Vehicle power systems and methods

A vehicle power system of a vehicle, the vehicle power system comprising:

• an engine;
• an alternator powered by the engine;
• an exhaust aftertreatment system configured to treat exhaust received from the engine, the exhaust aftertreatment system including:
• an exhaust aftertreatment component,
• a temperature sensor, and
• a heater associated with the exhaust aftertreatment component;
• a fan disposed upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment component, the fan configured to blow air towards the exhaust aftertreatment component such that a flow path of the air crosses the heater and the exhaust aftertreatment component;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor, the temperature signal indicative of a current temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment component,
• direct a first power amount to the heater from an external power source when the current temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment component is less than a target temperature, the external power source being separate from the vehicle,
• control the fan so as to blow air towards the exhaust aftertreatment component while the engine is powered off, and
• direct a second power amount to the heater from the alternator in addition to the first power amount when a key-on signal associated with a key-on event of the vehicle is received.

A method for controlling a vehicle power system comprising (i) a vehicle including an engine, an alternator powered by the engine, and an exhaust aftertreatment system including an exhaust aftertreatment component, a temperature sensor, and a heater, and (ii) an external power source separate from the vehicle, the method comprising:

• directing a first power amount to the heater from the external power source;
• activating a fan configured to blow air towards the exhaust aftertreatment component such that a flow path of the air crosses the heater and the exhaust aftertreatment component while the engine is powered off;
• directing a second power amount to to the heater from the alternator in addition to the first power amount when a key-on signal associated with a key-on event of the vehicle is received;
• and
• providing an indication when a current temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment component reaches a target temperature, the indication indicating that the external power source is disconnectable from the heater.