Multifactor Charging for Electric Vehicles
First Claim
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1. A system for providing instructions to a user of an electric vehicle to improve electric driving range, the system comprising:
- an electrical energy storage system within the vehicle so as to receive an indication of a charge state of the electrical energy storage system; and
a controller for analyzing a charge state of the electrical energy storage system and for providing user instructions related to charging the electrical energy storage system, wherein the controller is adapted to estimate expected travel, analyze the charge state of the electrical energy storage system to determine whether sufficient charge remains for the expected travel and to alert the user of a proximate charging station if sufficient charge does not remain in the electrical energy storage system.
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Abstract
The described method and system improve electric-power driving range for electric vehicles, i.e., electric-only, hybrid electric, and other vehicles that draw electrical power from an on-board storage system for propulsion. The described system uses synergy among selected data sources to provide charging prompts and route assistance to allow the vehicle user to operate his or her vehicle in a more economical fashion by ensuring timely and cost effective charging.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing instructions to a user of an electric vehicle to improve electric driving range, the system comprising:
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an electrical energy storage system within the vehicle so as to receive an indication of a charge state of the electrical energy storage system; and a controller for analyzing a charge state of the electrical energy storage system and for providing user instructions related to charging the electrical energy storage system, wherein the controller is adapted to estimate expected travel, analyze the charge state of the electrical energy storage system to determine whether sufficient charge remains for the expected travel and to alert the user of a proximate charging station if sufficient charge does not remain in the electrical energy storage system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of assisting a user in maintaining a charge state in an on-board battery associated with an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
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recording user driving patterns as they occur; accessing recorded driving patterns to obtain a first estimate of expected upcoming travel;
accessing an electronic calendar associated with the user to obtain a second estimate of expected upcoming travel;based on a comparison of the first and second estimates, selecting one of the first and second estimates as a final estimate of expected upcoming travel; deriving an estimate of vehicle charge needs based on the final estimate of expected upcoming travel; and providing a user instruction set having instructions for charging the on-board battery associated with the electric vehicle in keeping with the derived estimate of vehicle charge needs. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of charging an electric vehicle comprising:
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presenting an electronic user interface to a vehicle user at a terminal remote from the vehicle, wherein the electronic interface presents a vehicle field identifying the electric vehicle, and one or more configuration fields for receiving user input to configure one or more associated user alerts to alert the user to execute a charging activity associated with the electric vehicle; and obtaining information regarding expected travel with the vehicle, a charge state of a battery of the vehicle, and a time-varying cost of electric energy to charge the vehicle; and alerting the user to charge the vehicle in accordance with the received user input, the expected travel with the vehicle, the charge state of the battery of the vehicle, and the time-varying cost of electric energy.
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Specification