Vehicle management for a predetermined event

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining target fault data indicating a preselected fault for a vehicle having a hydrogen source;

obtaining vehicle fault data indicating a fault of the vehicle;

identifying a match between the fault and the preselected fault; and

purging, in response to the identifying the match, hydrogen from one or more components of the vehicle so as to reduce consequences of a battery thermal event by reducing the likelihood of a fire,

wherein the purging is controlled based on modification criteria comprising a set of threshold temperatures associated with a battery of the vehicle and a set of mitigation actions, the set of mitigation actions being selectable based on a severity tier associated with a detected battery temperature threshold, and wherein the purging is performed in accordance with at least one of:

(i) removing hydrogen from one or more non-fuel-cell components of the vehicle, and

(ii) executing the modification criteria to reduce consequences of a battery thermal event.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein both the fault and the preselected fault indicate at least one of:

an electrical short in the vehicle;

a fire on a component of the vehicle;

a collision of the vehicle;

a hydrogen leak in the vehicle; and

a thermal overrun condition associated with the battery.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein when both the fault and the preselect fault indicate a fire on a component of the vehicle, the component comprises a battery of the vehicle or a fuel cell of the vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-fuel-cell components include at least one of a hydrogen storage vessel, a containment line, or a hydrogen conduit positioned between the hydrogen storage vessel and a fuel cell stack.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the purge comprises issuing a control signal to both a hydrogen release valve and a battery cooling system.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is executed by a controller integrable into a vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising regenerative brakes supported by the vehicle and wherein the set of threshold temperatures comprises a first temperature, a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and a third temperature greater than the second temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises (i) increasing cooling of the battery, and (ii) disabling a regenerative braking function of the vehicle.

8 . A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having a prime mover for propelling the vehicle, a hydrogen source for fueling the prime mover, a battery for supplying electricity to the vehicle, and a thermal management subsystem configured to:

obtain vehicle status data for the vehicle, the vehicle status data including battery temperature data indicating a battery temperature of the battery;

obtain modification criteria for the vehicle, the modification criteria comprising data corresponding to:

a set of threshold temperatures associated with the battery, and

a set of modifications associated with the vehicle;

receiving an indication that the battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature of the set of threshold temperatures; and

initiate, in response to receiving an indication that the battery temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, one or more modifications of the set of modifications to the vehicle, the one or more modifications including purging stored hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen source of the vehicle so as to proactively vent hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source in view of a predetermined event.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the set of threshold temperatures comprises:

a first temperature;

a second temperature greater than the first temperature; and

a third temperature greater than the second temperature.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle includes regenerative brakes, and wherein the threshold temperature is the first temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises:

increasing cooling of the battery, and

disabling a regenerative braking function of the vehicle.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first temperature corresponds to a temperature prior to which contacts of the battery would otherwise be disconnected.

12 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature is the second temperature, and wherein the one or more modifications comprises limiting a speed of the vehicle.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second temperature corresponds to a temperature at which limiting the speed of the vehicle will assist in cooling the battery.

14 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature is the third temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises purging stored hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen source of the vehicle until the vehicle until the hydrogen source is depleted.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the third temperature corresponds to a temperature prior to which the vehicle would otherwise be deactivated.

16 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the thermal management subsystem initiates the one or more modifications by selecting, based on the vehicle status data and the modification criteria, the one or more modifications from the set of modifications or wherein the thermal management subsystem includes a hydrogen storage controller configured to actuate one or more valves to release hydrogen from the hydrogen source, and one or more valves includes a commanded pressure relief device.

17 . A controller of a vehicle comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory containing program instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

obtaining vehicle status data for a vehicle comprising a battery, the vehicle status data including battery temperature data indicating a battery temperature of the battery;

obtaining modification criteria for the vehicle, the modification criteria comprising data corresponding to:

a set of threshold temperatures associated with the battery, and

a set of modifications associated with the vehicle;

determining that the battery temperature exceeds a threshold temperature of the set of threshold temperatures; and

initiating, in response to the determining that the battery temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, one or more modifications of the set of modifications to the vehicle, the one or more modifications including purging stored hydrogen fuel from a hydrogen source of the vehicle so as to proactively vent hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source in view of a predetermined event.

18 . The controller of claim 17 , wherein the set of threshold temperatures comprises:

a first temperature;

a second temperature greater than the first temperature; and

a third temperature greater than the second temperature.

19 . The controller of claim 18 , wherein the threshold temperature is the first temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises:

increasing cooling of the battery, and

disabling a regenerative braking function of the vehicle; and

wherein the first temperature corresponds to a temperature prior to which contacts of the battery would otherwise be disconnected.

20 . The controller of claim 18 , wherein the threshold temperature is the second temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises limiting a speed of the vehicle; and wherein the second temperature corresponds to a temperature at which limiting the speed of the vehicle will assist in cooling the battery.

21 . The controller of claim 18 , wherein the threshold temperature is the third temperature, and

wherein the one or more modifications comprises deactivating the vehicle; and wherein the third temperature corresponds to a temperature prior to which the vehicle would otherwise be deactivated.