Extended-range electric vehicle with supercapacitor range extender

• US 8,818,601 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: G, Ravikanth V, Naidu, Kumpatla V, Tiwari, Awadesh, Lingegowda, Aurobbindo, Pulavarthi, Viswa Madan
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/803,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 180/65.1, 180/68.5, 493/34, 493/374
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/42 characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A vehicle includes an engine, fraction motor, final drive assembly, battery pack, and a supercapacitor module electrically connected to the battery pack. The vehicle also has first and second clutches and a controller. The clutches have opposite apply states. The first clutch connects an engine driveshaft to the motor to establish a neutral-charging mode. The second clutch connects an output shaft of the motor to the final drive assembly to establish a drive mode. The controller selects between the drive and neutral-charging modes in response to input signals. The drive mode uses energy from the supercapacitor module and battery pack to power the traction motor. The neutral-charging mode uses output torque from the engine to charge the supercapacitor module and battery pack. The clutches may be pneumatically-actuated, and the vehicle may be characterized by an absence of planetary gear sets.

Claims

1. A powertrain for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:

an electric traction motor having an output shaft;

a rechargeable battery pack;

a supercapacitor module that is electrically connected to the battery pack; and

first and second clutches having, at all times, opposite apply states, wherein the first clutch, when applied, connects the traction motor to the engine to thereby establish a neutral-charging mode, and wherein the second clutch, when applied, connects the output shaft to a drive axle to establish a drive mode;

wherein the drive mode uses energy from the supercapacitor module and the battery pack to power the traction motor and the neutral-charging mode uses output torque from the engine to charge the supercapacitor module and the battery pack.

2. The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the first and second clutches, wherein the controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for controlling the state of the clutches, and wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions in response to a set of input signals to thereby select between the drive mode and the neutral-charging mode.

3. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the powertrain is characterized by an absence of any planetary gear sets.

4. The powertrain of claim 3, wherein the first and second clutches are pneumatically-actuated.

5. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is a lead acid battery pack having at least six lead acid battery cells.

6. The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is rated for at least 48 VDC and the supercapacitor module is configured to store at least 125% of the charge of the battery pack.