Hybrid electric vehicle controller and method
First Claim
1. A controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, and an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, the controller configured to:
- receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode of the vehicle;
receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery;
determine which of a plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to recharge the battery and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and
cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain mode according to the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge when the powertrain is in the engine charging mode, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption,wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on a signal indicative of an instant state of charge of the battery and a reference value of state of charge, the reference value in the first hybrid operating mode being higher than that in the second hybrid operating mode, and the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode and additionally in dependence on a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode being one of a plurality of selectable transmission modes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having an engine, electric propulsion means powered by energy storage means and electric generator means operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage means, the controller being operable to: receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid driving mode; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the energy storage means; determine which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the generator means to recharge the energy storage means and an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion means is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid driving mode, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of the instant state of charge of the energy storage means and a reference value of state of charge, the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid driving mode.
12 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, and an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, the controller configured to:
-
receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode of the vehicle; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery; determine which of a plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to recharge the battery and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain mode according to the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge when the powertrain is in the engine charging mode, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on a signal indicative of an instant state of charge of the battery and a reference value of state of charge, the reference value in the first hybrid operating mode being higher than that in the second hybrid operating mode, and the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode and additionally in dependence on a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode being one of a plurality of selectable transmission modes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
-
-
13. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, and a controller, the controller configured to:
-
receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode of the vehicle; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery; determine which of a plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to recharge the battery and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain mode according to the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge when the powertrain is in the engine charging mode, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on a signal indicative of an instant state of charge of the battery and a reference value of state of charge, the reference value in the first hybrid operating mode being higher than that in the second hybrid operating mode, and the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode and additionally in dependence on a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode being one of a plurality of selectable transmission modes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, and an electric generator configured to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, the method comprising:
-
receiving a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode; receiving a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery; determining which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to recharge the battery and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is configured to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and causing the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge when the powertrain is in the engine charging mode, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption, the method comprising determining which of the plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence on a signal indicative of an instant state of charge of the battery and a reference value of state of charge, the reference value in the first hybrid operating mode being higher than in the second hybrid operating mode, and setting the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode and additionally in dependence on a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode being one of a plurality of selectable transmission modes. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification