System and method for controlling heating in a hybrid vehicle using a power source external to the hybrid vehicle

A system for controlling heating of at least one of an engine and a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle using a power source external to the vehicle, the system comprising:

• an electrical port integrated in the hybrid vehicle and configured to receive electric power from the power source external to the hybrid vehicle;
• at least one heater in the hybrid electric vehicle electrically coupled to the electrical port and configured to heat at least one of the engine and the battery in the hybrid electric vehicle;
• a temperature sensor in the hybrid electric vehicle;
• a system controller in the hybrid electric vehicle configured to receive a command signal and a feedback signal and generate at least one heater control signal based on the command signal and the feedback signal;
• a heater switch configured to receive the heater control signal to control an amount of energy transferred from the power source to the heater to heat at least one of the engine and the battery to a predetermined temperature and to maintain at least one of the engine and the battery within a predetermined temperature range;
• and
• at least one of an engine controller and a battery controller configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor and generate the feedback signal based on the temperature signal.

A method of controlling heating of at least one of an engine and a battery in a hybrid vehicle using a power source external to the vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a command signal and a feedback signal;
• generating a heater control signal based on the command signal and the feedback signal;
• receiving an amount of energy from the power source external to the vehicle;
• receiving the heater control signal to selectively control the amount of energy transferred from the power source to a heater in the hybrid vehicle;
• selectively heating at least one of the engine and the battery in the hybrid vehicle;
• sensing a temperature of at least one of the engine and the battery;
• and
• transmitting the feedback signal based on the temperature.