VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGE SETPOINT CONTROL

• US 20150097512A1
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Li, Yonghua, Kristinsson, Johannes Geir, Tseng, Fling
• Granted Patent: US 10,703,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/00 Driver interactions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An adjustable vehicle traction battery charge setpoint strategy is disclosed which enables the adjustment of the maximum battery State of Charge (SOC) setpoint used for battery charging from an electric utility grid. Based on knowledge of the upcoming route and related driving behavior, the vehicle calculates a setpoint less than the maximum battery SOC charging setpoint so that when the vehicle begins operation, it can utilize regenerative braking and historical driving behavior to allow the battery charge to be maximized during the trip.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a battery having a state of charge (SOC) and a maximum SOC setpoint; and

at least one controller programmed to charge the battery to a SOC setpoint defined by a difference between the maximum SOC setpoint and a net maximum increase in the SOC predicted for an expected vehicle route including a regenerative event to reduce charge current supplied to the battery if the SOC is less than the SOC setpoint.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to supply current to an electrical grid electrically connected therewith if the SOC is greater than the SOC setpoint to reduce the SOC to the SOC setpoint.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the regenerative event is braking

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the regenerative event is inductive charging along the route.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the regenerative event is solar energy capture.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an engine, wherein the regenerative event is charging due to engine operation.

7. A method of controlling a power system for a vehicle comprising:

calculating an optimal state of charge (SOC) for a battery based on an anticipated next route of travel such that a difference between a maximum SOC for the battery and an optimal SOC is approximately equal to a predicted net maximum increase in SOC for the anticipated next route of travel;

measuring a current SOC for the battery;

comparing the optimal and current SOCs;

charging the battery to the optimal SOC when the optimal SOC is greater than the current SOC; and

discharging the battery to an electric power grid electrically connected therewith when the optimal SOC is less than the current SOC.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the anticipated next route includes a regenerative braking event.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the anticipated next route includes an inductive charging event.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the anticipated next route includes a solar energy capture event.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the anticipated next route includes a charging event due to engine operation.

12. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a generator;

a battery having a state of charge (SOC) and a maximum SOC setpoint; and

at least one controller programmed to charge the battery to a SOC setpoint defined by a difference between the maximum SOC setpoint and a net maximum increase in the SOC predicted for an anticipated next route of travel including a regenerative event at least partially defined by conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy by the generator for storage in the battery to reduce charge current supplied to the battery if the SOC is less than the SOC setpoint.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the regenerative event is further defined by inductive charging.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the regenerative event is further defined by solar energy capture.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising an engine, wherein the regenerative event is further defined by charging due to operation of the engine.