PERSONALIZED RANGE PROTECTION STRATEGY FOR ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES

• US 20170028912A1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: YANG, Xiao Guang, LU, Jianbo
• Granted Patent: US 11,077,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle system to refine a travel range estimation of an electrified vehicle if a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions. The controlling step includes warning a driver about a travel range based on the driver'"'"'s driving habits, coaching the driver to modify the driving habits, and adjusting operation of at least one vehicle subsystem.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

controlling a vehicle system to refine a travel range estimation of an electrified vehicle if a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions, the controlling step including warning a driver about a travel range based on the driver'"'"'s driving habits, coaching the driver to modify the driving habits, and adjusting operation of at least one vehicle subsystem.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle system includes a control module configured to execute the controlling step.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the refined travel range estimation is based on a combination of battery information, driver information and telematics information.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the battery information includes at least battery usable energy, battery state of charge, battery power capabilities, and battery thermal states.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the driver information includes at least the driving habits and driver preferences of the driver.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the telematics information includes at least traffic conditions, weather conditions, and road conditions.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the warning step and the coaching step include issuing a visual or audible output to the driver.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjusting step includes reducing an auxiliary power usage associated with the at least one vehicle subsystem.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjusting step includes automatically lowering the travel speed of the electrified vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjusting step includes automatically maximizing regenerative braking.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising, after calculating the refined travel range estimation, determining whether the desired destination is reachable based on the refined travel range estimation.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, comprising rerouting the electrified vehicle to a nearby charging station if the desired destination is not reachable based on the refined travel range estimation.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the coaching step is performed only if manually turned ON.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising selecting the desired destination prior to performing the controlling step.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising collecting battery information, driver information and telematics information prior to performing the controlling step.

16. A vehicle system, comprising:

a high voltage battery pack;

a vehicle subsystem selectively powered by said high voltage battery pack; and

a control system configured to warn a driver about a travel range based on the driver'"'"'s driving habits and adjust operation of said vehicle subsystem if a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions.

17. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, wherein said control system is configured to coach the driver to modify the driving habits.

18. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, wherein said control system includes a battery management system.

19. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, wherein said control system is configured to receive battery information from said high voltage battery pack and navigation information from a navigation system.

20. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, wherein said control system is configured to receive driver information and telematics information.