Method for operating an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an electrically powered vehicle with at least one traction battery, wherein a fire or thermal runaway of the at least one traction battery or at least a part of the at least one traction battery is detected while the vehicle is moving or stationary, wherein upon detection of the fire or thermal runaway the vehicle is locked to prevent charging of the at least one traction battery and a current mileage and / or a current position of the vehicle is determined, and the vehicle is or remains enabled for a journey over a remaining predetermined distance from this mileage and / or position, during which the vehicle is or remains enabled for any number of start-up cycles and / or restarts, wherein the vehicle, after covering the predetermined distance and subsequently detecting a standstill,where the vehicle or its electric drive system is switched off, locked against further switching-on and / or restarts, and can only be released and / or reset by a predetermined authority other than the driver.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an electrically powered vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] US 2022 / 0009519 A1 describes a fire spread prevention system for a vehicle that can prevent a fire originating in a vehicle-mounted battery from spreading throughout the vehicle. The fire spread prevention system includes a battery health detector that gathers battery health information to detect a battery fire in the vehicle; a controller that issues a control signal to remove a battery when a battery fire is detected; and a battery removal device installed in the vehicle to secure the battery to the vehicle body, configured to detach the battery from the vehicle body and remove the battery from the vehicle in response to the controller's control signal.If a fire is detected, the fire spread prevention system removes the battery from the vehicle, disconnects it, and discharges it outside the vehicle. This prevents the fire from spreading throughout the vehicle.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing a novel method for operating an electrically powered vehicle.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by a method for operating an electrically powered vehicle with the features of claim 1.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] A method for operating an electrically powered vehicle with at least one traction battery is proposed, wherein a fire or thermal runaway of the at least one traction battery or at least a part of the at least one traction battery is detected when the vehicle is moving or stationary.

[0007] According to the invention, upon detection of a fire or thermal runaway, the vehicle is locked to prevent charging of the at least one traction battery, and a current mileage and / or the vehicle's current position is determined. The vehicle is then enabled or remains enabled for a journey over a remaining predetermined distance from this mileage and / or position, during which the vehicle is enabled or remains enabled for any number of start-up cycles and / or restarts. After the predetermined distance has been covered and a standstill is subsequently detected, at which point the vehicle or its electric drive system is switched off, the vehicle is locked to prevent further start-up cycles and / or restarts and can only be unlocked and / or reset by a predetermined authority other than the driver, for example, an authorized workshop.

[0008] The predetermined route allows the driver, or an autonomous vehicle control system if the vehicle is configured as such, to move the vehicle from a dangerous or unsuitable position—for example, a tunnel, a gas station, a depot, or another parking location near other vehicles—to a more suitable and / or safer position where the fire poses no or less of a risk to other vehicles or infrastructure. At the same time, however, the method according to the invention prevents the driver from continuing to operate the vehicle in this state without having the underlying technical problem investigated and / or rectified by a workshop, particularly if the fire or thermal runaway should have subsided in the meantime.

[0009] This increases the safety of the vehicle and its surroundings.

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0011] This shows: Fig. 1: A schematic representation of a method for operating an electrically powered vehicle in the event of a fire and / or thermal runaway of a traction battery.

[0012] The only Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a method for operating an electrically powered vehicle, for example a battery-electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, which has at least one traction battery. In particular, the vehicle can be designed as a commercial vehicle, a bus or a passenger car.

[0013] The vehicle has a detection device for detecting a fire and / or a thermal runaway of the at least one traction battery or at least a part of the at least one traction battery, for example a battery cell.

[0014] In the procedure, in step S1, a fire or thermal runaway of the at least one traction battery or at least a part of the at least one traction battery is detected while the vehicle is moving or stationary, for example by the detection device or by receiving a corresponding notification.

[0015] Upon detection of a fire or thermal runaway, in step S2 the vehicle's current mileage and / or position is determined, and the vehicle is then authorized or remains authorized to travel a predetermined distance from this mileage and / or position. Until this distance is fully covered, the vehicle is further authorized or remains authorized for any number of start-up cycles and / or restarts.

[0016] In step S3, after the vehicle has covered the specified distance and subsequently a standstill is detected, at which point the vehicle or its electric drive system is switched off, the vehicle is locked for further start-up operations and / or restarts.

[0017] The predetermined route allows the driver, or an autonomous control system of the vehicle if it is configured as an autonomous vehicle, to move the vehicle from a dangerous or unsuitable position, such as a tunnel, a petrol station, a depot or another parking location near other vehicles, to a more suitable and / or safer position where there is no or less danger from the fire to other vehicles or infrastructure.

[0018] For example, the specified distance might be 30 km. The world's longest road tunnel is currently located in Norway and has a length of 25 km. A remaining distance of 30 km therefore allows the vehicle to safely exit the tunnel.

[0019] If at least one of the vehicle's traction batteries is being charged in step S1 when a fire or thermal runaway is detected, the current mileage and / or the vehicle's current position are also determined in step S2, and the vehicle is or remains authorized to travel a predetermined distance from this mileage and / or position. Until this distance is fully covered, the vehicle is or remains authorized for any number of start-up cycles and / or restarts. The vehicle can therefore be driven from the charging station to a safe location. Furthermore, upon detection of a fire and / or thermal runaway, any ongoing charging process is immediately stopped, and the vehicle is locked for charging, regardless of whether a charging process is currently in progress.

[0020] The vehicle remains locked for restarting and / or charging and cannot be reactivated by the driver, even after the fire or thermal runaway has ended, which may be signaled by the detection device or by receiving a corresponding notification.

[0021] Releasing or resetting the vehicle for restarts and / or charging is only possible by a designated authority, such as an authorized workshop that has suitable technical equipment. Reference symbol list S1 to S3 step QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2022 / 0009519 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for operating an electrically powered vehicle with at least one traction battery, wherein a fire or thermal runaway of the at least one traction battery or at least part of the at least one traction battery is detected when the vehicle is moving or stationary, characterized by, that upon detection of a fire or thermal runaway, the vehicle is locked to prevent charging of at least one traction battery, and a current mileage and / or position of the vehicle is determined, and the vehicle is released or remains released for a journey over a remaining predetermined distance from this mileage and / or position, during which the vehicle is released or remains released for any number of start-up operations and / or restarts, whereby after the predetermined distance has been covered and a standstill is subsequently detected, in which case the vehicle or its electric drive system is switched off, the vehicle is locked to prevent further start-up operations and / or restarts, and can only be released and / or reset by a predetermined authority other than the driver. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the specified distance is 30 km. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that if a fire or thermal runaway is detected, any ongoing charging process of at least one traction battery is immediately stopped. [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vehicle remains locked for restarts and / or charging even after detection of the end of the fire or thermal runaway.

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