Navigation-enhanced battery state of charge maintenance
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining a vehicle is approaching a downgrade;
determining relevant mass of the vehicle and road load associated with the vehicle;
calculating potential kinetic energy available from the downgrade based upon the relevant mass and road load associated with the vehicle, and one or more characteristics of the downgrade;
determining a potential braking force available from an engine of the vehicle during travel over the downgrade;
determining a target driving force to achieve a desired battery state of charge upon completing travel of the downgrade;
determining an amount of positive motor torque of an electric motor of the vehicle, the amount of positive motor torque determined based on a difference between the target driving force and the potential braking force; and
depleting a battery of the vehicle such that upon completing travel of the downgrade, the desired battery state of charge is achieved through operating the engine and the electric motor of the vehicle in a regenerative braking travel mode relative to the potential kinetic energy available from the downgrade.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods provide control the amount of battery SOC of a hybrid vehicle prior to reaching a downgrade section of roadway in order to offset the amount of energy that the hybrid vehicle will recuperate when traveling the downgrade. Navigation systems and methods are used to identify upcoming road conditions, such as downgrades. In this way, the battery SOC of the hybrid vehicle can maintain the capacity to allow a motor of the hybrid vehicle to assist in decelerating the hybrid vehicle during the downgrade if need be. Additionally, a situation where the battery is fully charged before reaching the end of the downgrade is avoided, which if not, could result in overcharging the battery, or having to switch to an engine-only mode of travel, where a driver must supplement engine braking with friction braking.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining a vehicle is approaching a downgrade; determining relevant mass of the vehicle and road load associated with the vehicle; calculating potential kinetic energy available from the downgrade based upon the relevant mass and road load associated with the vehicle, and one or more characteristics of the downgrade; determining a potential braking force available from an engine of the vehicle during travel over the downgrade; determining a target driving force to achieve a desired battery state of charge upon completing travel of the downgrade; determining an amount of positive motor torque of an electric motor of the vehicle, the amount of positive motor torque determined based on a difference between the target driving force and the potential braking force; and depleting a battery of the vehicle such that upon completing travel of the downgrade, the desired battery state of charge is achieved through operating the engine and the electric motor of the vehicle in a regenerative braking travel mode relative to the potential kinetic energy available from the downgrade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; an electric motor operatively connected in parallel to the internal combustion engine; and an electronic control unit adapted to; obtain navigational information regarding a downgrade that is upcoming on a route being traveled by the hybrid vehicle; operate the hybrid vehicle to deplete a battery providing electrical energy to the electric motor prior to traversing the downgrade; operate the hybrid vehicle in an electric motor on travel mode while traversing the downgrade to recharge the battery to a desired battery state of charge upon the hybrid vehicle completing its traversal of the downgrade, wherein an amount by which the battery is depleted is based upon a calculated potential kinetic energy available from the downgrade based upon one or more characteristics of the downgrade, a potential braking force available from the internal combustion engine, a target driving force determined for achieving the desired battery state of charge upon completing travel of the downgrade, and an amount of positive motor torque of the electric motor determined based on a different between the target driving force and the potential braking force. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification