Electrified vehicle with dual-use storage/cooling compartment

An electrified vehicle comprising:

• an electric machine configured to provide torque to vehicle wheels;
• an energy store coupled to the electric machine by associated power electronics;
• a vehicle body defining a cargo compartment configurable to contain a cooling medium;
• a heat exchanger configured to selectively exchange heat with the cooling medium contained in the cargo compartment;
• a cooling system configured to circulate a working fluid to exchange heat with the heat exchanger and at least one of the electric machine, the power electronics, and the energy store;
• and
• a valve operable to selectively route the working fluid of the cooling system through the heat exchanger or to bypass the heat exchanger, wherein the hood of the vehicle includes an integrated lid for the cargo compartment that provides a water-tight seal for the cargo compartment when the hood is closed.

A method for controlling an electrified vehicle having a cooling system configured to circulate a working fluid to cool at least one of an electric machine, a traction battery, and power electronics, the vehicle including a cargo compartment configurable to contain a cooling medium and having a heat exchanger in contact with, or within the cargo compartment, the method comprising, by a controller:

• receiving input from a human-machine interface to activate a performance mode;
• generating a request for increased cooling in response to activation of the performance mode;
• and
• controlling a valve to route the working fluid through the heat exchanger to transfer heat from the working fluid to the cooling medium in response to the request for increased cooling, and controlling the valve to route the working fluid to bypass the heat exchanger otherwise.