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A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein, a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electrochemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger, and a second coolant loop therma

A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein, a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electrochemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger, and a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger. The first and second coolant loops are configured to carry distinct thermal energy transfer media. The thermal management system also includes an interface configured to facilitate transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger via the second coolant loop in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electrochemical storage device. Thermal management methods are also provided.

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What is claimed is: 1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising: a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electro-chemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger; a s

What is claimed is: 1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising: a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electro-chemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger; a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger, the first and second loops configured to carry distinct thermal energy transfer media; an interface configured to facilitate transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger via the second coolant loop in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electro-chemical storage device; and a second heat exchanger provided in the first coolant loop. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is provided to the first mentioned heat exchanger to regenerate the thermal energy storage material, and the electro-chemical storage device comprises one or more batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, or combinations thereof. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein regenerating the thermal energy storage material includes converting the thermal energy storage material from a solid state to a liquid state. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coolant loop comprises a coolant mixture that is different from the thermal energy transfer medium flowing through the second loop. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the thermal energy transfer medium flowing through the second loop comprises a coolant used in association with the internal combustion engine. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the interface comprises one or more fluid supply paths in fluid communication with the second coolant loop. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is provided to the heat exchanger via at least one of the fluid supply paths and the second coolant loop, the fluid supply paths being thermally coupled to a radiator core of the vehicle, and upon providing the heat to the first mentioned heat exchanger, at least one of a sensible heat or a latent heat of fusion of the thermal energy storage material is increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is provided to the heat exchanger via at least one of the fluid supply paths and the second coolant loop, the fluid supply paths being adapted to be thermally coupled to a radiator core of the vehicle, and upon providing the heat to the first mentioned heat exchanger, a sensible heat as well as a latent heat of fusion of the thermal energy storage material are increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is selectively delivered to heat a passenger cabin of the vehicle via the second coolant loop, or delivered to the electro-chemical storage device via the first coolant loop to increase a temperature of the electro-chemical storage device. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material comprises a phase change material configured to change from a solid state to a liquid state and vice-versa during select conditions. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is stored in the thermal energy storage material for use during cold-start conditions of the vehicle to increase a temperature TBatt of the electro-chemical storage device. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mentioned heat exchanger is configured to preheat the electro-chemical storage device and a passenger cabin of the vehicle to enhance performance of the electro-chemical storage device and enhance cabin comfort of the passenger cabin. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage material provided within the heat exchanger is encapsulated in spheres in a baffled framework within the heat exchanger. 14. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising: a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electro-chemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger; a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger, the first and second loops configured to carry distinct thermal energy transfer media; an interface configured to facilitate transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger via the second coolant loop in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electro-chemical storage device; a second heat exchanger provided in the first coolant loop, wherein, in operation, thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is selectively flowed through the second heat exchanger to reduce a temperature TBatt to within a predetermined temperature range; a bypass fluid path configured to deliver the thermal energy transfer medium circulating in the first coolant loop, bypassing the heat exchanger, to the electro-chemical storage device; and first and second pumps to enable circulation of the thermal energy transfer media provided in the respective first and second coolant loops. 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of three-way valves configured to selectively permit the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop to flow through the heat exchanger or the bypass fluid path. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is flowed via the bypass fluid path if a temperature TBatt of the electro-chemical storage device is above a predetermined maximum threshold temperature Tmax. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is enabled to flow through the heat exchanger if a temperature TBatt of the electro-chemical storage device is below a predetermined minimum threshold temperature Tmin. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises air-to-glycol mixture heat exchanger. 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first mentioned heat exchanger comprises a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. 20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first mentioned heat exchanger comprises: heat exchange tubing configured to exchange heat between the thermal energy storage material and the respective thermal energy transfer media circulating in the first and second coolant loops; and heat exchange fins configured to enhance the heat exchange, wherein the thermal energy storage material is encapsulated in one or more sections of flexible tubing comprised in the heat exchanger, wherein encapsulation in the one or more sections of the flexible tubing reduces a ratio of encapsulant volume relative to volume of the thermal energy storage material. 21. The system of claim 14, wherein the first mentioned heat exchanger is configured to control heat supplied to components of the vehicle during select phases of vehicular operation including cold-start conditions, normal operating conditions, and hot-operating conditions. 22. A thermal management system for a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising: a first fluid loop having a first coolant mixture flowing therein; a battery module located in the first fluid loop; a second fluid loop having a second coolant mixture flowing therein, the second coolant mixture being distinct from the first coolant mixture; a heat exchanger including: a wall defining a chamber; a fluid flow passage inside the chamber, the fluid flow passage defining a portion of the first fluid loop; heat exchange tubing defining a portion of the second fluid loop, the heat exchange tubing being inside the chamber but not being in fluid communication with the fluid flow passage inside the chamber; a flexible pouch in the chamber, and phase change material in the pouch, the pouch being capable of expanding and contracting as the phase change material therein undergoes changes in density because of phase transitions; and phase change material in the flexible pouch; and a thermal interface configured to transfer heat produced by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to the heat exchanger. 23. The system of claim 22, further comprising: a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first fluid loop; and a bypass fluid path configured to deliver the first coolant mixture to the second heat exchanger bypassing the heat exchanger in order to dissipate heat carried by the first coolant mixture and to reduce a temperature TBatt of the battery module below a maximum desirable temperature Tmax. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is transferred to the heat exchanger via the second fluid loop and stored therein, and the heat stored in the heat exchanger is selectively delivered to the battery module via the first fluid loop. 25. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is transferred to the heat exchanger to regenerate the phase change material. 26. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is transfeffed to the heat exchanger via a fluid path configured to be thermally coupled to the second fluid loop and a radiator core of the vehicle, and further wherein after receiving the heat generated by the internal combustion engine, at least one of a sensible heat or a latent heat of fusion of the phase change material is increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state. 27. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is transfeffed to the heat exchanger via a fluid path configured to be thermally coupled to the second fluid loop and a radiator core of the vehicle, and further wherein after receiving the heat generated by the internal combustion engine, a sensible heat as well as a latent heat of fusion of the phase change material are increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state. 28. The system of claim 22, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is selectively delivered to heat a passenger cabin of the vehicle, the passenger cabin being thermally coupled to the heat exchanger via the second fluid loop. 29. A thermal management system for a vehicle, comprising: a heat exchanger means having a means for storing thermal energy; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electrical energy storage means located within the first coolant loop; a second coolant loop, the first and second coolant loops being thermally coupled to the heat exchanger means and configured to carry a thermal energy transfer medium; an interface means for enabling transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger means in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electro-chemical storage means; and a second heat exchanger means provided in the first coolant loop. 30. The system of claim 29, further comprising: a bypass fluid path for delivering a first coolant mixture, provided in the first coolant loop, to the second heat exchanger means, bypassing the heat exchanger means in order to dissipate heat carried by the first coolant mixture to reduce a temperature TBatt of the electrical energy storage means to within a predetermined maximum temperature Tmax. 31. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface means comprises a fluid path that is thermally coupled to the second fluid loop, and a radiator core of the vehicle is configured to be thermally coupled to the fluid path to transfer the heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the first mentioned heat exchanger means, and at least one of a sensible heat or a latent heat of fusion of the phase change material is increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state after receiving the heat generated by the internal combustion engine. 32. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface means comprising a fluid path that is thermally coupled to the second fluid loop, and a radiator core of the vehicle is configured to be thermally coupled to the fluid path to transfer the heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the first mentioned heat exchanger means, further wherein a sensible heat and a latent heat of fusion of the phase change material are increased from a thermal state to a higher different thermal state after receiving the heat generated by the internal combustion engine. 33. The system of claim 29, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is selectively delivered to heat a passenger cabin of the vehicle, wherein the passenger cabin is thermally coupled to the first mentioned heat exchanger means via the second coolant loop. 34. A vehicle comprising: a heat exchanger; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electro-chemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger; a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger, the first and second loops configured to carry distinct thermal energy transfer media; an interface configured to facilitate transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger via the second coolant loop in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electro-chemical storage device; a second heat exchanger provided in the first coolant loop, wherein, in operation, thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is selectively flowed through the second heat exchanger to reduce a temperature TBatt to within a predetermined temperature range; a bypass fluid path configured to selectively deliver the thermal energy transfer medium circulating in the first coolant loop, bypassing the heat exchanger, to the electro-chemical storage device; and first and second pumps to enable circulation of the thermal energy transfer media provided in the respective first and second coolant loops. 35. The vehicle of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of three-way valves configured to selectively permit the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop to flow through the heat exchanger or the bypass fluid path. 36. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is flowed via the bypass fluid path if a temperature TBatt of the electro-chemical storage device is above a predetermined maximum threshold temperature Tmax. 37. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the thermal energy transfer medium flowing in the first coolant loop is enabled to flow through the heat exchanger if a temperature TBatt of the electro-chemical storage device is below a predetermined minimum threshold temperature Tmin. 38. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises air-to-glycol mixture heat exchanger. 39. A vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine; a heat exchanger; a first coolant loop thermally coupled to a battery located within the first coolant loop; a second coolant loop, the first and second coolant loops being thermally coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to carry a thermal energy transfer medium; an interface for enabling transfer of heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger in order to selectively deliver the heat from the engine to the battery; and a second heat exchanger provided in the first coolant loop. 40. The vehicle of claim 39, further comprising a bypass fluid path for delivering a first coolant mixture, provided in the first coolant loop, to the second heat exchanger, bypassing the first mentioned heat exchanger in order to dissipate heat carried by the first coolant mixture to reduce a temperature TBatt of the battery to within a predetermined maximum temperature Tma. 41. The vehicle of claim 39, and further comprising a radiator core, wherein the interface comprises a fluid path that is thermally coupled to the second fluid loop, and wherein the radiator core is configured to be thermally coupled to the fluid path to transfer the heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the first mentioned heat exchanger. 42. The vehicle of claim 39, and further comprising a radiator core, wherein the interface comprises a fluid path that is thermally coupled to the second fluid loop, and the radiator core is configured to be thermally coupled to the fluid path to transfer the heat generated by the internal combustion engine to the first mentioned heat exchanger. 43. The vehicle of claim 39, wherein the heat generated by the internal combustion engine is selectively delivered to heat a passenger cabin of the vehicle, and wherein the passenger cabin is thermally coupled to the first mentioned heat exchanger via the second coolant loop.