Method and apparatus for recharging an energy storage device on a vehicle

• US 10,124,679 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Zettel, Andrew M., Nitz, Larry T., Farah, Andrew J., Stout, Matthew S., Grenn, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US14/928,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20170120762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/60 Navigation input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle including an energy storage device and a powertrain system configured to effect regenerative braking is described. A method for controlling the vehicle includes determining an expected increase in a state of charge of the energy storage device achieved through opportunity charging by employing regenerative braking during an anticipated next trip of the vehicle. A preferred setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device is determined based upon the expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging, and charging of the energy storage device is controlled during a remote charging event based upon the preferred setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle including an energy storage device and a powertrain system including regenerative braking capability, the method comprising:

determining an anticipated next trip of the vehicle;

determining an expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging of the energy storage device employing regenerative braking during the anticipated next trip of the vehicle;

determining a desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device prior to the anticipated next trip of the vehicle based upon the expected increase in the state of charge achieved through the opportunity charging of the energy storage device during the anticipated next trip of the vehicle; and

controlling charging of the energy storage device during a remote charging event prior to the anticipated next trip of the vehicle based upon the desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a state of charge of the energy storage device;

controlling charging of the energy storage device during the remote charging event based upon the desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device and the state of charge of the energy storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging of the energy storage device employing regenerative braking during a portion of the anticipated next trip of the vehicle; and

determining the desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device based upon the expected increase in the state of charge during the portion of the anticipated next trip of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes an on-board navigation system, and wherein determining the anticipated next trip of the vehicle comprises employing the on-board navigation system to determine expected route information for the anticipated next trip of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising employing the on-board navigation system to determine the expected route information for the anticipated next trip of the vehicle based upon a present location of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising:

employing the on-board navigation system to determine a present geographical location of the vehicle and an expected route information for the anticipated next trip of the vehicle; and

determining the expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging of the energy storage device employing regenerative braking when traversing the expected route for the anticipated next trip of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling charging of the energy storage device comprises controlling charging of the energy storage device based upon the desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device and the monitored state of charge of the energy storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging of the energy storage employing the regenerative braking of the powertrain system during a portion of an anticipated next trip of the vehicle; and

determining the desired setpoint for the state of charge of the energy storage device based upon the expected increase in the state of charge achieved through opportunity charging of the energy storage device during the portion of the anticipated next trip of the vehicle.