Method and apparatus for electric vehicle trip and recharge planning

• US 10,281,296 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Kowalski, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul D
• Application Number:
  US15/343,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 22, 701 29, 701 30, 701400, 701533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an interface, and at least one processor configured to present, via the interface, a message including a charge-vehicle recommendation for at least one charge station within the drive range, in response to (i) a selected destination for the vehicle lacking a charge facility for the battery and being within a drive range of the vehicle and (ii) a charge station being within the drive range.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

set a point on a digital map projected as being a maximum travelable distance, on a current charge level, by a vehicle in a first direction from a present location;

adjust a first direction heading radially by a predefined value;

repeat the steps of setting and adjusting until a perimeter surrounding a vehicle location on the map is defined by a line connecting the set points;

display the digital map, including the perimeter representing a travelable area, on a vehicle display; and

responsive to a destination being outside the travelable area, notify a user that charging may be needed to reach the destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on road speed limits of roads leading to a particular point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on the gradient of terrain traveled to reach a particular point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on weather conditions covering roads leading to a particular point.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the weather conditions include wind.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on vehicle travel direction relative to wind direction.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the weather conditions include temperature.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display a plurality of charging stations within the represented travelable area and within a predefined proximity to a current route, responsive to an input destination being outside the travelable range.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

setting points on a digital map as being maximum travelable distances, on a current charge level, by a vehicle in a plurality of headings from a present location, wherein the headings radially vary at predefined radial intervals from each other around a vehicle location, such that a perimeter surrounding the vehicle location on the map is defined by a line connecting the set points;

displaying the digital map, including the perimeter representing a travelable area, on a vehicle display; and

responsive to a destination being outside the perimeter, notifying a user that charging may be needed to reach the destination.