Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Derek W Fultz

Raviraj U Nayak

Robert D Drexler

Alessandro G Gonzalez

A thermal management system for an on-vehicle battery includes a battery, a first thermal element, a second thermal element, a battery mounting bracket, and a vehicle body structural element. The battery mounting bracket includes a first portion attached to the vehicle body structural element, and a second portion attached to the first thermal element. The first thermal element is attached to the first end portion of the battery, and the second thermal element is attached to at least one of the second end portion, the first and second side portions, the top portion or the bottom portion of the battery. The first thermal element is composed from a first phase-change material having a first phase-change temperature and the second thermal element is composed from a second phase-change material having a second phase-change temperature, wherein the first phase-change temperature is greater than the second phase-change temperature.

Thermal management system including phase-change materials having different phase-change temperatures for an on-vehicle battery

Methods and systems for preventing over-temperature conditions in vehicle battery packs. In some implementations, such methods may comprise measuring a resistance within a contactor of an electric vehicle, estimating a temperature of the contactor using the measured resistance, and comparing the estimated temperature of the contactor with a threshold temperature. In some implementations, upon determining that the estimated temperature has exceeded the threshold temperature, the current delivered through the contactor may be limited.

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Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Derek W Fultz