PLUGIN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH V2G OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20090229900A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globalfoundries US Incorporated (GlobalFoundries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hafner, James Lee, Schurr, Allan James
• Granted Patent: US 7,928,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.275
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 10/7072 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: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle comprises: a consumable fuel powered engine, a battery and an electric motor powered by the battery. The battery is rechargeable both from an external electric power source (such as an electric power grid) and from the consumable fuel powered engine. A computer receives data as inputs and providing outputs, wherein the input data includes an expected state of the electric power source at a time when the vehicle is expected to be coupled to the electric power source. The outputs include control signals to control the state of charge of the battery during the time the vehicle is expected to be coupled to the electric power source.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a consumable fuel powered engine;

a battery;

an electric motor powered by said battery, said battery being rechargeable both from an external power source and from an onboard source; and

a computer receiving data as inputs and providing outputs, wherein said input data includes an expected state of said external power source at a predetermined time, and said outputs include control signals to control the state of charge of said battery during said predetermined time.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said predetermined time is an expected time said vehicle is expected to be coupled to said external power source.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said outputs include signals controlling whether said battery is charged or discharged when coupled to said external power source.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said inputs include data relating to the relative cost of energy from said consumable fuel and from said external power source.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a communication system to permit the transmission of said input data from said external power source to said vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said input data includes predictive needs of said vehicle during a driving interval following said predetermined time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said input data includes current and predictive payment from said external power source for use of said battery when coupled to said external power source.

8. A system for optimizing energy consumption comprising:

a vehicle having a battery-powered electric motor and a consumable fuel powered means, a battery powering said electric motor being rechargeable both from an external electric power source and from a recharging system onboard said vehicle;

a computer receiving data and instructions as inputs and providing outputs;

said data inputs describing a condition of said electric power source at a time when said vehicle is expected to be plugged into said electric power source; and

said instruction inputs enabling said computer to determine an optimal state of electric charge of said battery at said time said vehicle is expected to be plugged into said electric power source based on said condition of said electric power source.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising vehicle power system components controlled by said computer, wherein said computer controls said power system components to control the recharging of said battery such that said battery is charged at said time in the case when said condition of said electric power source is one wherein additional power producing capacity is needed.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising vehicle power system components controlled by said computer, wherein said computer controls said power system components to control the recharging of said battery such that said battery is discharged at said time in the case where said condition of said electric power source is one where additional power storage is needed.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said data inputs describe an itinerary of said vehicle, operational data, available battery charge, availability and cost of energy from external electric power sources, availability and cost of consumable fuel for consumable fuel powered means.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said data inputs include current and predictive needs of said electric power source.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said data inputs include current and predictive cost of energy available from said electric power source.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said data inputs include current and predictive cost of energy from said consumable fuel.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said instructions are automated instructions.

16. A method of controlling the operation of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

determining an expected condition of an electric power grid at a future time when said vehicle is expected to be coupled to said electric power grid; and

controlling the charging and discharging of a battery in said vehicle based on said expected condition such that a desired state of charge of said battery will exist at said future time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining further comprises determining that said expected condition indicates that said vehicle will be needed as a power source at said future time, and wherein said controlling further comprises controlling said charging and discharging of said battery such that said battery is in a charged state when coupled to said electric power grid.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining further comprises determining that said expected condition indicates that said vehicle will be needed for energy storage at said future time, and wherein said controlling further comprises controlling said charging and discharging of said battery such that said battery is in a discharged state when coupled to said electric power grid.

19. A method for supplying energy comprising:

generating electricity in a stationary electric generating unit;

supplying said electricity to a grid;

connecting vehicles to said grid;

during a first time period, supplying electricity from said grid to said vehicle;

during a second time period, drawing electricity from said vehicle to said grid; and

controlling the operation of said vehicle so that said vehicle has a surplus of stored electricity to supply to said grid during said first time period.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising controlling the operation of said vehicle so that said vehicle has a deficit of stored electricity during said first time period.