Opportunistic system and method for battery cooling while charging on-plug

A thermal management system for a plug-in electric vehicle, the thermal management system comprising:

• a high voltage battery configured to power the vehicle;
• a refrigerant cooling circuit configured to be selectively operably coupled to the high voltage battery to cool the high voltage battery during charging of the vehicle;
• a cabin heater core cooling circuit configured to be selectively operably coupled to the high voltage battery to cool the high voltage battery during charging of the vehicle;
• a control valve operable to control a flow of battery coolant to the high voltage battery from the refrigerant cooling circuit and the cabin heater core cooling circuit;
• and
• a control module configured to selectively operate the control valve to select a mode of cooling the high voltage battery,
• wherein at least one mode of cooling selectable by the control module is a combined mode in which both the refrigerant cooling circuit and the cabin heater core cooling circuit provide cooling to the high voltage battery.