System and method for reducing vehicle generated carbon dioxide emissions

• US 9,751,407 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gerhardt, Torsten, Hurst, Marcus, Spahl, Robert, Burrage, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US15/150,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20160250926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/16 Type of information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60P 3/06 for carrying vehicles B60P3/12 takes precedence; caravans, camping, or like vehicles with vehicle-carrying means B60P3/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/07 for carrying road vehicles
• 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 2050/146 Display means
• 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 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/112 City movers, small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 47/006 Vehicles which can be divided in sub-vehicles; nestable vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system is disclosed having a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle that is carried by the primary vehicle when not in use. The system further includes at least one of an immobilizing device to immobilize the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the primary vehicle, a data storage device for storing information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, a user interface device for displaying information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, and a user prompt for providing information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle to encourage usage of the secondary vehicle and lower CO2 emissions.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

propelling a primary vehicle via an engine mounted therein, the primary vehicle having an interface for interchanging data with, and a mount for carrying, a secondary vehicle producing less carbon dioxide emissions than the primary vehicle;

immobilizing the primary vehicle by preventing the operation of an engine of the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the mount and not exchanging data with the primary vehicle; and

displaying information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle is based upon a destination of the primary vehicle, a proximity of the primary vehicle to the destination, and locations of parking garages in a vicinity of the destination.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information regarding a usage of the primary vehicle and a usage of the secondary vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle includes a distance travelled by the primary vehicle and a distance travelled by the secondary vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle to a third party.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle is stored via a data storage device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data storage device comprises one or more memory devices formed as part of an electronic unit of the primary vehicle.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle.

9. The method of claim of claim 8, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle is displayed via a user interface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle further includes displaying an indication of actual usage of the primary vehicle compared to a target usage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle is immobilized via an immobilizing device, the immobilizing device comprising an electronic controller.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle is detected as being removed from the mount and not exchanging data with the primary vehicle responsive to signals of the secondary vehicle not being receivable by the primary vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the signals of the secondary vehicle are infared signals.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the signals of the secondary vehicle are radio frequency signals.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein immobilizing the primary vehicle includes preventing operation of the engine of the primary vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle has front and rear road wheels.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle is a large commercial vehicle, car, van, or truck.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle is a bicycle, scooter, moped, motorcycle, or hybrid vehicle, or another vehicle propelled in some part by a combustion engine.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the secondary vehicle produces zero carbon dioxide emissions.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle has four wheels.