Systems and methods for managing the heating of thermal fluids

Abstract

Systems and methods for warming a battery and operator cab of an electric vehicle. A second thermal fluid is circulated in a second fluid circuit of a primary system, and is heated by an electric heater before being circulated to a first heat exchanger to heat a first thermal fluid in a fluid thermal tank. The heated first thermal fluid is circulated via a first fluid circuit of the primary system and to the battery, or selectively bypasses the battery and returns to the fluid thermal tank. Occasionally, an external system is coupled to a portion of a third fluid circuit residing in the primary system such that heated third thermal fluid from the external system flows to the first heat exchanger. Partially heated second or third thermal fluid can flow to a second heat exchanger such that the remaining heat entrained therein can heat the operator cab.