Virtual Charge for Electric Vehicles

• US 20120187916A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company), GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Duer, Armando A., Imel, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

The described method and system provides for dynamic adjustment of the lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle to allow a fuel-depleted vehicle also low on battery charge to continue to be operated. The vehicle'"'"'s telematics unit monitors the fuel level and charge level via the vehicle bus or other vehicle resources to determine if the vehicle is running low on fuel and electric charge. If the telematics unit determines that the fuel is depleted and the charge level is approaching, meets or falls below the lower threshold, the telematics unit communicates the vehicle fuel status and vehicle position to a call center along with vehicle identification data. The call center determines the amount of charge required to reach one or more local fueling stations or other points of interests and propose destination recommendations to the driver. The driver may then select one of the recommendations, and the call center transmits a new lower charge threshold to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically adjusting a lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor, that the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge has fallen below a first predetermined amount; and

lowering, by a processor, the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery to a second predetermined amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined amount is calculated based on the fulfillment of a condition selected from the group consisting of:

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge approaching a preconfigured lower charge threshold;

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge meeting a preconfigured lower charge threshold; and

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge falling below a preconfigured lower charge threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

determining, by a processor, that the vehicle'"'"'s fuel supply is depleted.

4. The method of claim 3, the method further comprising:

uploading, by a telematics unit, status information regarding the vehicle to a call center, wherein the status information regarding the vehicle comprises the vehicle'"'"'s battery charge level and the vehicle'"'"'s location.

5. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the telematics unit, at least one recommended destination based on the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge;

communicating, by the telematics unit, the at least one recommended destination to an occupant of the vehicle; and

receiving, by the telematics unit, from the call center, the second predetermined amount that the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery is to be lowered to.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one recommended destination is selected from the group consisting of:

a fueling station;

a recharging station; and

a subscriber'"'"'s home address.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined amount that the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery is to be lowered to is based on the distance between the vehicle'"'"'s position and the at least one recommended destination.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second predetermined amount that the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery is to be lowered to is also based on an individual vehicle profile comprising data pertaining to the vehicle'"'"'s past performance and battery charge.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the telematics unit, additional adjustments to the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery, where in the additional adjustments are based on the amount of charge required by the vehicle to travel from the vehicle'"'"'s current location to the at least one recommended destination.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

if an additional adjustment to the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery cannot be made because the vehicle'"'"'s battery does not have enough charge remaining to allow the vehicle to travel from the vehicle'"'"'s current location to the at least one recommended destination, communicating, by the telematics unit, to an occupant of the vehicle to wait for a service truck, wherein the service truck is dispatched by the call center to provides the vehicle with assistance in reaching the at least one recommended destination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the service truck provides the vehicle with at least one of the group consisting of:

fuel;

electrical power; and

towing services.

12. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the telematics unit, at least one recommended destination;

communicating, by the telematics unit, to an occupant of the vehicle the at least one recommended destination; and

communicating, by the telematics unit, to an occupant of the vehicle to wait for a service truck, wherein the service truck is dispatched by the call center and provides the vehicle with assistance in reaching the at least one recommended destination.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one recommended destination is at least one of the group consisting of:

a fueling station;

a recharging station; and

a subscriber'"'"'s home address.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the service truck provides the vehicle with at least one of the group consisting of:

fuel;

electrical power; and

towing services.

15. A method for dynamically adjusting a lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at a call center, status information regarding the vehicle when the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge has fallen below a first predetermined amount, wherein the status information regarding the vehicle comprises the vehicle'"'"'s battery charge level and the vehicle'"'"'s location;

determining, at the call center, the distance from the vehicle to at least one destination from the group consisting of;

a fueling station;

a recharging station; and

a subscriber'"'"'s home address;

transmitting, by the call center to the vehicle, at least one destination recommendation based on the amount of charge required by the vehicle to reach the at least one destination.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined amount is calculated based on the fulfillment of a condition selected from the group consisting of:

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge approaching a preconfigured lower charge threshold;

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge meeting a preconfigured lower charge threshold; and

the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge falling below a preconfigured lower charge threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the call center to the vehicle, a new lower charge threshold for the vehicle based on the at least one destination recommendation.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the call center to the vehicle, directions from the vehicle'"'"'s position to the at least one destination recommendation.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the call center to the vehicle, instructions to wait for a service truck, wherein the service truck is dispatched by the call center and provides the vehicle with at least one of the group consisting of fuel and battery charge.

20. A system for dynamically adjusting a lower charge threshold of an electrically-powered vehicle, the system comprising:

the electrically-powered vehicle;

a telematics unit connected to the vehicle, adapted to monitor the vehicle'"'"'s remaining battery charge, send and receive communications and data to and from a call center, and control the lower charge threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s battery; and

the call center, adapted to send and receive communications and data to and from the vehicle, determine the distance from the vehicle'"'"'s position to at least one destination from the group consisting of a fueling station, recharging station and a subscriber'"'"'s home address, determine the amount of charge required for the vehicle to travel from the vehicle'"'"'s position to the at least one destination; and

determine a new lower charge threshold for the vehicle battery to be communicated to the vehicle.