an electric vehicle while connected to a charger includes charging the battery using a first portion of power from the charger while heating the battery using a second portion of power from the charger in response to a low cell temperature in a traction battery.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a traction battery having a plurality of cells, the traction battery having a first pack exposed to a cabin temperature and a second pack spaced apart from the first pack and exposed to an external environmental temperature; a thermal circuit connected to the traction battery, and having a thermal source, a thermal sink, and a valve system; and a controller connected to the traction battery and the thermal circuit, the controller configured to;
(i) charge the traction battery using a maximum charging current based on a lowest temperature cell while the traction battery is connected to a charger and external power source, (ii) heat the traction battery if the lowest temperature cell is below a predetermined temperature while the traction battery is charging, and (iii) control the valve system to bias heating to the pack having the lowest cell temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling an electric vehicle comprising:
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detecting if a traction battery is connected to a charger and external power source; measuring cell temperatures in the traction battery to determine a lowest temperature cell; charging the traction battery using a maximum charging current associated with the lowest temperature cell while the traction battery is connected to the charger and external power source; and heating the traction battery using a current equal to the difference between a maximum available current from the charger and the maximum charging current if the lowest temperature cell is below a predetermined temperature while the traction battery is charging wherein the maximum charging current associated with the lowest temperature cell is a percentage of the available current from the charger; wherein the lowest cell temperature is within one of a series of temperature ranges, the series of temperature ranges being defined by a series of temperature thresholds, each temperature range having an associated percentage; and wherein the percentage is a constant predetermined value within each temperature range, and decreases as the temperature range decreases. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A method for controlling an electric vehicle while connected to a charger, comprising, in response to a low cell temperature in a traction battery, charging the battery using a first portion of power from the charger while heating the battery using a second portion of power from the charger, the first and second portions a function of a series of predetermined percentages of power from the charger defined by a series of low temperature thresholds.
Specification