Patent ID: 8241097

Claim:
A method for controlling an environment for a battery in a vehicle, the vehicle including a transmission and an air conditioning system for the battery, the method comprising: executing a first battery environment control strategy, including determining at least one vehicle operating condition; ventilating the battery environment with air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle when the execution of the first battery environment control strategy indicates that the battery environment requires ventilation; executing a second battery environment control strategy when the first battery environment control strategy does not indicate that the battery environment requires ventilation, the second battery environment control strategy including at least one of determining a transmission gear and determining whether the battery air conditioning system is operating; recirculating air around the battery when the second battery control strategy indicates that exchange of air from around the battery with air from the ambient environment outside the vehicle should be inhibited; and executing a third battery environment control strategy when the second battery environment control strategy does not indicate that the exchange of air from around the battery with air from the ambient environment outside the vehicle should be inhibited, the execution of the third battery environment control strategy including determining a temperature of the battery and a temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and effecting a battery environment control based at least in part on the temperature of the battery and the temperature of the ambient environment outside the vehicle.