SELECTIVE ELECTRIC MODE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20150336568A1
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• 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, Bolger, Bryan Michael, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam, Supina, Joseph Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

An example method includes operating an electric vehicle in an electric mode when a speed of the electric vehicle is at or below a threshold speed, and operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode when the speed of the electric vehicle is above the threshold speed. The threshold speed is an operator-adjustable threshold speed. Another example method includes operating an electric vehicle in an electric mode when a state of charge of a battery of the electric vehicle is at a threshold state of charge, and operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode when the state of charge of the battery is at or below the threshold state of charge.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating an electric vehicle in an electric mode when a speed of the electric vehicle is at or below a threshold speed; and

operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode when the speed of the electric vehicle is above the threshold speed, wherein the threshold speed is an operator-adjustable threshold speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator-adjustable threshold speed can be adjusted by an operator when the electric vehicle is moving.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator-adjustable threshold speed is one of a plurality of fixed choices.

4. The method of claim 1, charging a battery of the electric vehicle to a charge level when operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode, the charge level calculated based on a desired reserve charge when the electric vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the desired reserve charge comprises an operator-adjustable desired reserve charge.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator-adjustable desired reserve charge can be adjusted by an operator when the electric vehicle is moving.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator-adjustable desired reserve charge comprises an electric distance amount.

8. The method of claim 1, including alerting an operator of the vehicle of a transition from electric mode to a hybrid mode, and providing the operator with an option to a bypass the transition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alerting comprises initiating an audible count down timer.

10. A method, comprising:

operating an electric vehicle in an electric mode when a state of charge of a battery of the electric vehicle is at a threshold state of charge; and

operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode when the state of charge of the battery is at or below the threshold state of charge, wherein the threshold state of charge is an operator-adjustable threshold state of charge.

11. The method of claim 10, charging the battery of the electric vehicle to the threshold state of charge when operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode, the threshold state of charge calculated based on a desired reserve charge when the electric vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the desired reserve charge is an operator-adjustable desired reserve charge.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the operator-adjustable desired reserve charge can be adjusted by an operator when the electric vehicle is moving.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a powertrain controller configured to cause an electric vehicle to operate in an electric mode when a speed of the electric vehicle is at or below a threshold speed, and to operate in a hybrid mode when the speed of the electric vehicle is at the threshold speed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a threshold speed selector device that is actuated to adjust the threshold speed.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the powertrain controller is further configured to cause a battery of the electric vehicle to be charged to a charge level when operating the electric vehicle in a hybrid mode, the charge level calculated based on a desired reserve charge within the battery when the electric vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a charge level selector device that is actuated to adjust the desired reserve charge.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the desired reserve charge comprises a range of desired reserve charges.