PARALLEL HYBRID VEHICLE OPTIMAL STORAGE SYSTEM
First Claim
2. A hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said energy storage system is a bank of ultracapacitors.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus by which power is controlled in a hybrid electric vehicle such that high levels of performance and efficiency are realized. The present invention includes a method and apparatus developed to optimize the use of energy in a hybrid vehicle application from the hybrid energy storage device. The method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful with energy storage devices there the energy state, such as the state of charge, is readily determined by an easily measured attribute. Ultracapacitors and hydraulic storage cylinders are examples of the types of energy storage devices to which the present invention may be applied.
5 Citations
6 Claims
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2. A hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said energy storage system is a bank of ultracapacitors.
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6. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
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a drive train; an electric motor for driving said drive train; a power unit electrically coupled to said electric motor; an electric energy storage system electrically coupled to said electric motor, said electric energy storage system adapted to recapture energy from the braking of said vehicle so as to be capable of discharging and recapturing energy through a series of discharge and energy recapture events, and having a maximum charge level and an actual minimum charge level having a working range therebetween and which working is defined at its lower end by an artificial minimum charge level; and wherein said power unit and said electric energy storage system provide electricity to said electric motor for powering said vehicle; an electric energy storage controller programmed to control said electric energy storage system by setting an artificial minimum charge level to an initial level above said minimum charge level, and, during a series of discharge and energy recapture events, to be able to adjust said artificial minimum charge level such that the working range of said electric energy storage system is biased toward said maximum charge level over said series of discharge and energy recapture events, and an internal combustion engine and a generator adapted to charge said energy storage system with electrical energy.
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Specification