System for and method of fuel optimization in a hybrid vehicle

• US 9,283,954 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Technology Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Odyne Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Dalum, Joseph Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, MAJDI A
• Application Number:
  US13/812,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.22, 180 65245- 65265, 180/165, 180/65.31, 477/54, 477/107, 477/110, 477/168, 701/1, 701/2, 701/48, 903/930
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• 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 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 : Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 : of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a system for idle reduction in a hybrid vehicle. The system includes a control system for causing the vehicle to operate in a charge depletion mode, or a charge accumulation mode in response to job site data; the job site data can include an estimate of the amount of energy required at the job site.

Claims

1. A system for idle reduction in a hybrid vehicle, the system comprising:

a control system for causing the vehicle to operate in a charge accumulation mode in response to job site data, the job site data including an estimate of the amount of energy expected to be required at the job site, wherein the control system receives the estimate before the vehicle reaches the job site and stores the estimate in an electronic memory, the job site being a location where the vehicle is stationary and uses equipment, the equipment being powered by the vehicle at the job site whereby fuel consumption by the vehicle and consumption of energy stored on-board the vehicle is optimized for use at the job site, wherein the charge accumulate mode is entered during travel to the job site at least in part in response to the estimate being more than an amount of energy stored in a rechargeable energy source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a vehicle control system and a remote control system, the vehicle control system being in wireless communication with the remote control system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote control system is a fleet control system, wherein the fleet control system selects a vehicle for a next job site at least in part in response to the amount of energy required at the next job site.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle control system communicates with the remote control system through a wireless communication device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device is a phone with a Bluetooth or wireless connection to the vehicle control system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system causes the vehicle to operate in a charge depletion mode, or the charge accumulation mode in response to route data, the control system estimating energy usage to travel to the job site based upon the route data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the route data includes at least one of:

topographic data, and traffic data.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the route data is based upon historical data stored by the control system.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the job site data includes an indication of whether regeneration is more efficient at the job site than regeneration along a route to the job site, wherein the control system utilizes remaining stored energy to assist with vehicle propulsion if regeneration at the job site is more efficient.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system selects a charge depletion mode for operation of the vehicle in response to the vehicle returning to a home base.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the job site data includes energy data for types of jobs.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an electric motor is used in the charge depletion or a charge accumulation mode, the electric motor being coupled to a power take off of an automatic transmission driven by a first prime mover.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the job site data includes an indication of whether regeneration is possible at the job site, wherein the control system determines if regeneration is possible at the job site and reserves all stored energy for job site usage if regeneration is not possible at the job site.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system utilizes input criteria such as hydraulic pressure to determine and direct the amount of power required or to be stored.

15. A method of optimizing energy utilization by a vehicle with electrical energy storage capability, the method comprising:

receiving a location of a job site on a route, the job site being at the location where the vehicle is stationary and uses equipment, the equipment being powered by the vehicle at the job site whereby fuel consumption by the vehicle and consumption of energy stored on-board the vehicle is optimized for use at the job site;

determining expected energy use while the vehicle is stopped at the job site and storing an expected energy use factor related to the expected energy use at the job site using an electronic processor, wherein the expected energy use is determined before the vehicle reaches the job site;

determining if the expected energy use is greater than stored energy in at least one rechargeable energy source aboard the vehicle using the electronic processor; and

operating the vehicle in a charge depletion mode along the route if the expected energy use is less than the stored energy in the at least one rechargeable energy source aboard the vehicle, wherein the charge depletion mode is selected by the electronic processor in response to the second determining step.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating the vehicle in a charge accumulation mode along the route if the expected energy use is more than stored energy in the at least one rechargeable energy source aboard the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating the vehicle in a charge depletion mode along the route after a last job site has been visited if stored energy is present in the at least one rechargeable energy source.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the expected energy use along the route.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a fleet control system provides the expected energy use to the vehicle or the expected energy use is based upon a historic use of energy.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the expected energy use and the stored energy are updated periodically.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving locations of a plurality of job sites on the route, and determining expected energy at each job site along the route using job site data for the locations, and operating the vehicle in a charge accumulation mode or the charge depletion mode along the route in response to the job site data.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a control system for causing a vehicle to operate in a charge depletion mode, or a charge accumulation mode in response to a command along a route to a job site; and

a command control system for providing the command in response to job site data, the job site data including an estimate of the amount of energy expected to be required at the job site, the job site being a location where the vehicle is stationary and uses equipment, the equipment being powered by the vehicle at the job site, the estimate being a prediction of the amount of energy expected to be required at the jobsite made prior to the vehicle reaching the job site, whereby fuel consumption by the vehicle and consumption of energy stored on-board the vehicle is optimized for use at the job site.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the command control system provides the command in response to stored energy in rechargeable energy sources, wherein the control system causes the vehicle to operate in a charge sustain mode when the stored energy is at an appropriate level for the estimate of the amount of energy.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the command is provided continually as the vehicle is used throughout a route with multiple job sites.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the command control system includes a vehicle command system and a remote command system, the remote command system storing historical energy usage data.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the equipment includes one or more of the following:

electrically powered devices, hydraulically powered devices, air powered devices, or on board vehicle systems.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the equipment includes one or more of an aerial bucket, compressor, tools, lights, air conditioner, and heater.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the equipment is located at one or more of the following locations:

on vehicle, external to vehicle, in a building, or on a grid.

29. A system for idle reduction in a hybrid vehicle, the system comprising:

a control system for causing the vehicle to operate in a charge accumulation mode in response to job site data, the job site being a location where the vehicle is stationary and uses equipment, the equipment being powered by the vehicle at the job site whereby fuel consumption by the vehicle and consumption of energy stored on-board the vehicle is optimized for use at the job site; and

a user interface for selecting an ePTO mode where an electric motor provides a PTO operation without power from a prime mover, the user interface allowing the driver to select the ePTO mode, wherein the ePTO mode is entered at least partially in response to a parking brake being engaged.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the user interface allows a charge sustain mode to be chosen by the driver.