HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITS OPERATION
First Claim
1. A method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle in a front loaded electrical power mode, said hybrid motor vehicle including a first propulsion system which is powered by electrical energy stored in a rechargeable battery, and a second propulsion system which is powered by the oxidation of a fuel, wherein said first and second propulsion systems are operable jointly or singly to power said motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
- measuring the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery;
selecting a percentage of the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery;
determining a distance D, that the first propulsion system, operating singly, could propel the vehicle on said selected percentage of the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery;
selecting a hybrid cruising range which is greater than the distance D; and
controlling the operation of said first and second propulsion systems in accord with a profile so as to power said vehicle such that when the vehicle has traveled through said hybrid cruising range, said selected percentage of electrical energy stored in said battery is depleted, and when said vehicle has traveled through the first 50% of said hybrid cruising range, over 50% of said selected percentage of electrical energy stored in said battery is depleted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid motor vehicle is operated in a front-loaded electrical power mode. The motor vehicle includes a first, electrical based, propulsion system which is powered by electrical energy stored in a rechargeable battery, and a second, fuel-based propulsion system, which is powered by oxidation of a fuel. According to the method, the amount of electrical energy stored in the battery is measured, and a percentage of that measured level is selected. A distance D which the first propulsion system, operating singly, and using that stored energy, can propel the vehicle is determined. A hybrid cruising range, which is greater than the distance D is selected, and a controller controls the operation of the first and second propulsion systems, in accord with a profile, so as to power the vehicle such that when the vehicle has traveled through the hybrid cruising range, the selected percentage of electrical energy is depleted, and when the vehicle has traveled through lithe first 50% of the hybrid cruising range, over 50% of the selected percentage of electrical energy stored in the battery is depleted. Also disclosed is a controller for implementing the method.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle in a front loaded electrical power mode, said hybrid motor vehicle including a first propulsion system which is powered by electrical energy stored in a rechargeable battery, and a second propulsion system which is powered by the oxidation of a fuel, wherein said first and second propulsion systems are operable jointly or singly to power said motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery; selecting a percentage of the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery; determining a distance D, that the first propulsion system, operating singly, could propel the vehicle on said selected percentage of the amount of electrical energy stored in said battery; selecting a hybrid cruising range which is greater than the distance D; and controlling the operation of said first and second propulsion systems in accord with a profile so as to power said vehicle such that when the vehicle has traveled through said hybrid cruising range, said selected percentage of electrical energy stored in said battery is depleted, and when said vehicle has traveled through the first 50% of said hybrid cruising range, over 50% of said selected percentage of electrical energy stored in said battery is depleted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A controller for controlling the operation of a hybrid motor vehicle in a front loaded electrical power mode, wherein the hybrid motor vehicle includes a first propulsion system which is powered by electrical energy stored in a rechargeable battery, and a second propulsion system which is powered by the oxidation of a fuel, wherein the first and second propulsion systems are operable jointly or singly to power the motor vehicle, the controller comprising:
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a measuring circuit for determining the amount of electrical energy stored in the battery; a memory for maintaining a value indicative of a selected percentage of the measured amount of electrical energy stored in the battery; a calculator for determining a distance D that the first propulsion system, operating singly, could power the vehicle on a selected percentage of the amount of electrical energy stored in the battery; a memory for storing data indicative of a hybrid cruising range, which hybrid cruising range is greater than the distance D; and a controller for controlling the operation of the first and second propulsion systems so as to power the vehicle in accord with a profile such that when the vehicle has traveled through the hybrid cruising range, the selected percentage of electrical energy stored in the battery is depleted and when the vehicle has traveled through the first 50% of the hybrid cruising range, over 50% of the selected percentage of electrical energy stored in the battery is depleted.
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Specification