Range prediction in fleet management of electric and fuel-cell vehicles
First Claim
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1. A system for managing electric and fuel cell vehicles in a fleet comprising:
- a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle having a sensor measuring remaining electrical energy available from electrical cells or fuel cells as a first data item, a GPS sensor measuring vehicle position as a second data item and a first communications device transmitting the first and second data items, and a computer having a task input means, a second communications device receiving the first and second data items and a data base associated with a means for predicting vehicle range from the first data item, the computer linking task inputs with predicted vehicle range and the second data item.
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Abstract
A system for managing power cell information resources of a non-petroleum fueled vehicle, particularly electric or fuel cell vehicles of a fleet of vehicles. Such vehicles have power pack instrumentation for wirelessly reporting data to a base station computer including power pack charge parameters and GPS location in real-time. This data is applied to a database which documents past vehicle performance as well as contains minimal acceptable vehicle parameters. A prediction is made regarding remaining range, state of charge and vehicle scheduling, considering vehicle load or mileage efficiency and GPS location of the vehicle for appropriate dispatch.
70 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for managing electric and fuel cell vehicles in a fleet comprising:
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a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle having a sensor measuring remaining electrical energy available from electrical cells or fuel cells as a first data item, a GPS sensor measuring vehicle position as a second data item and a first communications device transmitting the first and second data items, and a computer having a task input means, a second communications device receiving the first and second data items and a data base associated with a means for predicting vehicle range from the first data item, the computer linking task inputs with predicted vehicle range and the second data item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A management system for a vehicle drawing power from batteries or fuel cells comprising:
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an electrical energy sensor mounted in a vehicle reporting remaining energy in batteries or fuel cells as a first data item, a GPS sensor mounted in the vehicle reporting vehicle position as a second data item, a task request input means within the vehicle for receiving requests for vehicle dispatch, a computer connected for receiving the first and second data items and connected to receive the requests for vehicle dispatch, the computer having means for predicting vehicle range from the first data item, the computer linking task request inputs with predicted vehicle range and the second data item. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A management system for a vehicle drawing power from batteries or fuel cells comprising:
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an electrical energy sensor mounted in a vehicle reporting remaining energy in batteries or fuel cells as a first data item, a GPS sensor mounted in the vehicle reporting vehicle position as a second data item, a task request input means within the vehicle for receiving requests for vehicle dispatch and generating a corresponding electrical signal, a load input means within the vehicle for generating an electrical signal representative of vehicle load, a computer connected for receiving the first and second data items, the electrical signal corresponding to a task request and the electrical signal representative of vehicle load, the computer having means for predicting vehicle range from the first data item, the computer linking task request inputs with predicted vehicle range, vehicle load and the second data item. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification