Method and device for vehicle cabin heating

A method, comprising:

• scheduling a regeneration event of a particulate filter (PF) coupled to an exhaust passage of a vehicle engine system based on a soot load on the PF;
• predicting an amount of exhaust heat flow from the engine to a tailpipe via a gas to coolant heat exchanger having the coolant flowing therethrough during the scheduled regeneration event;
• and
• prior to the scheduled regeneration event, reducing an amount of power supplied to an electric heater coupled to an on-board heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based on the predicted amount of exhaust heat flow.

A system, comprising:

• a vehicle, including an autonomous vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle;
• an engine including one or more cylinders;
• one or more fuel injectors coupled to the one or more cylinders;
• a vehicle cabin including a human machine interface (HMI) and a temperature sensor;
• an engine intake manifold;
• an engine exhaust system including an exhaust passage, the exhaust passage including a particulate filter (PF) and an exhaust heat exchanger positioned downstream of the particulate filter;
• a differential pressure sensor coupled to the exhaust passage across the PF;
• a coolant system with an incoming coolant line and an outgoing coolant line for circulating coolant through the heat exchanger, the coolant system further coupled to each of an engine block, and a heater core of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system including an electric heater operated via a battery, a blend door, and a blower;
• and
• a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory to:
• estimate a load on the PF via the differential pressure sensor;
• estimate a heating demand of the vehicle cabin based on a temperature setting indicated via the HMI and a cabin temperature estimated via the temperature sensor;
• in response to a higher than threshold load of the PF, predict a regeneration of the PF;
• and
• adjust operation of one or more of the electric heater, the blend door, and the blower based on each of an anticipated amount of heat recovered by the coolant circulating through the heat exchanger during the predicted regeneration of the PF and the heating demand of the vehicle cabin.