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Fuel efficiency display device for fuel cell vehicle, and fuel efficiency displaying method for fuel cell vehicle

  • US 7,966,121 B2
  • Filed: 01/29/2007
  • Issued: 06/21/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle including a motor that is a driving source of the fuel cell vehicle, a motor controller that controls an operation status of the motor, a fuel cell system that is a power source for the motor, and a controller that calculates and displays fuel efficiency,said fuel cell system including a fuel cell which receives reaction gasses and performs electrochemical reactions to generate an electrical power, and a power storage device which is charged with the generated electrical power from the fuel cell and a regeneration power from the motor, and discharges an assisting power to assist the electrical power of the fuel cell,said fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle comprising:

  • a first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining step for obtaining a first interval vehicle efficiency that is an average energy efficiency at a predetermined first time-interval that ascends from the present time to the past and is a relatively long time interval, based on (i) a reaction gas amount that was consumed for power generation in the fuel cell in the first time-interval, and (ii) a traveling energy generated in the first time-interval, wherein an increase of the reaction gas amount consumed in the fuel cell is suppressed in accordance with increasing an amount of the assisting power from the power storage device;

    a second interval traveling energy obtaining step for obtaining a second interval traveling energy that is a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval and is also an instant time-interval with respect to the present time;

    a second interval fuel efficiency obtaining step for obtaining a second interval fuel efficiency that is an average fuel efficiency of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval, based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy;

    an ideal fuel efficiency obtaining step for obtaining an ideal fuel efficiency that is a predetermined ideal fuel efficiency which corresponds to a state of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval;

    a second interval fuel efficiency difference calculating step for calculating a second interval fuel efficiency difference that is a fraction of the second interval fuel efficiency corresponding to a driving operation of a driver with respect to the ideal fuel efficiency in the second time-interval, based on the second interval fuel efficiency and the ideal fuel efficiency; and

    a displaying step for displaying the second interval fuel efficiency difference, wherein in said displaying step, an image having a circular-shape and size corresponding to said second interval fuel efficiency difference is displayed, and a diameter of the circular-shape is changed in response to said second interval fuel efficiency difference.

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