Method for operating a vehicle capable of being driven by an electric motor

• US 9,393,873 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Strasser, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): TARCZA, THOMAS H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US14/348,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20150306961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/22, 701/36, 701/123, 340/635, 340/636.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 90/12 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: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

In a method for operating a vehicle (1) which can be driven with an electric motor (2) and in which the electric motor (2) is supplied with electric current from an energy store (3), a state of charge of the energy store (3) and/or a remaining distance that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store (3) is stored in a memory device (4). After the switching off the electric motor (2), the state of charge of the energy store (3) and/or the remaining distance that can still be traveled by the vehicle with the energy stored in the energy store (3) is transmitted to a mobile terminal (6).

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle, comprising:

supplying an electric motor with electric current from an energy store for driving the vehicle;

storing a remaining distance that can be traveled with energy stored in the energy store in a memory device;

transmitting the remaining distance that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store to a mobile terminal by a first device which is connected to the memory device, when switching off the electric motor; and

transmitting the remaining distance that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store to a second device immediately after the electric motor is switched off for indicating the remaining distance and before subsequent opening and closing the vehicle or for starting the electric motor by a driver of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a state of charge of the energy store to the mobile terminal by the first device when switching off the electric motor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the state of charge of the energy store or the remaining distance that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store is transmitted to a mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second device for opening and closing the vehicle or for starting and stopping the electric motor is a key.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor for driving the vehicle;

an energy store for supplying the electric motor with electric current;

a memory device for storing a remaining distance that can be traveled with energy stored in the energy store;

a mobile terminal configured as a device for opening and closing the vehicle and/or for starting and stopping the electric motor;

a first device connected to the memory device and configured to transmit the remaining distance of the vehicle that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store to the mobile terminal when switching off the electric motor; and

a second device for receiving the remaining distance that can be traveled with the energy stored in the energy store immediately after the electric motor is switched off for indicating the remaining distance and before subsequent opening and closing the vehicle or for starting the electric motor by a driver of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the device connected to the memory device is configured for additional transmission of a state of charge of the energy store to the mobile terminal.