IP Library Granted Patent US 12683214
Granted Patent B2
US 12683214 · App. 18/333,241 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Thermal management system and method for DC fast charge

Inventors: Gabrielle Vuylsteke (Ferndale, MI); Jordan Mazaira (Taylor, MI); Ashley Wiese (Ann Arbor, MI); Angel Porras (Dearborn, MI); Julia Helen Buckland Seeds (Wolverine Lake, MI); Hao Wang (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
H01M10/633B60L58/26H01M10/613H01M10/625H01M10/635B60K11/02B60L53/11B60L2240/545H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683214
App. No.
18/333,241
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for cooling an electric energy storage device of an electric vehicle are described. In one example, a temperature of a traction battery is predicted and an opportunity assessment is generated, where the opportunity assessment is based on the temperature of the traction battery being predicted to exceed a threshold temperature, where the temperature of the traction battery is predicted prior to a traction battery DC fast charging event, and where the temperature of the traction battery based on time and a segment of a travel route.

Claims (29)

1 . A method for thermal management of a traction battery, comprising:

prior to a traction battery charging event, predicting a temperature of the traction battery before and after the traction battery charging event;

generating a confidence level for the temperature of the traction battery that is predicted; and

adjusting cooling of the traction battery in response to the temperature of the traction battery that is predicted and the confidence level.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising breaking a vehicle travel route into a plurality of segments.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising predicting the temperature for each segment of the plurality of segments.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining a battery power consumed during each segment of the plurality of segments.

5 . The method of claim 4 , where the temperature of the traction battery is predicted from a resistive/capacitive model.

6 . The method of claim 1 , where the confidence level is based on a time or distance to an identified opportunity to cool the traction battery before a threshold temperature is exceeded by the temperature of the traction battery.

7 . The method of claim 1 , where adjusting cooling of the traction battery includes increasing output of a coolant pump.

8 . The method of claim 1 , where adjusting cooling of the traction battery includes increasing a fan speed.

9 . A system, comprising:

a traction battery;

a cooling system coupled to the traction battery; and

a controller including executable instructions that cause the controller to predict a temperature of the traction battery and generate an opportunity assessment, where the opportunity assessment is based on the temperature of the traction battery being predicted to exceed a threshold temperature, where the temperature of the traction battery is predicted prior to a traction battery charging event and where the temperature of the traction battery is based on time and a segment of a travel route.

10 . The system of claim 9 , where the segment is based on a time interval.

11 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising additional executable instructions to estimate a power to propel a vehicle based on the segment.

12 . The system of claim 11 , where the power to propel the vehicle is based on summing a plurality of segments.

13 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising additional executable instructions that cause the controller to predict the temperature of the traction battery after the traction battery has been charged via a fast charging station, but prior to the traction battery being charged by the fast charging station.

14 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second controller including executable instructions that cause the controller to adjust operation of the cooling system in response to the temperature of the traction battery that has been predicted.

15 . The system of claim 14 , where adjusting operation of the cooling system includes activating a pump.

16 . A method for thermal management of a traction battery, comprising:

prior to a traction battery charging event, predicting a temperature of the traction battery before and after the traction battery charging event, where the temperature is based on an ambient air temperature;

generating a confidence level for the temperature of the traction battery that is predicted; and

adjusting cooling of the traction battery in response to the temperature of the traction battery that is predicted and the confidence level.

17 . The method of claim 16 , where the temperature is further based on a battery active heating threshold.

18 . The method of claim 17 , where the temperature is further based on a battery temperature before fast DC charging of the traction battery.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating an opportunity level that is based on whether or not temperature of the traction battery exceeds a threshold.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising delivering the opportunity level to a battery thermal management system.