Patent ID: 8402776

Claim:
A dual mode, vehicle thermal management system, comprising: a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, said first coolant loop comprising a first circulation pump for circulating a coolant within said first coolant loop; a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component, said second coolant loop comprising a second circulation pump for circulating said coolant within said second coolant loop; a dual mode valve system, wherein said first coolant loop operates in parallel with and separate from said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a first mode, and wherein said first coolant loop is serially coupled to said second coolant loop when said valve system is configured in a second mode; and a coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant within said second coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in either said first mode or said second mode, wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said second mode, and wherein said coolant within said first coolant loop is not coupled to said coolant reservoir when said valve system is configured in said first mode.