Patent ID: 7870892

Claim:
A method for controlling the interior climate of a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an engine coolant system, the method comprising the steps of: supplying electrical energy to at least one thermoelectric element of a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature change; pumping coolant through a coolant tube in thermal communication with the thermoelectric module; blowing air across the thermoelectric element and the coolant tube to create a change of temperature of the coolant in the coolant tube; receiving the coolant in a heat exchanger; creating an air flow across the heat exchanger; receiving the air flow over an evaporator to supplement cooling in a cooling mode; receiving the air flow over a heater core to supplement heating in a heating mode; in a cooling mode, selectively isolating the coolant in the coolant tube from coolant in the engine coolant system; and in a heating mode, selectively coupling the coolant in the coolant tube with the engine coolant system.