Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Plug-Out Mode Energy Management

• US 20150112522A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Liang, Wei, Yamazaki, Mark Steven, Wang, Xiaoyong, Johri, Rajit, McGee, Ryan Abraham, Kuang, Ming Lang
• Granted Patent: US 10,259,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 : acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 : Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 : having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 : including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 : including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 : for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2510/085 : Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 : at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a battery, and at least one controller. The vehicle may further comprise a port for supplying power to a load external to the vehicle. The controller is programmed to operate the engine at a power level based on a difference between a battery voltage and a reference voltage such that a power output by the electric machine reduces the difference. The power level may define an engine operating point that minimizes fuel consumption. The operating point may be an engine torque and an engine speed. The power level may be further based on a state of charge of the battery. The electric machine may be operated to cause the engine to rotate at an engine speed corresponding to the selected power level. The difference may be caused by varying power drawn by a load external to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a battery including terminals;

an electric machine; and

at least one controller programmed to, in response to a difference between a voltage across the terminals and a reference voltage in the absence of a demand for propulsive power, operate the engine at an operating point selected based on the difference such that a power output by the electric machine reduces the difference.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the operating point is selected such that, for the power output by the electric machine, fuel consumption by the engine is generally minimized.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the operating point defines a torque command and a speed command for the engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the operating point is further selected based on a state of charge of the battery such that the power output by the electric machine generally maintains the state of charge of the battery.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the operating point is further selected based on a state of charge difference between a state of charge of the battery and a predetermined state of charge such that the power output by the electric machine reduces the state of charge difference.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to operate the electric machine to cause the engine to rotate at an engine speed defined by the operating point.

7. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

an electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine and electrically coupled to a traction battery; and

at least one controller programmed to, in response to a difference between a voltage associated with the traction battery and a reference voltage in the absence of a demand for propulsive power, operate the engine to drive the electric machine to output power at a level sufficient to reduce the difference such that fuel consumed by the engine is generally minimized for the level.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the level corresponds to a predetermined engine operating point.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the voltage associated with the traction battery is a terminal voltage of the traction battery.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the level is further sufficient to maintain a state of charge of the traction battery.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the level is further sufficient to charge the traction battery to a predetermined state of charge.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a port electrically coupled to the traction battery and configured to provide power from the traction battery or the electric machine to an external load electrically connected therewith.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the voltage associated with the traction battery is a voltage measured at the port.

14. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:

by at least one controller,

selecting a power level for an electric machine based on a difference between a voltage of a high-voltage bus and a reference voltage;

selecting an operating point for an engine that generally minimizes fuel consumption at the selected power level; and

operating the engine at the operating point to drive the electric machine to produce the selected power to reduce the difference.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the selected power level further maintains a state of charge of a traction battery electrically connected to the high-voltage bus.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the selected power level further drives a state of charge of a traction battery electrically connected to the high-voltage bus to a predetermined state of charge.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the selecting and operating are performed in the absence of a demand for propulsive power.