Hybrid vehicle and process for operating a hybrid vehicle
First Claim
1. A process for operating a hybrid drive of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- a. inputting current vehicle parameters to a computer connected to a vehicular navigation system, said parameters including a fuel supply level and a charge level of an electric energy storage device;
b. inputting a desired destination into the computer;
c. calculating a route using the vehicular navigation system including topographical data about the route and calculating an expected travel time for traveling the route to the desired destination assuming that an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor of the hybrid drive are substantially used equally during the route;
d. displaying the expected travel time;
e. querying a user to determine whether the expected travel time is approved by the user; and
f. adjusting the relative use of the ICE and the electric motor during the route to meet an approved travel time if the expected travel time is determined not to be approved by the user in step e. and repeating the calculation of step c. using the adjusted use of the ICE and the electric motor; and
g. establishing charging cycles for the energy storage device by the internal combustion engine during portions of the route, excluding periods of uphill travel, before beginning travel on said route.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid drive for a vehicle in which the driving power provided by an internal combustion engine (ICE) or an electric motor may be fed via a transmission with a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft to the drive train. The ICE and the electric motor are connectable to each other via a coupling and the electric motor is directly connected to the transmission. An electric energy storage device is connected to the ICE for receiving a charge and to the electric motor for providing power to the electric motor. The hybrid drive is designed so that the torque that can be provided by the electric motor is greater than that of the internal combustion engine. In addition, the transmission input shaft always turns in the same direction as the transmission output shaft so that reverse drive by the hybrid drive is only possible using the electric motor.
-
Citations
2 Claims
-
1. A process for operating a hybrid drive of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
-
a. inputting current vehicle parameters to a computer connected to a vehicular navigation system, said parameters including a fuel supply level and a charge level of an electric energy storage device;
b. inputting a desired destination into the computer;
c. calculating a route using the vehicular navigation system including topographical data about the route and calculating an expected travel time for traveling the route to the desired destination assuming that an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor of the hybrid drive are substantially used equally during the route;
d. displaying the expected travel time;
e. querying a user to determine whether the expected travel time is approved by the user; and
f. adjusting the relative use of the ICE and the electric motor during the route to meet an approved travel time if the expected travel time is determined not to be approved by the user in step e. and repeating the calculation of step c. using the adjusted use of the ICE and the electric motor; and
g. establishing charging cycles for the energy storage device by the internal combustion engine during portions of the route, excluding periods of uphill travel, before beginning travel on said route. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
Specification