METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRIP AND RECHARGE PLANNING

• US 20170074677A1
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MACNEILLE, Perry Robinson, GUSIKHIN, Oleg Yurievitch, KOWALSKI, David Allen
• Granted Patent: US 10,281,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle includes a traction battery, an interface, and at least one processor configured to present, via the interface, a message including a charge-vehicle recommendation for at least one charge station within the drive range, in response to (i) a selected destination for the vehicle lacking a charge facility for the battery and being within a drive range of the vehicle and (ii) a charge station being within the drive range.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

set points on a digital map corresponding to projected maximum distances travelable on a current charge level from a current location by a vehicle;

represent a travelable area on a display of the digital map encompassing an area defined by connecting the points representing a perimeter; and

responsive to a destination being outside the travelable area, notify a user that charging may be needed to reach the destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the points are set along existing roadways.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance of the points from a current vehicle location varies based on projected charge usage to travel to a particular point.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge usage varies based on road speed limits of roads leading to the particular point.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge usage varies based on gradient of terrain traveled to reach the particular point.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the charge usage varies based on weather conditions covering roads leading to the particular point.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the weather conditions include wind.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the charge usage varies based on vehicle travel direction relative to wind direction.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the weather conditions include temperature.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display a plurality of charging stations within the represented travelable range and within a predefined proximity to a current route, responsive to the destination being outside the travelable range.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to set secondary points on the digital map corresponding to projected distances travelable based on a predefined percentage of the current charge level, from the current location;

and

represent a secondary travelable range on a display of the digital map encompassing an area defined by connecting the secondary points representing a perimeter.

12. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

set a point on a digital map projected as being a maximum travelable distance by a vehicle in a first direction from a present location;

adjust a first direction heading radially by a predefined value;

repeat the steps of setting and adjusting until a perimeter surrounding a vehicle location on the map is defined by a line connecting the set points; and

display the digital map, including the perimeter representing a travelable area, on a vehicle display.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on road speed limits of roads leading to a particular point.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on the gradiant of terrain traveled to reach a particular point.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on weather conditions covering roads leading to a particular point.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the weather conditions include wind.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the maximum travelable distance varies based on vehicle travel direction relative to wind direction.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the weather conditions include temperature.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to display a plurality of charging stations within the represented travelable area and within a predefined proximity to a current route, responsive to an input destination being outside the travelable range.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

setting points on a digital map as being maximum travelable distances by a vehicle in a plurality of headings from a present location, wherein the headings radially vary from each other around a vehicle location, such that a perimeter surrounding the vehicle location on the map is defined by a line connecting the set points; and

displaying the digital map, including the perimeter representing a travelable area, on a vehicle display.