Patent ID: 8336319

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, said first coolant loop further comprising a first coolant reservoir; 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, said second coolant loop further comprising a second coolant reservoir, wherein said coolant is allowed to flow between said first and second coolant reservoirs; and 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.