Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090140521 | GENERATOR POWER-BASED COLD START STRATEGY - The method of the invention controls engine speed during engine starting for a hybrid electric vehicle that includes a battery, an engine and a generator, acting as a motor, whereby generator torque assists the engine to develop a stable running speed throughout an engine start event, particularly a cold engine start event, without violating battery power limits. | 06-04-2009 |
20110165829 | AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING CLIMATE SYSTEM OF SAME - An automotive vehicle may include a container, a battery disposed within the container and configured to provide motive power for the vehicle, and a battery climate system configured to move air from the cabin to the container. The vehicle may also include at least one controller configured to, while the vehicle is in a non-propulsion mode, receive a request to activate the battery climate system and, in response to the request, activate the battery climate system. | 07-07-2011 |
20110168462 | Electric Vehicle and Method of Control for Active Auxiliary Battery Depletion - An electric vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, and a controller. The controller is configured to prevent the traction battery from charging the auxiliary battery while the auxiliary battery has more than a minimum energy. The controller is further configured to, upon the auxiliary battery having the minimum energy, enable the traction battery to charge the auxiliary battery such that the auxiliary battery is maintained at the minimum energy. | 07-14-2011 |
20110224852 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY CHARGING A VEHICLE - One or more embodiments may include a method for selectively charging a vehicle. The method may include receiving at one or more computers one or more periods for charging a vehicle. The vehicle charging periods may be stored in memory. Further, pricing rates for charging the vehicle during the one or more vehicle charging periods may be received at the computer(s). Based on the one or more pricing rates and the vehicle charging periods, one or more low cost charging periods may be determined. The one or more low cost charging periods may be automatically adjusted if the one or more pricing rates change. The vehicle may be charged during at least part of the one or more low cost charging periods. | 09-15-2011 |
20110276205 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MACHINE AND/OR ENGINE THEREIN - A total power demand including a wheel power demand may be observed. The wheel power demand may be modified to determine a modified total power demand including a modified wheel power demand if the total power demand falls within a target range of power values defined by upper and lower threshold power values such that the modified total power demand is generally equal to the lower threshold power value. | 11-10-2011 |
20110298241 | APPARATUS FOR HEATING A VEHICLE CABIN - A vehicle includes a cabin, a high voltage traction battery, an electric motor powered by the traction battery, and a charger connected to the traction battery. The charger converts alternating current (AC) to high voltage direct current (DC) to charge the traction battery when the charger is plugged into an alternating current (AC) power supply. A forced air system includes an air inlet duct, a first air outlet duct directing exhaust air to the outside of the cabin, a second air outlet duct directing exhaust air to the inside of the cabin, a fan, and a valve for controlling air flow through the first and second air outlet ducts. The forced air system is arranged such that forced air flows through the air inlet duct, removes heat from the charger, and flows through at least one of the first and second air outlet ducts to assist with vehicle preconditioning. | 12-08-2011 |
20110307137 | GENERATOR POWER-BASED COLD START STRATEGY - A system and method for controlling engine starting in a hybrid electric vehicle that includes a battery, an engine and a generator acting as a motor control generator power during engine starting so that generator torque complements or assists the engine to develop a stable running speed throughout an engine start event, particularly a cold engine start event, without violating battery power limits. | 12-15-2011 |
20120179346 | Regenerative Braking Feedback Display And Method - Driver braking performance feedback may be conveyed to a vehicle operator as a braking efficiency score using a vehicle display system. The display system may include a vehicle display for displaying a braking efficiency indicator or gauge corresponding to the braking efficiency score. The braking efficiency score may be based on a comparison of the total regenerative braking energy recaptured during at least one braking event to a either a maximum amount of braking energy that may be recaptured during the at least one braking event or an actual total braking energy expended during the at least one braking event. The braking efficiency score may be displayed upon the completion of a braking event or upon a completion of a trip including a plurality of braking events. The display may also convey a distance corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179347 | Regenerative Braking Feedback Display And Method - Driver braking performance feedback may be conveyed to a vehicle operator as a braking efficiency score using a vehicle display system. The display system may include a vehicle display for displaying a braking efficiency indicator or gauge corresponding to the braking efficiency score. The braking efficiency score may be based on a comparison of the total regenerative braking energy recaptured during at least one braking event to a either a maximum amount of braking energy that may be recaptured during the at least one braking event or an actual total braking energy expended during the at least one braking event. The braking efficiency score may be displayed upon the completion of a braking event or upon a completion of a trip including a plurality of braking events. The display may also convey a distance corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking. | 07-12-2012 |
20130166123 | VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING TRAVEL RANGE - A vehicle system is provided with a controller and an interface communicating with the controller. The controller is configured to receive input that is indicative of available electric energy of a storage device, actual electrical power usage of a climate control system, and thermal requests. The controller is also configured to generate output that is indicative of an estimated travel range in response to the input. The interface is configured to display a range indicator based on the estimated travel range. | 06-27-2013 |
20130221741 | LIMITED OPERATING STRATEGY FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided with a climate control system and a battery that is connected to the climate control system for supplying power. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to receive input indicative of a battery power limit and a battery state of charge (BSOC). The at least one controller is also configured to disable the climate control system and reduce the battery power limit to an intermediate power limit, when the BSOC is less than a discharge limit. | 08-29-2013 |
20140070013 | THERMAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE HAVING TRACTION BATTERY - A thermal system for an electric vehicle includes an electric heat source, a heat exchanger, a traction battery, a first thermal loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger and the heat source, and a second thermal loop thermally coupled to the battery and configured to be selectively thermally coupled to the heat source. A vehicle includes an electric heat source, a heat exchanger system selectively thermally coupled with the heat source, and a traction battery system selectively thermally coupled to the heat source. A method of controlling a battery electric vehicle includes detecting a vehicle state input and operating an electric heater to heat a fluid. A valve arrangement is actuated to provide the fluid to one of a traction battery through a first fluid conduit, a heat exchanger through a second fluid conduit, and a battery and a heat exchanger through the first and second fluid conduits. | 03-13-2014 |
20140114516 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE HAVING A SINGLE-WIRE ACTUATOR - A system and method for determining functionality of a single signal wire actuator of a vehicle monitor the signal wire for a heartbeat signal after commanding the actuator and waiting for a self-diagnostic period. In one embodiment, a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric heater, a heater core and a valve positioned to route coolant through an engine and/or an electric heater. An actuator positioned to circulate coolant through the electric heater and the heater core is configured to transmit a heartbeat signal while connected to a power source and a ground terminal. A vehicle controller may be configured to store a diagnostic code, start the engine and/or control the valve to selectively route coolant through the engine and the heater core in response to a heat request and the heartbeat signal not being received from the actuator within a predetermined interval of time. | 04-24-2014 |
20150066257 | Method and System for Providing Charging Cord Reminder and Fault Override for Plug-In Electric Vehicles - An operation includes disabling a vehicle from moving while connection status of the vehicle with external charging infrastructure is unknown. A message is generated to advise a user to check the connection status. The vehicle is enabled to move upon a user indication that the vehicle is disconnected from the charging infrastructure. | 03-05-2015 |