System and method for predicting vehicle energy consumption

• US 8,346,420 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Tarnowsky, Steven A., Tate, Edward D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/729,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/023 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A method is provided for generating projected vehicle energy consumption information for a second vehicle using statistical information describing a driving history of a driver of a first vehicle. Statistical information is determined from collected vehicle performance values while the driver operates the first vehicle, and is archived in at least one memory location. The archived statistical information is correlated with a vehicle specification describing a performance capability of the second vehicle. A message is processed that includes the projected vehicle energy consumption information for the second vehicle. A vehicle is provided for generating the projected vehicle energy consumption information, and includes at least one memory location, sensors for measuring vehicle performance values of the vehicle describing a driver history of the first vehicle, and a controller adapted for automatically determining the statistical information. A controller is also provided adapted for executing the method.

Claims

1. A method for generating projected vehicle energy consumption information for a second vehicle using statistical information describing a driving history of a driver of a first vehicle, the method comprising:

automatically collecting a set of vehicle performance values from at least one sensor of the first vehicle, while the driver operates the first vehicle, in order to determine the statistical information;

archiving the statistical information in at least one memory location;

correlating, via a controller, the statistical information archived in the at least one memory location with a vehicle specification describing a performance capability of the second vehicle; and

transmitting a message that includes the projected vehicle energy consumption information for the second vehicle and that is based on the driving history of the driver of the first vehicle;

wherein the first vehicle is selected from the group consisting essentially of a conventional vehicle, a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and an extended-range electric vehicle, and wherein the second vehicle is a different member of the group than the first vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory location includes a first memory location aboard the first vehicle and a second memory location that is remotely located with respect to the first vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first vehicle includes a vehicle telematics unit, the method further comprising:

using the vehicle telematics unit to transmit the statistical information to the second memory location; and

archiving the statistical information in the second memory location.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first vehicle includes a flash memory device configured as the first memory location, and wherein archiving the statistical information includes recording the statistical information in the flash memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a message includes at least one of:

transmitting an e-mail message, displaying a text message, and displaying an HTTP link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of vehicle performance values includes historical information describing, for the first vehicle, at least one of:

speed, Heating, Cooling, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) use, locations of use, dates of use, and odometer readings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the statistical information includes automatically calculating at least one of:

average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, a cumulative density function chart, a probability density function chart, city driving fuel consumption, and highway driving fuel consumption.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording at least one electrical charging location for the second vehicle; and

estimating a predetermined set of operating costs of the second vehicle using the least one electrical charging location.

9. A first vehicle that projects vehicle energy consumption information for a second vehicle using statistical information describing a driving history of a driver of the first vehicle, the first vehicle comprising:

at least one memory location;

a plurality of sensors that determine a set of vehicle performance values of the first vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the sensors that is configured to automatically determine the statistical information using the set of vehicle performance values while the driver operates the first vehicle;

wherein the first vehicle is selected from the group consisting essentially of a conventional vehicle, a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and an extended-range electric vehicle, and is configured to;

archive, via the controller, the statistical information in the at least one memory location;

correlate the statistical information that is archived in at least one memory location with a vehicle specification describing a performance capability of the second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle is a different member of the group than the first member; and

process a message that includes the projected vehicle energy consumption information for the second vehicle and that is based on the driving history of the driver of the first vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory location includes a first memory location aboard the first vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first vehicle includes a flash memory device configured as the first memory location, and wherein the controller archives the statistical information by recording the statistical information in the flash memory.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a telematics unit, wherein the first vehicle is configured for using the telematics unit to transmit the statistical information to a remote station, and for archiving the statistical information in a second memory location of the remote station.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured for displaying, via a display screen of the first vehicle, a message that includes at least one of:

an e-mail message, a text message, and an HTTP link.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the statistical information includes at least one of:

average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, a cumulative density function chart, a probability density function chart, city driving fuel consumption, and highway driving fuel consumption.

15. A controller for use in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one memory location;

a processor in communication with the at least one memory location; and

an algorithm recorded in the at least one memory location and configured for to automatically determine statistical information from a set of vehicle performance values describing a driving history of a driver of the vehicle, wherein the controller, using at least one sensor of the vehicle, collects the set of vehicle performance values while a driver operates the vehicle;

wherein the controller is configured to execute the algorithm using the processor to thereby;

archive the statistical information in the at least one memory location;

correlate the statistical information archived in the at least one memory location with a vehicle specification describing a performance capability of a prospective vehicle, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting essentially of a conventional vehicle, a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and an extended-range electric vehicle, and the prospective vehicle and the vehicle are different members of the group; and

at least one of;

transmit and receive a message that includes projected vehicle energy consumption information for the projected vehicle, wherein the projected vehicle energy consumption information for the vehicle is determined by the controller using the statistical information.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the memory location is a flash memory device.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle telematics unit configured for transmitting the statistical information to a remote station, and wherein the controller is configured for communicating the statistical information to the telematics unit.

18. The controller of claim 15, wherein the vehicle includes a display screen, and wherein the controller is configured for displaying the message via the display screen.