ENERGY CONSUMPTION COMPARISON METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of determining expected performance of an alternative fuel vehicle based on actual use of an existing vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining trip data from an existing vehicle driven by a vehicle operator;
(b) determining performance metrics of the vehicle based on the trip data;
(c) determining simulated performance metrics of an alternative fuel vehicle based on the trip data;
(d) comparing the performance metrics of the existing vehicle and the simulated performance metrics of the alternative fuel vehicle; and
(e) presenting the comparison to the operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for determining comparative performance of an alternative fuel vehicle, such as an electric or hybrid vehicle, based on actual use of an existing gasoline or diesel fuel vehicle. The method includes obtaining trip data from an existing vehicle, determining performance metrics of the vehicle based on the trip data, determining simulated performance metrics of an alternative fuel vehicle based on the trip data, comparing the performance metrics of the existing vehicle and the simulated performance metrics of the alternative fuel vehicle, and presenting the comparison to the operator.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining expected performance of an alternative fuel vehicle based on actual use of an existing vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining trip data from an existing vehicle driven by a vehicle operator; (b) determining performance metrics of the vehicle based on the trip data; (c) determining simulated performance metrics of an alternative fuel vehicle based on the trip data; (d) comparing the performance metrics of the existing vehicle and the simulated performance metrics of the alternative fuel vehicle; and (e) presenting the comparison to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining expected performance of an alternative fuel vehicle based on actual use of an existing vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sending an ignition-on time stamp and odometer reading from a plurality of vehicles to a call center; (b) sending an ignition-off time stamp and odometer reading from the plurality of vehicles to the call center; (c) determining vehicle trip data based on associated ignition-on and ignition-off time stamps and odometer readings from each of the vehicles; (d) processing the vehicle trip data for the plurality of vehicles; and (e) calculating a theoretical range for a alternative fuel vehicle based on the processed data, wherein the theoretical range is based on the battery power of one or more batteries installed on the alternative fuel vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining expected performance of an alternative fuel vehicle based on actual use of an existing vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) recording a time stamp and odometer reading for one or more vehicles at ignition-on; (b) uploading the ignition-on time stamp and the odometer reading for one or more vehicles to a call center following the ignition-on; (c) recording a time stamp and an odometer reading for the one or more vehicles at ignition-off; (d) uploading the ignition-off time stamp and the odometer reading for the one or more vehicles to the call center following the ignition-off; (e) calculating a plurality of trip durations and times of day based on the uploading of the ignition-on time stamp and the uploading of the ignition-off time stamp; (f) determining an average trip duration at periodic times during a day; (g) determining the vehicle performance metrics of a particular vehicle based on a vehicle identifier and the ignition-on and ignition-off uploads for the particular vehicle; (h) creating a hypothetical alternative fuel vehicle profile based on the determined vehicle performance of the particular vehicle; and (i) graphically displaying the determined average trip durations and times of day, the performance metrics of the particular vehicle, and the hypothetical alternative fuel vehicle profile to a vehicle operator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification