Systems and methods for priming vehicle systems based on remote vehicle key detection

A method of priming a vehicle system based on remote vehicle key detection comprising:

• receiving, at a controller, a first remote vehicle key location of a remote vehicle key from a key detection system at a vehicle;
• receiving, at the controller, a vehicle location of the vehicle from a sensor system of the vehicle;
• determining, by the controller, whether the first remote vehicle key location is within a pre-defined distance of the vehicle location;
• and
• based on a determination that the first remote vehicle key location is within the predefined distance of the vehicle:
• issuing, by the controller, a first command to a catalyst heating system to heat a catalyst of the vehicle at a first catalyst heating level prior to start-up of an engine of the vehicle;
• and
• issuing, by the controller, a second command to the catalyst heating system to heat the catalyst of the vehicle at a second catalyst heating level following start-up of the engine, the first catalyst heating level being different from the second catalyst heating level.

A vehicle including a vehicle priming system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory comprising instructions that upon execution by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
• receive a vehicle location of the vehicle from a sensor system of the vehicle;
• receive a plurality of successive remote vehicle key locations of a remote vehicle key from a key detection system;
• determine whether the remote vehicle key is moving in a direction towards the vehicle based on the plurality of successive remote vehicle key locations;
• determine an arrival time of the remote vehicle key at the vehicle location based on the plurality of successive remote vehicle key locations;
• and
• issue a first command to a catalyst heating system to heat a catalyst of the vehicle prior to start-up of an engine of the vehicle in accordance with the arrival time based at least in part in response to a determination that the remote vehicle key is moving in the direction towards the vehicle;
• and
• issue a second command to the catalyst heating system to heat the catalyst of the vehicle at a second catalyst heating level following start-up of the engine, the first catalyst heating level being different from the second catalyst heating level.