TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS MODE CONTROL FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
- a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, each configured to propel the vehicle individually or in parallel with each other; and
a controller configured to control the propulsion system to operate in a normal emissions mode wherein the ICE is enabled to propel the vehicle and a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled;
wherein the controller is further configured to direct the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to an external control signal transmitted to the vehicle from a source positioned external to the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid electric vehicle has a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor each configured to operate in parallel and each configured to propel the vehicle individually. A rechargeable battery is configured to deliver power to the electric motor to enable the electric motor to propel the vehicle for a certain distance without operation of the ICE. The rechargeable battery is further configured to receive power from a household power outlet. A controller is configured to control the propulsion system to operate in either a normal emissions mode or a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled. The controller is further configured to direct the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to the broadcast of an external control signal.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, each configured to propel the vehicle individually or in parallel with each other; and a controller configured to control the propulsion system to operate in a normal emissions mode wherein the ICE is enabled to propel the vehicle and a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled; wherein the controller is further configured to direct the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to an external control signal transmitted to the vehicle from a source positioned external to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system configured to propel a vehicle throughout normal operations of the vehicle, the propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, the ICE and the electric motor being configured to operate in parallel, the ICE and the electric motor each being further configured to individually propel the vehicle; a rechargeable battery configured to deliver power to the electric motor to enable the propulsion system to propel the vehicle for a certain distance of vehicle travel without operation of the ICE, the rechargeable battery being further configured to receive electrical power from the ICE and also to receive electrical power from at least one of a remote charger, a charging station or a power outlet of a household; a controller configured to control the propulsion system to operate in a normal emissions mode wherein the ICE is enabled to propel the vehicle and a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled; a receiver configured to receive an external control signal from a source positioned external to the vehicle such that the receiver transmits the external control signal to the controller; and a navigation system configured to generate a location signal corresponding to a geographic area in which the vehicle is positioned such that the navigation system transmits the location signal to the controller, wherein the external control signal includes information indicative of an emissions requirement for a designated geographic area, the controller being further configured to; determine whether the vehicle is located within the designated geographic area based on the location signal, and control the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to the receiver receiving the external control signal while the vehicle is located within the designated geographic area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system configured to propel a vehicle throughout normal operations of the vehicle, the propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, the ICE and the electric motor being configured to operate in parallel, the ICE and the electric motor each being further configured to propel the vehicle individually, the ICE being further configured to operate in a standard emissions mode and in a low emissions mode a rechargeable battery configured to deliver power to the electric motor to enable the propulsion system to propel the vehicle for a certain distance of vehicle travel without operation of the ICE and to receive electrical power from at least one of a remote charger, a charging station or a power outlet of a household; and a controller configured to control the propulsion system to operate in a normal emissions mode wherein the ICE is enabled to operate in the standard emissions mode, a reduced emissions mode wherein the ICE is enabled to operate in the low emissions mode, and a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled; wherein the controller is further configured to control the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to an external control signal transmitted to the vehicle from a source positioned external to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification