Method And System For Determining A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Expected Drive Range

• US 20110046834A1
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grider, Duane M., Blakemore, Bruce Carvell
• Granted Patent: US 10,093,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle may include an engine and electric machine each configured to generate motive power for the vehicle, a battery configured to store energy for the electric machine, and a tank configured to store fuel for the engine. The vehicle may further include one or more controllers configured to determine a vehicle drive range based on an amount of fuel in the tank and an available charge depletion energy in the battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine and electric machine each configured to generate motive power for the vehicle;

a battery configured to store energy for the electric machine;

a tank configured to store fuel for the engine; and

one or more controllers configured to determine a vehicle drive range based on an amount of fuel in the tank and an available charge depletion energy in the battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine the available charge depletion energy in the battery based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at a state of charge approximately equal to the battery'"'"'s charge depleting lower threshold.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the one or more controllers is configured to determine the vehicle drive range further based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine a vehicle fuel economy based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine a vehicle fuel economy based on a current or voltage associated with the battery.

6. A method for advising a driver of a vehicle including a battery and fuel tank comprising:

determining a gasoline consumption rate for a drive cycle of the vehicle;

determining an equivalent gasoline consumption rate for the drive cycle based on a current or voltage associated with the battery;

determining a distance to empty based on the determined rates, an amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and an available charge depletion energy in the battery; and

presenting the determined distance to empty to the driver.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining the available charge depletion energy in the battery based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at state of charge approximately equal to the battery'"'"'s charge depleting lower threshold.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the equivalent gasoline consumption rate for the drive cycle is determined further based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a vehicle fuel economy based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicle fuel economy is determined further based on the current or voltage associated with the battery.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising presenting the determined vehicle fuel economy to the driver.

12. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a fuel tank; and

one or more controllers configured to determine an expected drive range of the vehicle based on an amount of fuel in the fuel tank and an available charge depletion energy in the battery.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine the available charge depletion energy in the battery based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at a state of charge approximately equal to the battery'"'"'s charge depleting lower threshold.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the one or more controllers is configured to determine the expected drive range of the vehicle further based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine a fuel economy of the vehicle based on an electrical energy to mechanical power conversion efficiency and a gasoline to mechanical power conversion efficiency.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the one or more controllers is further configured to determine a fuel economy of the vehicle based on a current or voltage associated with the battery.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising an interface operatively arranged with the one or more controllers and configured to present the expected drive range to a driver of the vehicle.