Electrical storage device heater for vehicle

Abstract

A heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC/DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector.

1 . A system for heating an electrical storage device in a vehicle, the system being connectable to an external power source, comprising: 
 a heater coupled to the electrical storage device;    a switch for selectively coupling the external power source to the heater;    a controller that receives an input corresponding to a temperature of the electrical storage device and operates the switch based on at least the electrical storage device temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises at least one thermoelectric heating element.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source is an AC power source and wherein the system is connected to the AC power source.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an AC/DC converter that is connectable to the AC power source and operable to power the heater.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller controls the switch based on at least one of the electrical storage device temperature, an AC/DC output from the AC/DC converter, and a key on/off condition.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the AC/DC converter, the switch, and the controller are disposed outside the electrical storage device.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source is a supplemental electrical power source disposed in the vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a DC/DC converter that is connectable to the supplemental electrical power source.  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 an engine block heater;    an electrical storage device heater system, wherein the engine block heater and the electrical storage device heater system are jointly connectable to an external power source, and    the electrical storage device heater system having 
 a heater for heating an electrical storage device in the vehicle,  
 a switch that selectively couples the heater to the external power source, and  
 a controller that receives an input corresponding to an electrical storage device temperature and operates the switch based on at least the electrical storage device temperature.  
   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the external power source is an AC power source and wherein the electrical storage device heater system further comprises an AC/DC converter disposed between the external power source and the heater.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the controller controls the switch based on at least one of the electrical storage device temperature, an AC/DC output from the AC/DC converter, and a key on/off condition.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the AC/DC converter, the switch, and the controller are disposed outside the electrical storage device.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the external power source is a supplemental electrical power source.  
     
     
         14 . A method of regulating an electrical storage device temperature in an electrical storage device heater system that is connectable to an external power source, the method comprising: 
 checking an electrical storage device temperature;    checking whether the system is connected to the external power source;    closing the switch to connect the heater to the external power source if the electrical storage device temperature when the electrical storage device temperature falls below the temperature threshold and when the system is connected to the external power source; and    opening the switch to disconnect the heater from the external power source if the electrical storage device temperature falls above the temperature threshold.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of periodically checking the electrical storage device temperature comprises: 
 entering a sleep mode for a predetermined time period; and    checking the electrical storage device temperature during a wake-up mode.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising re-entering the sleep mode after at least one of the closing step and the opening step.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of opening the switch is conducted if the system is not connected to the external power source.