Power source control method for an electric vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an electric vehicle having a first power source and a second power source that each is capable of independently supplying power to an electric motor, the method comprising sensing a load level required to achieve a desired output from the electric motor, calculating a base load portion of said sensed load level with said base load portion being substantially stable, supplying said base load from said first power source and supplying a remainder of said sensed load level from said second power source with said remainder of said sensed load level fluctuating under at least some operating conditions such that said remainder sometimes exceeds said base load and sometimes falls below said base load under at least some operating conditions.
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Abstract
An electric vehicle comprises a first power source and a second power source. The first power source can be used to supply a substantially constant base power level and the second power source can be used to supply a variable power level such that a variable load demand can be filled by combining the base power level and the variable power level. The first source can be used to supply power to the second source when the second source is operating at a decreased charge or power level. The base power level can be varied based upon the remaining charge or power level contained within the second source. A number of control methods for operating the power supply of the electric vehicle are disclosed.
79 Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A method for controlling an electric vehicle having a first power source and a second power source that each is capable of independently supplying power to an electric motor, the method comprising sensing a load level required to achieve a desired output from the electric motor, calculating a base load portion of said sensed load level with said base load portion being substantially stable, supplying said base load from said first power source and supplying a remainder of said sensed load level from said second power source with said remainder of said sensed load level fluctuating under at least some operating conditions such that said remainder sometimes exceeds said base load and sometimes falls below said base load under at least some operating conditions.
- 18. An electric vehicle comprising a frame, at least one driven wheel rotatably connected to said frame, a motor unit supported by said frame and drivingly connected to said at least one driven wheel, a control unit communicating with said motor unit, power being separately supplied to said motor unit from a first power source and a second power source, said control unit being adapted to sense a varying load demand, said control unit being adapted to calculate a base load portion of said varying load demand, said base load portion being substantially stable and being supplied by said first power source, said control unit being adapted to demand a compensating load from said second power source, said compensating load compensating for differences between said base load and said varying load with power supplied by said second power source such that said compensating load can vary with said varying load demand.
- 27. A power source control method for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having a fuel cell and a battery, the fuel cell and the battery each being electrically connected to an electric motor, the electric motor powering the vehicle, the method comprising sensing a varying load on the electric motor, dividing the varying load into a substantially constant base load portion and a varying supplemental load portion, the base load portion being supplied to said electric motor from said fuel cell and the supplemental load portion being supplied to said electric motor from said battery under at least some operating conditions.
Specification