7ISSUE DATE:
SERVICE BULLETIN SUBJECT:
VINs or MODELS AFFECTED:
COMPLETE BY:
SERVICE BULLETIN #:

9/14/2020
Vehicle Controller Software Update
Service Specified Buses
Next Service Opportunity
SB-20-133

NOTICE! It is expected that this process may require up to 1 hour per bus. Please
schedule appropriately to minimize vehicle downtime.

VEHICLE CONTROLLER SOFTWARE UPDATE
Description

The reason for this software update is to the vehicle controller to the latest software version.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

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Summary of Software Changes

This change will update the vehicle controller.
•

Vehicle Controller
• Added a wait to start Boolean signal to tell the dash when there is a voltage disparity on
the high voltage bus. Removed DM01 fault for high voltage bus disparity. Graham White
cutout pressure set to 130 psi.
• The DC-DC has a protection diode on the HV bus. The voltage doesn't need to be
monitored at startup and shutdown. Added a calibration parameter to indicate in the
software if the DC-DC has a protection diode.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

2|Page

Tools/Programs Required
Tools Required:
• Laptop Computer
• Nexiq USB-Link 2
• USB-Serial Adapter

Programs Required:
• Proterra Diagnostics Tool

Software Files Required / Preparation

IMPORTANT! NEVER access the software from the USB memory device, ALWAYS copy the
software files to your computer hard drive and access the software from this location. Secure the
bus with the Vehicle Master Disconnect in the rear ON.

Component

Part Number

Version

Vehicle Controller

055467

4.3.1

It is recommended that you copy the entire “service bulletin files” folder to your local machine in order
to more effectively keep track of the software versions you are deploying:
\\bus.local\files\Engineering\Service Bulletins\Service Bulletin Files for SC-20-133\

Service Bulletin Execution

1. Update the Vehicle Controller Software using the process in Appendix A

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

3|Page

Preparing the Vehicle to be Programmed

When programming a vehicle, it is critical that the low voltage batteries remain connected throughout
the process. Ensure that the LV batteries are fully charged before starting the process. If they are
low you can use the vehicle to recharge them buy turning on high voltage, or you can place the bus
on a low voltage charger for the duration of the process.

Connecting to the Vehicle

This process will guide the user to connect to the vehicle with the Proterra Diagnostics Tool.
1. Power up and login to the Proterra-Supplied laptop or a comparable PC that has the Proterra
Diagnostics Tool software installed with a valid license.
2. Turn ON the 12/24V rear Vehicle Master Disconnect located at the curbside rear charge port
access panel.
Vehicle Master
Disconnect

3. Connect the Nexiq USB Link2 device to the laptop and to the OBDII Diagnostic Port located in
the Street-Side wheel well box.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

4|Page

4. Turn the Driver’s Master Switch to the ACC position.

5. On the laptop, double-click on the Proterra Diagnostics Tool software icon to start the software.

6. When the program opens, read and click OK for the high voltage safety prompt.
7. On the Home tab, select the appropriate device from the drop down and click “Connect”.

8. Once the Proterra Diagnostics Tool has connected to the vehicle, you will have a VIN number
and connection status displayed on the home screen, and tabs available to navigate. If you
don’t, double check that the low voltage batteries are connected and that the Nexiq tool is
plugged in.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

5|Page

Download and Store Existing Parameters

Sometimes you might want to download and store the customer specific parameters from the vehicle.
This can be useful when comparing two vehicles that are behaving differently, or if you are replacing
the ZR32A controller on a vehicle.
1. After the first vehicle has been completed and verified, disconnect the Proterra Diagnostics
Tool and then re-connect.
2. Navigate to the Configuration tab and click the “Get Parameters” button. This will download the
latest parameter set to the “C:\Logs” folder on your machine.
Get Parameters
Button

3. In windows file explorer, navigate to the C:\Logs folder. Copy the latest downloaded *.zip file to
a folder for the specific customer and vehicle.

Copy!

4. Do not rename the file as the tool will follow the naming convention when reloading the file.
Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

6|Page

Appendix A

VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE

Description

This document contains the necessary information to update the Proterra Vehicle Integration
Controller. This controller provides the electrical integration of ancillary systems on 800V models. It
owns the vehicle operational state control, startup and shutdown, steering, pneumatics, thermal
management, and brake interlock controls.

Tools/Programs Required
Tools Required:
• Laptop Computer
• Nexiq USB-Link 2
• USB-Serial Adapter

Programs Required:
• Proterra Diagnostics Tool

Software Files Required / Preparation

It is recommended that you download any files local to your machine. To program the vehicle
controller, you will need a *.hex data file. This file will contain memory address and data information
that will be written to the controller in order to update the user code space. This will not update the
boot loader or other firmware files.
IMPORTANT! NEVER access the software from the USB memory device, ALWAYS copy the
software files to your computer hard drive and access the software from this location.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

7|Page

Preparing the Vehicle to be Programmed

When programming a vehicle, it is critical that the low voltage batteries remain connected throughout
the process. Ensure that the LV batteries are fully charged before starting the process. If they are
low, you can use the vehicle to recharge them buy turning on high voltage or you can place the bus
on a low voltage charger for the duration of the process.

Connecting to the Vehicle

1. Power up and login to the Proterra-Supplied laptop or a comparable PC that has the Proterra
Diagnostics Tool software installed with a valid license.
2. Turn ON the 12/24V rear Vehicle Master Disconnect located at the curbside rear charge port
access panel.
Vehicle Master
Disconnect

3. Connect the Nexiq USB Link2 device to the laptop and to the OBDII Diagnostic Port located in
the Street-Side wheel well box.

4. Press and hold the Street-Side Wheel Well WORK LIGHT switch until the work lights turn on.
5. On the laptop, double-click on the Proterra Diagnostics Tool software icon to start the software.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

8|Page

6. When the program opens, read and click OK for the high voltage safety prompt.
7. On the Home tab, select the appropriate device from the drop down and click “Connect”.

8. Once the diagnostic tool has connected to the vehicle, you will have a VIN number and
connection status displayed on the home screen, and tabs available to navigate. If you don’t
see the Home Screen, double check that the low voltage batteries are connected and that the
Nexiq tool is plugged in.
Note: 800V Proterra vehicles are equipped with an automatic battery disconnect that will
protect the low voltage batteries from a deep discharge.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

9|Page

Update Using the Proterra Diagnostic Tool

1. Click on the “Overhead Charging” button on the left side of the screen.
Note: If the bus that you are working on is not capable of Overhead Charging, skip to step 3
below.

Click “Overhead
Charging”

2. Record the value displayed in the “Vehicle Tag” data field. This will be re-entered into the
controller after the software update.

Record Vehicle Tag

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

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3. Navigate to the CONFIGURATION tab in the left menu.

Click
CONFIGURATION

4. Select the option for Vehicle Controller “START FLASH”.
NOTICE: The “INITIAL FLASH” button is only for offline programing of the Vehicle Controller
with an Offline Programming Kit.

Beside Vehicle Controller,
Click START FLASH

5. In the pop-up window, select the software flash file to load the controller.

Select the file and
Click Open

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

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6. The Programming window will come up and may take a few minutes to complete.

7. After completing the software update, Turn OFF the Work Light switch inside the street side
wheel well box.

8. Click on the “Overhead Charging” button on the left side of the screen.
Note: If the bus that you are working on is not capable of Overhead Charging, skip to step 10
below.

Click “Overhead
Charging”

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

12 | P a g e

9. The following screen will appear. Enter the “Vehicle Tag” that you recorded previously into the
field circled in red below. Click the Button under the field. This will populate the “Vehicle Tag”
into the field above and into the controller.

Click “Button”

10. Turn OFF the 12/24V rear Vehicle Master Disconnect located behind the vehicle curbside rear
charge port access panel, wait 10 seconds, and then turn back to ON.
Vehicle Master
Disconnect

11. Verify that the vehicle turns on with no faults and that it is capable of charging.
12. Return the vehicle to service.

Headquarters: 1815 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
East Coast Manufacturing: 1 Whitlee Court, Greenville, SC 29607
West Coast Manufacturing: 383 Cheryl Lane, City of Industry, CA 91789

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