METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AN ENERGY CONSUMPTION WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE

• US 20150375751A1
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: BJRKMAN, Mathias, PETTERSSON, Niklas, FALKHLL, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/00 Estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub unit, e.g. by using mathematical models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method for determining a measure of energy utilisation during operation of a vehicle (100) which has a first power source (101) for generating a first motive force for propulsion of the vehicle (100) in a first direction of travel, and has at least one first brake system which acts against movement of the vehicle (100) in the first direction of travel. For a first period of time when demand for motive force from the first power source is interrupted, estimating energy consumption during operation of the vehicle (100) without demanding brake force from the first brake system, and using the estimated energy consumption during operation of the vehicle (100), without demanding brake force from the first brake system, as a basis for determining a measure of energy utilisation during operation of the vehicle (100).

Claims

1. A method for determining a measure of energy utilisation during operation of a vehicle, wherein said vehicle includes a first power source for generating a first motive force for propulsion of said vehicle in a first direction of travel, and at least one first brake system configured to be activated to apply a first brake force which acts against movement of said vehicle in said first direction of travel;

for a first period of time during said operation of said vehicle and when demand for motive force from said first power source is interrupted, the method comprises

estimating energy consumption during operation of said vehicle without demanding brake force from said first brake system, and

using said estimated energy consumption during said operation of said vehicle, without demanding said brake force from said first brake system, as a basis for determining and determining a measure of energy utilisation during said operation of said vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, for said first period of time, comparing said energy consumption during said operation of said vehicle while also without demanding brake force from said first brake system, said comparing being with energy consumption via active employment of one or more of said at least one first brake system, and using said comparison as a basis for determining said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which said vehicle has a power source for generating regenerative brake force which acts upon at least one wheel of said vehicle;

and

said method further comprising comparing energy consumption during operation without demanding brake force from said first brake system, with energy consumption during regenerative braking, and using said comparison as a basis for determining said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 3, in which said power source for generating regenerative brake force which acts upon at least one wheel of said vehicle comprises at least one electrical machine.

5. A method according to claim 3, further comprising said comparison taking account of the efficiency during regenerative braking.

6. A method according to claim 3, further comprising during determination of said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle, deeming operation of said vehicle, without demand for brake force from said first brake system, to represent better energy use during operation of said vehicle than using regenerative braking to operate said vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 3, further comprising providing said vehicle with at least one further brake system;

and

said method further comprising comparing energy consumption during operation, without demand for brake force from said first brake system, with energy consumption during regenerative braking and with energy consumption by activation of said at least one further brake system, and using said comparison as a basis for determining said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein, during determination of said measure of energy utilisation, regenerative braking is deemed to represent better energy use than operation by demand for brake force from said at least one further brake system.

9. A method according to claim 3, further comprising estimating energy consumption by regenerative braking, and determining a maximum effect level for said regenerative braking as the maximum effect level at which energy regenerated can be stored at full capacity of the regenerative brake system.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle in the form of an indication of a proportion of a measure which is found to correspond to a preferred way of operating said vehicle and which takes a form of operation without demanding brake force from said first brake system.

11. A method according to claim 1, in which said determination of said measure of energy utilisation takes place only when demand for motive force from said first power source is interrupted.

12. A method according to claim 1, in which said determination of said measure of energy utilisation takes the form of a measure for the whole of said first period of time.

13. A method according to claim 1, in which said measure of energy utilisation is determined and accumulated over a number of successive periods of time in which demand for motive force from said first power source is interrupted.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting said measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle for a vehicle'"'"'s driver via a display.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising continuously presenting changes in said first measure during said first period of time.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first brake system is selected from one or more of the group of vehicle components consisting of:

service brake system, retarder brake system, exhaust brake system, controllably regulatable engine brake system, compression brake system, electromagnetic brake system or other supplementary brake systems.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first brake system is independent of a combustion engine of said vehicle.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said at least one brake system can be applied controllably irrespective of whether said combustion engine is disconnected from a downstream power train configured for driving said vehicle.

19. A method according to claim 1, further comprising demand brake force from said first brake system by demanding a brake force which is initiated by a driver of said vehicle.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein a driver of said vehicle interrupts said demand for motive force from said first power source.

21. A method according to claim 1, further comprising

estimating energy consumption during said first period of time when said first brake force is not activated;

estimating total energy consumption during said first period of time; and

determining said first measure of energy utilisation as a ratio between said energy consumption when said first brake force is not activated and said total energy consumption.

22. A method according to claim 21, in which said total energy consumption during said first period of time comprises the energy consumed when said first brake force is not activated and the energy consumed by said at least one of said first brake systems.

24. A computer programme product comprising a non-volatile computer-readable medium and a computer programme stored on said medium such that wherein said computer programme comprises programme code such that when said code is executed in a computer, said code causes said computer to apply the method according to claim 1.

23. (canceled)

25. A system for determining a measure of energy utilisation during operation of a vehicle, wherein said vehicle comprises:

a first power source for generating a first motive force for propulsion of said vehicle in a first direction of travel;

at least one first brake system which is configured and operable to be activated to apply a first brake force which acts against movement of said vehicle in said first direction of travel;

for a first period of time when demand for motive force from said first power source is interrupted, said system comprises;

means configured for estimating energy consumption during operation of said vehicle without demanding brake force from said first brake system; and

means configured to using said estimated energy consumption during operation, without demanding brake force from said first brake system, as a basis for determining a measure of energy utilisation during operation of said vehicle.

26. A vehicle provided with a system according to claim 25.