Method and a system for providing a driving-range forecast for a vehicle

• US 8,332,096 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Riegelman, Alexander Thomas, Levy, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANG, MICHAEL DEAN
• Application Number:
  US12/817,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 701/34.4, 701/22
• US Class Current: 701/34.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• 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 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/18 Distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/12 related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/202 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method of providing a forecast of a driving-range of a vehicle employing an energy storage device is disclosed. The method includes determining a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device, accessing geographical and road map data from a remote source, and calculating a historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the determined SOC. The method also includes determining an available driving-range according to map data and determined historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the determined SOC. Furthermore, the method includes charging the energy storage device, establishing a rate of charge of the device, determining a period of time and an increase in the SOC to be achieved during the period of time. The method additionally includes determining incremental change in available driving-range according to geographical and road map data and historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the predetermined increase in the SOC.

Claims

1. A method of providing a forecast of a driving-range of a vehicle employing an energy storage device, the method comprising:

determining a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device;

accessing geographical and road map data from a remote source;

calculating a historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the determined SOC;

determining an available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the determined historical average distance traveled;

charging the energy storage device;

establishing a rate of charge of the energy storage device;

determining one of an increase in the SOC to be achieved during a predetermined period of time and an additional period of time needed to generate a predetermined increase in the SOC; and

determining an incremental change in the available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the historical average distance traveled per one of the determined increase in the SOC and the predetermined increase in the SOC.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing road conditions and weather data from a remote source.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein each of said determining an available driving-range and said determining an incremental change in the available driving-range is further performed according to the accessed road conditions and weather data via a trip-planning algorithm programmed into a controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the incremental change in the available driving-range on a visual screen.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the predetermined period of time needed to generate the incremental change in the available driving-range on a visual screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the determined available driving-range and the determined incremental change in the available driving-range reflects 360 degrees of a real-world range.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is at least one of a battery and a fuel tank.

8. A system for providing a forecast of a driving-range of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a power-source configured to propel the vehicle;

an energy storage device configured to supply energy to the power-source; and

a controller configured for;

determining a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device;

accessing geographical and road map data from a remote source;

calculating a historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the determined SOC;

determining an available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the determined historical average distance traveled;

establishing a rate of charge of the energy storage device;

determining one of an increase in the SOC to be achieved during a predetermined period of time and an additional period of time needed to generate a predetermined increase in the SOC; and

determining an incremental change in the available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the historical average distance traveled per one of the determined increase in the SOC and the predetermined increase in the SOC.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured for accessing road conditions and weather data from a remote source.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller determines an available driving-range and the incremental change in the available driving-range according to the accessed road conditions and weather data via a trip-planning algorithm.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the incremental change in the available driving-range for display on a visual screen.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the predetermined period of time needed to generate the incremental change in the available driving-range for display on the visual screen.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein each of the determined available driving-range and the incremental change in the available driving-range reflects 360 degrees of a real-world range.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured for regulating each of the power-source and the energy storage device.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a power-source configured to propel the vehicle;

an energy storage device configured to supply energy to the power-source; and

a controller configured for;

determining a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage device;

accessing geographical and road map data from a remote source;

calculating a historical average distance traveled by the vehicle per the determined SOC;

determining an available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the determined historical average distance traveled;

establishing a rate of charge of the energy storage device;

determining one of an increase in the SOC to be achieved during a predetermined period of time and an additional period of time needed to generate a predetermined increase in the SOC; and

determining an incremental change in the available driving-range according to the geographical and road map data and the historical average distance traveled per one of the determined increase in the SOC and the predetermined increase in the SOC.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured for accessing road conditions and weather data from a remote source.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the controller determines the available driving-range and the incremental change in the available driving-range according to the accessed road conditions and weather data.

18. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate at least one of the incremental change in the available driving-range and the predetermined period of time needed to generate the additional driving-range for display on a visual screen.

19. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein each of the determined available driving-range and the incremental change in the available driving-range reflects 360 degrees of a real-world range.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured for regulating each of the power-source and the energy storage device.