An apparatus in an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including a propulsion electric motor powered by energy from an energy storage system including a battery, the apparatus comprising: a field oriented motor controller generating motor control signals for the propulsion electric motor responsive to a flux command signal and a torque command signal; a torque command calculator, coupled to said field oriented motor controller, generating said torque command signal to command a desired torque; an optimal efficiency controller, coupled to said torque command calculator, generating an operating efficiency flux to operate the propulsion electric motor at a first determinable efficiency using a first power from the energy storage system while providing said desired torque; wherein an excess dissipation controller generating an inefficient flux to operate the propulsion electric motor at a second determinable efficiency using a second power from the energy storage system independent of said desired torque wherein said second power is greater than said first power; a mode controller selecting one of an optimal efficiency mode or a dissipation mode as a selected mode wherein said optimal efficiency mode uses said operating efficiency flux as said flux command signal and wherein said dissipation mode uses said inefficient flux as said flux command signal; characterized by a liquid-based cooling system coupled to the propulsion electric motor, wherein said liquid-based cooling system includes a plurality of reconfigurable coolant paths and valves (515, 520) dynamically reconfiguring said plurality of reconfigurable coolant paths responsive to said selected mode, such that in said dissipation mode one of said reconfigurable coolant paths includes coolant flowing from said propulsion system to the energy storage system without cooling, such that heat is communicated to the energy storage system from said propulsion system by said one reconfigurable coolant path without cooling of said coolant therebetween. a field oriented motor controller generating motor control signals for the propulsion electric motor responsive to a flux command signal and a torque command signal; a torque command calculator, coupled to said field oriented motor controller, generating said torque command signal to command a desired torque; an optimal efficiency controller, coupled to said torque command calculator, generating an operating efficiency flux to operate the propulsion electric motor at a first determinable efficiency using a first power from the energy storage system while providing said desired torque; wherein an excess dissipation controller generating an inefficient flux to operate the propulsion electric motor at a second determinable efficiency using a second power from the energy storage system independent of said desired torque wherein said second power is greater than said first power; a mode controller selecting one of an optimal efficiency mode or a dissipation mode as a selected mode wherein said optimal efficiency mode uses said operating efficiency flux as said flux command signal and wherein said dissipation mode uses said inefficient flux as said flux command signal; characterized by a liquid-based cooling system coupled to the propulsion electric motor, wherein said liquid-based cooling system includes a plurality of reconfigurable coolant paths and valves (515, 520) dynamically reconfiguring said plurality of reconfigurable coolant paths responsive to said selected mode, such that in said dissipation mode one of said reconfigurable coolant paths includes coolant flowing from said propulsion system to the energy storage system without cooling, such that heat is communicated to the energy storage system from said propulsion system by said one reconfigurable coolant path without cooling of said coolant therebetween.