Preconditioning electrified vehicle subsystems based on weather forecasts

• US 9,914,462 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Porras, Angel Fernando, Blatchley, Timothy Noah, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam, Skaff, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US15/007,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20170210390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/008 with means for heating the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• 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 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0688 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1072 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/24 Adaptation to external conditions, e.g. road surface conditions
• 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: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A method for preconditioning various subsystems of an electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, scheduling preconditioning of a battery pack, an interior cabin, a transmission and an engine of the electrified vehicle prior to a next expected usage time based at least on a weather forecast.

Claims

1. A method for preconditioning various subsystems of an electrified vehicle, comprising:

automatically preconditioning a battery pack, an interior cabin, a transmission, and an engine of the electrified vehicle prior to a next expected usage time based at least on a weather forecast, wherein the preconditioning is controlled by a vehicle control system and includes preconditioning the battery pack first, then preconditioning the interior cabin, then preconditioning the engine, and then preconditioning the transmission.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preconditioning includes determining the next expected usage time associated with the electrified vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein determining the next expected usage time includes inferring the next expected usage time based on historical usage information associated with the electrified vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the historical usage information is updated each time the engine is started or a plug is removed from a charging outlet of the electrified vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein determining the next expected usage time includes receiving instructions from a user about a planned usage of the electrified vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising determining whether the electrified vehicle is on plug prior to the preconditioning.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising gathering temperature information from the various subsystems prior to the preconditioning.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising obtaining the weather forecast from a web-based server.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising communicating with the web-based server over a cloud to obtain the weather forecast.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising actuating at least one touch point of the electrified vehicle based at least on the next expected usage time and the weather forecast.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one touch point includes a steering wheel, a vehicle seat, a window, a side mirror, or a gear shifter.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising actuating a conditioning device of each of the battery pack, the engine, the transmission, and the interior cabin at a scheduled time to execute the preconditioning.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising prioritizing preconditioning of one of the engine, the battery pack, the interior cabin, and the transmission over the other of the engine, the battery pack, the interior cabin, and the transmission.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising adjusting a temperature of an engine coolant such that the temperature is within a desired operating range at a scheduled time to execute the preconditioning.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising adjusting a temperature of a transmission fluid such that the temperature is within a desired operating range at a scheduled time to execute the preconditioning.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising adjusting a temperature of the battery pack such that the temperature is within a desired operating range at a scheduled time to execute the preconditioning.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising actuating at least one touch point of the electrified vehicle after preconditioning each of the battery pack, the interior cabin, the engine, and the transmission.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the weather forecast includes a prediction of a state of ambient surroundings at a location of the electrified vehicle and at an estimated date and time that is consistent with the next expected usage time.

19. An electrified vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle subsystems including an engine, a battery pack, a transmission, and an interior cabin;

a plurality of touch points; and

a control system configured with instructions for preconditioning said battery pack first, then preconditioning said interior cabin, then preconditioning said engine, then preconditioning said transmission, and then actuating said plurality of touch points prior to a next expected usage time based at least on a weather forecast.

20. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 19, wherein said plurality of touch points include at least a steering wheel, a vehicle seat, a gear shifter, and a side mirror.

21. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of vehicle subsystems includes a sensor configured to monitor temperatures, said control system configured to monitor said temperatures for scheduling said preconditioning.

22. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 19, wherein said control system includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a server over a cloud to obtain said weather forecast.

23. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 19, wherein said plurality of touch points include an arm rest or a floor mat.