Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

• US 8,240,412 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Andri, Michael Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US13/423,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 151 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.24, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 903/905, 903/906, 903/907, 903/930, 701/102, 701/103, 701/104, 701/105, 701/114, 123/310, 123/436, 123/478, 123/480, 361/216, 702/22, 702/182
• US Class Current: 180/65.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/18 for avoiding ageing of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time.

Claims

1. A method for a vehicle propulsion system including a motor and an engine, comprising:

operating the motor and engine to consume electrical energy and fuel, respectively, to propel the vehicle; and

increasing engine fuel consumption relative to motor electrical energy consumption based on residence time of fuel stored on-board the vehicle being greater than a threshold, the threshold adjusted based on an in-tank pressure of a fuel tank ullage space.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

periodically receiving electrical energy at an energy storage device of the vehicle from an energy source that is external to the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, where the threshold is further adjusted based on an average ambient humidity profile over the residence time, including advancing the threshold as the average ambient humidity increases.

4. The method of claim 3, where the threshold is further advanced based on a larger temperature variation between high and low temperatures of an ambient temperature profile.

5. The method of claim 4, where the threshold is further adjusted based on barometric pressure.

6. The method of claim 4, where increasing engine fuel consumption includes operating the engine to provide a greater contribution to the propulsion of the vehicle relative to the motor.

7. The method of claim 1, where the residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle is adjusted based on refueling of the fuel tank.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the engine is periodically deactivated while the vehicle operates.