Hybrid vehicle and controlling method thereof

• US 8,186,465 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Oyobe, Hichirosai, Nakamura, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/990,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.21, 180/65.22, 180/65.27, 180/65.24, 180/65.275, 180/65.29
• US Class Current: 180/65.275
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• 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: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

When an ignition key is turned ON, a control apparatus predicts the arrival time to a chargeable location (such as home). When the control apparatus determines that the expected arrival time is in the nighttime, it sets SOC control upper and lower limit values for an EV traveling-importance mode that are lower than SOC control upper and lower limit values for an HV traveling-importance mode, and controls an SOC of a battery based on the upper and lower limit values.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and a rotating electric machine as its motive power sources, comprising:

an electric power storage apparatus capable of being charged and discharged and supplying electric power to said rotating electric machine;

an electric power input portion receiving electric power provided from a source external to the vehicle for charging said electric power storage apparatus;

an electric power generation apparatus generating electric power using an output from said internal combustion engine and supplying the generated electric power to said electric power storage apparatus;

control means for controlling a state of charge of said electric power storage apparatus to attain a prescribed control range or control target value; and

prediction means for predicting an arrival time to a location where said electric power storage apparatus can be charged from said electric power input portion,

said control means for switching between a first mode of driving by priority said internal combustion engine and said electric power generation apparatus and a second mode of stopping said internal combustion engine and said electric power generation apparatus and using by priority electric power stored in said electric power storage apparatus, and

said control means making, when an electricity price in a specified time slot in which the arrival time predicted by said prediction means is included is less expensive than an electricity price in a time slot other than said specified time slot, selection of said second mode as well as setting said prescribed control range or control target value to be lower than when said arrival time is included in the time slot other than said specified time slot.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said specified time slot includes a late-night electricity time slot where the electricity price is inexpensive.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

the hybrid vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine;

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine; and

inverter control means for controlling said first and second inverters,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil, and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said inverter control means controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

an input apparatus for setting a traveling schedule of the vehicle,

said control means stopping setting said prescribed control range or control target value to be low, when a time difference between the arrival time predicted by said prediction means and a scheduled time for starting next traveling determined based on the traveling schedule set from said input apparatus is shorter than a prescribed time period.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

the hybrid vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine;

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine; and

inverter control means for controlling said first and second inverters,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil, and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said inverter control means controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

learning means for learning a traveling schedule of said vehicle based on a traveling pattern of the vehicle,

said control means stopping setting said prescribed control range or control target value to be low, when a time difference between the arrival time predicted by said prediction means and a scheduled time for starting next traveling determined based on the traveling schedule learned by said learning means is shorter than a prescribed time period.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

the hybrid vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine;

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine; and

inverter control means for controlling said first and second inverters,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil, and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said inverter control means controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

the hybrid vehicle further comprising:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine;

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine; and

inverter control means for controlling said first and second inverters,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil, and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said inverter control means controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the prescribed control range or control target valve is only set to be lower when the specified time slot defines a late-night electricity time slot where the electricity price is relatively inexpensive.

10. A controlling method of a hybrid vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and a rotating electric machine as its motive power sources, said hybrid vehicle including:

an electric power storage apparatus capable of being charged and discharged and supplying electric power to said rotating electric machine;

an electric power input portion receiving electric power provided from a source external to the vehicle for charging said electric power storage apparatus; and

an electric power generation apparatus generating electric power using an output from said internal combustion engine and supplying the generated electric power to said electric power storage apparatus,

said hybrid vehicle switching between a first mode of driving by priority said internal combustion engine and said electric power generation apparatus and a second mode of stopping said internal combustion engine and said electric power generation apparatus and using by priority electric power stored in said electric power storage apparatus,

said controlling method comprising;

a first step of predicting an arrival time to a location where said electric power storage apparatus can be charged from said electric power input portion;

a second step of making, when an electricity price in a specified time slot in which the predicted arrival time is included is less expensive than an electricity price in a time slot other than said specified time slot, selection of said second mode as well as setting a control range or control target value of a state amount representing a state of charge of said electric power storage apparatus to be lower than when said arrival time is included in the time slot other than said specified time slot; and

a third step of controlling said state amount to attain said control range or control target value.

11. The controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said specified time slot includes a late-night electricity time slot where the electricity price is inexpensive.

12. The controlling method according to claim 11, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

said hybrid vehicle further including:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine; and

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including;

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil; and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said controlling method further comprising a ninth step of controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

13. The controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said hybrid vehicle further includes an input apparatus for setting a traveling schedule of the vehicle,

said controlling method further comprising:

a fourth step of calculating a time difference between the arrival time predicted in said first step and a scheduled time for starting next traveling determined based on the traveling schedule set from said input apparatus; and

a fifth step of stopping, in said second step, setting said control range or control target value to be low, when said calculated time difference is shorter than a prescribed time period.

14. The controlling method according to claim 13, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

said hybrid vehicle further including:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine; and

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including;

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil; and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said controlling method further comprising a ninth step of controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

15. The controlling method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a sixth step of learning a traveling schedule of said vehicle based on a traveling pattern of the vehicle;

a seventh step of calculating a time difference between the arrival time predicted in said first step and a scheduled time for starting next traveling determined based on the traveling schedule learned in said sixth step; and

an eighth step of stopping, in said second step, setting said control range or control target value to be low, when said calculated time difference is shorter than a prescribed time period.

16. The controlling method according to claim 15, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

said hybrid vehicle further including:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine; and

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including;

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil; and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said controlling method further comprising a ninth step of controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

17. The controlling method according to claim 10, wherein

said electric power generation apparatus includes an additional rotating electric machine having its rotation shaft mechanically linked to a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine,

said hybrid vehicle further including:

a first inverter provided corresponding to said rotating electric machine; and

a second inverter provided corresponding to said additional rotating electric machine,

said rotating electric machine and said additional rotating electric machine respectively including first and second three-phase coils as stator coils,

said electric power input portion including;

a first terminal connected to a neutral point of said first three-phase coil; and

a second terminal connected to a neutral point of said second three-phase coil,

said controlling method further comprising a ninth step of controlling said first and second inverters so that alternating-current power provided across said first and second terminals is converted into direct-current power and provided to said electric power storage apparatus.

18. The controlling method according to claim 10, further comprising:

setting the prescribed control range or control target valve to be lower only when the specified time slot defines a late-night electricity time slot where the electricity price is relatively inexpensive.