System and method for determining battery capacity in an electric vehicle

• US 9,283,947 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bisbing, Joseph, Grenn, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/084,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/242 for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, battery capacity of an electric vehicle can be automatically determined. In an exemplary method, an instruction is received to determine a battery capacity value and one or more vehicle accessories are activated to discharge the battery to a first charge level. When the first charge level is reached, a generator in the vehicle is started and used to charge the battery to a second charge level, after which the battery capacity value can be determined and stored. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the vehicle comprises a controller adapted to cause a battery to be discharged and charged to determine a capacity value of the battery. A plurality of accessories are configured to activate and deactivate responsive to the controller to discharge the battery, while a generator is responsive to the controller to charge the battery so that the controller can determine the battery capacity value.

Claims

1. A hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric propulsion system for propelling the vehicle;

and a gas powered engine/generator for propelling the vehicle;

a controller adapted to cause a battery to be discharged and charged to determine a capacity value of the battery in response to receiving an instruction while the vehicle is parked;

a plurality of accessories coupled to the controller and configured to activate to discharge the battery to a first charge level and then deactivate responsive to the controller; and

the gas engine/generator being responsive to the controller to charge the battery after the first charge level is reached;

wherein the controller determines and stores the capacity value of the battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, which includes a transmitter for transmitting a message upon determination of the capacity value of the battery.