Preconditioner system for a battery of a vehicle and method

1 . A method of preconditioning a battery for a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a state of charge of the battery;

determining the state of charge is below a first threshold;

prompting a user to connect the battery to a charger;

detecting a temperature of the battery;

determining the temperature of the battery is outside a targeted battery temperature range;

determining a charging capacity of the charger is below a second threshold at the temperature;

detecting a condition for a cabin defroster being deactivated;

deactivating the cabin defroster in response to determining that the condition for the cabin defroster being deactivated is met;

activating a preconditioner to change the temperature of the battery toward the targeted battery temperature range; and

prompting a user that preconditioning is recommended and receiving an input from the user to deactivate the cabin defroster.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of detecting an outside air temperature and determining whether a measured duration a cabin defroster has been active exceeds a target duration the cabin defroster activates to defrost and deice a window based on a difference between the outside temperature and a targeted cabin temperature.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of detecting a clarity of a window and determining whether the clarity of the window exceeds a clarity threshold.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of detecting the clarity of the window includes measuring the clarity with a camera disposed within a cabin of the vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of the first threshold being determined by a distance between the vehicle and the charger.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of the first threshold being determined by a decrease of the state of charge.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of activating the preconditioner to increase the temperature of the battery in response to the temperature of the battery being less than the targeted battery temperature range.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of activating the preconditioner to decrease the temperature of the battery in response to the temperature of the battery being greater than the targeted battery temperature range.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of deactivating the preconditioner in response to the temperature of the battery being within the targeted battery temperature range.

10 . A method of preconditioning a battery for a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a state of charge of the battery;

determining the state of charge is below a first threshold;

prompting a user to connect the battery to a charger;

detecting a temperature of the battery;

determining the temperature of the battery is outside a targeted battery temperature range;

determining a charging capacity of the charger is below a second threshold at the temperature;

detecting a condition for a cabin defroster being deactivated;

deactivating the cabin defroster in response to determining that the condition for the cabin defroster being deactivated is met;

activating a preconditioner to change the temperature of the battery toward the targeted battery temperature range;

detecting a clarity of a window and determining whether the clarity of the window exceeds a clarity threshold; and

prompting a user to:

increase an air flow temperature;

activate an air conditioner;

activate an outside air intake;

increase air flow; and

direct a side window toward an ajar position in response to the clarity being less than the clarity threshold.

11 . A method of preconditioning a battery for an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a state of charge of the battery;

determining the state of charge of the battery is below a threshold percentage;

prompting a user to connect the battery to a charger;

detecting a temperature of the battery in response to the user affirming to connect the battery to the charger;

determining the temperature of the battery is outside a targeted battery temperature range;

observing a charging capacity of the charger;

determining the charging capacity of the charger is below a second threshold at the temperature of the battery;

determining whether a measured duration a cabin defroster has been active exceeds a target duration the cabin defroster activates to defrost and deice a window;

determining whether a measured clarity exceeds a target clarity of the window;

prompting a user that preconditioning is recommended and to deactivate the cabin defroster in response to the measured duration exceeding the target duration and the measured clarity exceeding the target clarity;

deactivating the cabin defroster in response to the user providing an input to deactivate the cabin defroster; and

activating a preconditioner to change the temperature of the battery toward the targeted battery temperature range.