Plugin hybrid electric vehicle with V2G optimization system

• US 7,928,693 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalfoundries US Incorporated (GlobalFoundries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schurr, Allan James, Hafner, James Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/048,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle comprises: a consumable fuel powered engine, a battery and an electric motor powered by the battery. The battery is rechargeable both from an external electric power source (such as an electric power grid) and from the consumable fuel powered engine. A computer receives data as inputs and providing outputs, wherein the input data includes an expected state of the electric power source at a time when the vehicle is expected to be coupled to the electric power source. The outputs include control signals to control the state of charge of the battery during the time the vehicle is expected to be coupled to the electric power source.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a consumable fuel powered engine;

a battery;

an electric motor powered by said battery, said battery being rechargeable both from an external power source and from said consumable fuel powered engine; and

a computer receiving data and instructions as inputs and providing outputs, wherein;

both of said receiving and said providing occurring while said vehicle is disconnected from said external power source, said data describing a condition of said external power source at a predetermined future time when said vehicle is expected to be coupled to said external power source, said instructions enabling said computer to determine an optimal state of electric charge of said battery at said predetermined future time, based on said condition, and said outputs include control signals to control the state of charge by charging and/or discharging said battery to reach said optimal state of electric charge at said predetermined future time.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said data inputs include data relating to the relative cost of energy from consumable fuel and an expected cost of energy from said external power source at said predetermined future time.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication system to permit transmission of said input data from said external power source to said vehicle, while said vehicle is disconnected from said external power source.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said data include predictive needs of said vehicle during a driving interval following said predetermined future time.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said input data include current and predictive payment from said external power source for use of said battery when coupled to said external power source.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said computer is receiving said data as inputs and providing outputs while said vehicle is in use for transportation.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said computer determines an expected condition of an electric power grid at said predetermined future time.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining whether said expected condition indicates that said vehicle will be needed as a power source at said predetermined future time.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining whether said expected condition indicates that said vehicle will be needed for energy storage at said predetermined future time.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said controlling comprises controlling said charging and discharging of said battery such that said battery is in a charged state when coupled to said electric power grid.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said controlling comprises controlling said charging and discharging of said battery such that said battery is in a discharged state when coupled to said electric power grid.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said data are selected from the group consisting of:

an itinerary of said vehicle, operational data, available battery charge, availability and cost of energy from external electric power sources, availability and cost of consumable fuel for said consumable fuel powered engine, and current and predictive cost of energy from consumable fuel for said consumable fuel powered engine.

6. A system for optimizing a vehicle'"'"'s energy consumption, comprising:

a computer coupled to a vehicle, the computer receiving data and instructions as inputs and providing outputs, wherein;

the vehicle has a battery-powered electric motor and a consumable fuel powered means, a battery powering said electric motor being rechargeable from an external power source and from said consumable fuel powered means, both of said receiving and providing occurring while said vehicle is disconnected from said external power source;

said data describing a condition of said external power source at a predetermined future time when said vehicle is expected to be coupled to said electric power source,

said instructions enabling said computer to determine an optimal state of electric charge of said battery at said predetermined future time, based on said condition, and

said outputs include signals controlling whether said battery is charged and/or discharged to reach said optimal state of electric charge at said predetermined future time.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

vehicle power system components controlled by said computer, wherein said computer controls said vehicle power system components to control recharging of said battery such that said battery is charged at said predetermined future time in a case when said condition of said electric power source is one where additional power producing capacity is needed.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

vehicle power system components controlled by said computer, wherein said computer controls said vehicle power system components to control recharging of said battery such that said battery is discharged at said predetermined future time in a case where said condition of said electric power source is one where additional power storage is needed.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said data include current and predictive needs of said electric power source.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said data include current and predictive cost of energy available from said electric power source.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said instructions are automated instructions.