Controlling thermal energy from vehicle regenerative braking

Abstract

There is provided a control system (200), a vehicle (1), a method (500), and computer software, for controlling thermal energy capture of vehicle kinetic energy of a vehicle. The control system (200) is configured to determine whether to enter a first regenerative braking energy conversion mode or a second regenerative braking energy conversion mode. The control system is configured to output a control signal (508, 510) to cause an electric machine (402, 404) of the vehicle to enter the first regenerative braking energy conversion mode or the second regenerative braking energy conversion mode in dependence on the determination. The first regenerative braking energy conversion mode is configured to provide a first proportion of total energy generated via the electric machine as thermal energy added to a cooling system (400) of the vehicle. The second regenerative braking energy conversion mode is configured to provide a second, greater, proportion of total energy generated via the electric machine as thermal energy added to the cooling system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.