Method to prioritize electric-only vehicle (EV) mode for a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method to control a powertrain for a vehicle comprising:
- generating, via a vehicle system controller, an Electric Vehicle (EV) priority zone based on a current driving pattern and a predicted future driving pattern determined by the controller;
determining, via the controller, a position of the vehicle with respect to an EV-priority zone;
controlling an electric motor via the controller to implement an electric-only mode of operation of the vehicle based on the position of the vehicle with respect to the EV-priority zone and a current operating mode of the vehicle;
controlling an engine via the controller to increase engine power output and implement a charging mode of operation of the vehicle when the vehicle is approaching the EV-priority zone and the engine is already operating to increase a state of charge of a battery; and
controlling the electric motor via the controller to maintain the electric-only mode of operation when the vehicle is approaching the EV-priority zone and the engine is not already operating such that the engine stays in an off state.
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Abstract
A vehicle and method for controlling the vehicle includes identifying an electric vehicle (EV) priority zone for the vehicle along a trip path, determining the position of the vehicle with respect to the expected upcoming EV-priority zone; implementing an electric-only mode of operation of the vehicle based on the position of the vehicle and a current operating mode of the vehicle; and implementing a charging mode of operation of the vehicle based on the position of the vehicle and a current operating mode of the vehicle.
12 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method to control a powertrain for a vehicle comprising:
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generating, via a vehicle system controller, an Electric Vehicle (EV) priority zone based on a current driving pattern and a predicted future driving pattern determined by the controller; determining, via the controller, a position of the vehicle with respect to an EV-priority zone; controlling an electric motor via the controller to implement an electric-only mode of operation of the vehicle based on the position of the vehicle with respect to the EV-priority zone and a current operating mode of the vehicle; controlling an engine via the controller to increase engine power output and implement a charging mode of operation of the vehicle when the vehicle is approaching the EV-priority zone and the engine is already operating to increase a state of charge of a battery; and controlling the electric motor via the controller to maintain the electric-only mode of operation when the vehicle is approaching the EV-priority zone and the engine is not already operating such that the engine stays in an off state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle comprising:
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an electric motor; a battery coupled to the electric motor; an engine, wherein the electric motor and the engine are coupled to wheels of the vehicle via a transmission; and a vehicle system controller electronically coupled to the electric motor, the battery, and the engine wherein the controller is configured to;
(i) generate an electric priority segment along a trip path and determine a position of the vehicle along the trip path, (ii) control the electric motor to operate and implement an electric-only mode of operation of the vehicle to delay an engine-on command when the vehicle is within the electric priority segment with a state of charge of a battery above a minimum threshold, (iii) control the engine to continue to operate and implement a charging mode of operation of the vehicle to increase power output of the engine when the engine is already operating, thereby increasing a state of charge of the battery when the vehicle is approaching the electric priority segment using opportunistic charging, and (iv) control the electric motor to operate to maintain the electric-only mode of operation when the engine is not operating and the vehicle is approaching the electric priority segment such that the engine remains in an off state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method to control a vehicle comprising:
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controlling, using a controller, an electric motor to propel the vehicle based on vehicle position within an Electric Vehicle priority zone generated by the controller determined using a current driving pattern and a predicted future driving pattern; and controlling, using the controller, an engine to increase power output to charge a battery in response to the vehicle approaching the zone only when the engine is already operating. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification