Electric vehicles and their navigation systems

Abstract

To allow an occupant to know a point which an electric vehicle can reach when an air conditioner is activated.SOLUTION: There is provided a navigation device of an electric vehicle which includes an electric motor, an air conditioner, and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor and the air conditioner. The controller of the navigation device acquires the total power amount obtained by totaling the power amount for travel required for vehicle travel from the current location to the destination, and the power amount for air-conditioning required by the air conditioner when the air conditioner is activated during the vehicle travel. When the remaining power storage amount of the battery is less than the total power amount, the controller displays information of a point 104-1 between the current location and the destination which the electric vehicle can reach and a position 106-1 of a charging spot in the vicinity of the point on a display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vehicle and its navigation device, and particularly to the display of a navigation screen according to the operation of an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, electric vehicles such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) have been known. An electric vehicle includes an electric motor as a drive source and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor. When the remaining state of charge (SOC) of the battery decreases, it is necessary to move the vehicle to a charging spot and charge the battery. The charging spot is a charging device or a charging facility, and is also called a charging stand, a charging station, or the like.

[0003] The battery of an electric vehicle supplies power not only to the electric motor for driving but also to the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, the cruising range of the vehicle changes according to the use or non-use of the air conditioner and the amount of power consumed.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle air conditioner that calculates the amount of power required for driving and the amount of power required for air conditioning until reaching a destination set in a navigation device in an electric vehicle, and limits the output of the air conditioner when the remaining state of charge (SOC) of the battery is smaller than the total amount of power obtained by adding these amounts of power, so that the vehicle can reach the destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the air conditioning system described in Patent Document 1, the air conditioning output may be limited against the will of the vehicle occupants, potentially compromising comfort inside the vehicle. On the other hand, if the air conditioning system is made operable according to the occupants' wishes, the vehicle may not be able to reach the destination set in the navigation system due to insufficient battery state of charge (SOC).

[0007] Therefore, when the battery's State of Charge (SOC) is low, it is desirable to enable the operation of the air conditioning system based on the occupant's settings, and when the air conditioning system is activated based on the occupant's settings, to allow the occupant to understand the points that the vehicle can reach between its current location and the destination set in the navigation system.

[0008] The objective of this invention is to enable occupants to understand the reachable points of the electric vehicle when they operate the air conditioning system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The navigation device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention comprises an electric motor as a drive source, It can operate in multiple air conditioning modes, including a mode with limited power load. A navigation system mounted on an electric vehicle comprising an air conditioning system, an electric motor, and a battery that supplies power to the air conditioning system, the system including a controller that displays a navigation route on a display from the current location to a destination specified by the user, the controller from the current location The aforementioned The amount of electricity required for the vehicle to travel to its destination, and the air conditioning system during that vehicle journey. If it maintains operation with the currently selected air conditioning mode The total amount of power required for air conditioning by the air conditioning system is obtained, and if the remaining amount of stored power in the battery is less than the total amount of power, While the air conditioning unit maintains operation according to the currently selected air conditioning mode From the current location, the electric vehicle can reach The aforementioned Points along the way to the destination Overlay it onto the map Displayed on the aforementioned display The controller further displays on the display the following: text information representing the currently selected air conditioning mode; an indicator line positioned below the text information that represents the currently selected air conditioning mode by color or pattern; and information superimposed on the map, consisting of a guide line from the current location to the point, a designated charging spot mark representing a charging spot around the point, and a non-designated charging spot mark representing a charging spot other than the designated charging spot. The controller also displays the indicator, the guide line, and the designated charging spot mark on the display in the same color or pattern, but with a different color or pattern from the non-designated charging spot mark. It is characterized by the following:

[0010] With this configuration, the occupants can determine the reachable points of the electric vehicle when they operate the air conditioning system. In addition, charging spots near the reachable points are displayed on the screen, allowing the occupants to easily move the electric vehicle to a charging spot and charge the battery.

[0012] In the navigation system for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the electric vehicle is equipped with a user operation unit that accepts the selection of a mode from among a plurality of air conditioning modes. ru, That is also acceptable.

[0013] With this configuration, the occupants can switch between air conditioning modes and understand the reachable distance (driving range) for each mode, allowing them to decide on the air conditioning mode while considering the balance between comfort in the cabin and driving range.

[0015] Also, the above With this configuration, the charging stations corresponding to the reachable points of the electric vehicle will be clearly identified to the occupants.

[0017] In the navigation device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the total power amount, the location, the character information, the indicator, the guidance line, and the designated charging spot mark are the first total power amount, the first location, the first character information, the first indicator, the first guidance line, and the first charging spot mark, and when the user operation unit selects a different air conditioning mode that limits the power load of the air conditioning system more than the currently selected air conditioning mode, the controller displays information about the different air conditioning mode on the display instead of the first location, the first character information, the first indicator, the first guidance line, and the first charging spot mark, and the controller obtains a second total power amount which is the sum of the driving power amount required for the vehicle to travel from the current location to the destination and the air conditioning power amount required by the air conditioning system if the air conditioning system maintains operation in the different air conditioning mode during the vehicle travel, and the battery If the remaining stored power is less than the second total power, the controller may display on the display a second point between the current location and the destination that the electric vehicle can reach while the air conditioning system maintains operation in the other air conditioning mode, superimposed on the map. The controller may further display on the display a second character information representing the other air conditioning mode, a second indicator which is a line positioned below the second character information and represents the other air conditioning mode by color or pattern, and information superimposed on the map which consists of a second guide line from the current location to the second point and a second charging spot mark representing a charging spot around the second point. The controller may also display the second indicator, the second guide line, and the second charging spot mark on the display in the same color or pattern as the first indicator, the first guide line, and the first charging spot mark, in a different color or pattern.

[0018] Furthermore, the electric vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by being equipped with the above-mentioned navigation device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, when the occupants operate the air conditioning system, they can determine the points that the electric vehicle can reach. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an electric vehicle. [Figure 2] This figure shows the relative power load for each air conditioning mode. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart showing the processes performed by the controller. [Figure 4](A) shows an example of the display when the air - conditioning mode is "standard", and (B) shows an example of the display when the air - conditioning mode is "eco". [Figure 5] (A) shows an example of the display when the air - conditioning mode is "minimum", and (B) shows an example of the display when the air - conditioning mode is "off". [Figure 6] (A) shows an example of displaying a guide line for a plurality of air - conditioning modes and a charging spot mark, and (B) shows another example of the display.

Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[0021] <Summary> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. When a plurality of embodiments, modification examples, etc. are included hereinafter, it is originally assumed that the characteristic parts can be combined and used as appropriate. In all the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electric vehicle 10, and shows parts related to the embodiment in the electric vehicle 10. The electric vehicle 10 is a battery - electric vehicle (BEV) that uses only the electric motor 64 as a driving source for traveling. The electric vehicle 10 includes a battery 40, a SOC monitoring unit 42, a motor device 12, an air - conditioning device 14, a navigation device 16, and a touch - panel display 30.

[0023] <Battery> The battery 40 is a secondary battery such as a lithium - ion battery. The battery 40 supplies electric power to the electric motor 64 and the air - conditioning device main body 56. The electric vehicle 10 includes a charging device (not shown). The charging device is a device for charging the battery 40. The charging device includes a charging inlet to which a charging connector provided at a charging spot is connected, and by connecting the charging connector to this charging inlet, the battery 40 is charged.

[0024] <SOC Monitoring Unit> The SOC monitoring unit 42 is a device that monitors the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 40. The SOC monitoring unit 42 is equipped with various sensors, such as a current sensor for detecting the current of the battery 40, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery 40, and a voltage sensor for detecting the voltage of the battery 40. The SOC monitoring unit 42 estimates the SOC of the battery 40 based on the detection values ​​of the various sensors. The methods for estimating the SOC are known, and the SOC monitoring unit 42 may estimate the SOC using any of these methods. Known methods for estimating the SOC include estimating it from the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) of the battery 40, and using the integrated value of the charge and discharge currents of the battery 40.

[0025] <Motor device> The motor unit 12 comprises an electric motor 64, an inverter 62, and an MG-ECU 60. The electric motor 64 is the driving source for the electric vehicle 10. The inverter 62 is a power converter that converts the discharge output (DC) of the battery 40 into a power format (three-phase AC) that drives the electric motor 64. Therefore, the power from the battery 40 is supplied to the electric motor 64 via the inverter 62. The MG-ECU 60 is a computer that controls the electric motor 64 via the inverter 62.

[0026] <Air conditioner> The air conditioning unit 14 comprises an air conditioning unit body 56, an air conditioner ECU 50, and an operation panel 52.

[0027] The air conditioning unit 56 is positioned, for example, in front of the instrument panel of the electric vehicle 10 and is a device for air conditioning the interior of the electric vehicle 10. The air conditioning unit 56 includes a blower (not shown) that generates an airflow (blowing air) toward the interior of the vehicle, a cooling and dehumidifying device 57, and an air heating device 58. The cooling and dehumidifying device 57 is a device that cools and dehumidifies the air by blowing air around an evaporator (not shown). The air heating device 58 is a device that heats the air by blowing air around a heater core (not shown).

[0028] The cooling and dehumidifying device 57 has a refrigeration cycle through which a refrigerant circulates, and the refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor, condenser, receiver tank, expansion valve, and evaporator. The air heating device 58 has a hot water circuit through which hot water circulates, and the hot water circuit comprises a reserve tank, electric water pump, water heater, and heater core. The air conditioning unit body 56 also includes an internal / external air switching door, an air mix door, an outlet door, an outlet (an outlet for the air supplied towards the passenger compartment), etc. The internal / external air switching door changes the opening of the internal air intake and external air intake that take in air to be sent to the blower. The air mix door changes the ratio of air that passes through the air heating device 58 (heater core) and air that bypasses the air heating device 58 (heater core) from the air that has passed through the cooling and dehumidifying device 57 (evaporator). The configuration of the air conditioning unit body 56 is known and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-199988.

[0029] The control panel 52, for example, includes an LCD display and multiple switches, and is operated by the occupant to receive instructions such as the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 14. The control panel 52 also includes an air conditioning mode switching button 53 as a user operation unit. As shown in Figure 2, the air conditioning unit 56 can operate in multiple air conditioning modes with different power loads. Each time the user presses the switching button 53, the air conditioning mode of the air conditioning unit 14 is switched. The control panel 52 is connected to the air conditioning ECU 50, and the operation information received from the occupant is input to the air conditioning ECU 50.

[0030] The air conditioning ECU 50 is a computer that controls the air conditioning unit 56. The air conditioning ECU 50 is connected to an interior temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the vehicle, an exterior temperature sensor that detects the temperature outside the vehicle (outside temperature), and a solar radiation sensor (none of which are shown) that detects the amount of solar radiation, and the detected values ​​from each sensor are input to the ECU 50. Based on the set temperature set by the occupant on the operation panel 52, the interior temperature detected by the interior temperature sensor, the outside temperature detected by the exterior temperature sensor, and the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor, the air conditioning ECU 50 calculates the target outlet temperature (TAO), which is the target temperature of the conditioned air blown out from the outlet. The air conditioning ECU 50 then controls the blower, cooling dehumidifier 57, air heater 58, interior / exterior air switching door, air mix door, etc., based on the TAO. The method for calculating TAO is known and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-199988.

[0031] When the air conditioning mode is set to "Standard" (see Figure 2), the air conditioner ECU 50 controls the air conditioner unit 56 using the method described above. However, when the air conditioning mode is set to "Eco" or "Minimum," the ECU 50 controls the air conditioner unit 56 to reduce its power load compared to the "Standard" mode. For example, the air conditioner ECU 50 controls the air conditioner unit 56 so that it operates with a 30% reduction in power consumption in "Eco" mode and a 70% reduction in power consumption in "Minimum" mode compared to the power consumption of the air conditioner unit 56 in "Standard" mode. Note that 30% and 70% are just examples. For example, the power load reduction in "Eco" and "Minimum" modes can be achieved by limiting the compressor operation of the cooling and dehumidifying device 57 and the water heater operation of the air heating device 58, which are determined by the method described above for the "Standard" air conditioning mode. When the air conditioning mode is set to "Off," the air conditioner ECU 50 stops the operation of the air conditioner unit 56.

[0032] <Navigation device> The navigation system 16 includes a navigation ECU 18, a position detection device 20, and a traffic information receiving device 22.

[0033] The navigation ECU 18 is a controller that controls the display of information such as the navigation route from the current location to the destination on the touch panel display 30 (hereinafter referred to as the display 30 as appropriate). The navigation ECU 18 also accepts destination specifications and various instructions from the user through the user's operation of the touch panel display 30.

[0034] The non-volatile storage device of the navigation ECU 18 stores a map information database (DB) 19. The map information DB 19 contains map information. The map information includes information about nodes such as intersections and dead ends, links connecting the nodes, and facilities including charging spots. The map information also includes location information for each node, distance information for each link, gradient information for each link, location information for each facility, etc. Note that the map information used by the navigation ECU 18 may be information obtained through communication with a server outside the vehicle, in addition to or instead of information obtained from the map information DB.

[0035] The navigation ECU 18 is connected to a position detection device 20 and a traffic information receiving device 22. The position detection device 20 receives radio waves from satellites capable of determining the vehicle's position, such as GPS satellites, and obtains the vehicle's current location based on those radio waves. Alternatively, the position detection device 20 may obtain the vehicle's current location from radio waves received from a mobile base station, etc. The position detection device 20 outputs information indicating the vehicle's current location to the navigation ECU 18.

[0036] The traffic information receiving device 22 receives road traffic information provided via FM multiplex broadcasting, etc. This road traffic information includes congestion information and road closure information. The traffic information receiving device 22 outputs the received road traffic information to the navigation ECU 18.

[0037] The navigation ECU 18 displays the route from the current location to the destination on the display 30 based on map information, the vehicle's current location obtained by the position detection device 20, the destination specified by the user, and road traffic information obtained by the traffic information receiving device 22. The navigation ECU 18 also calculates the distance of the route from the current location to the destination and the estimated time required to travel from the current location to the destination, and displays these on the display 30 as appropriate.

[0038] <ecu> This section describes in-vehicle ECUs (Electronic Control Units) such as the MG-ECU60, air conditioning ECU50, and navigation ECU18. An ECU is equipped with a processor (CPU), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory), and input / output interfaces. The processor uses RAM to perform processing according to programs and data pre-stored in the ROM and non-volatile memory, thereby enabling the ECU to perform various controls and functions.

[0039] <Connection between devices> The MG-ECU60, SOC monitoring unit 42, air conditioning ECU50, navigation ECU18, and display 30 are connected to each other via a communication bus 90. Each device connected to the communication bus 90 is configured to communicate with each other via in-vehicle network communication. The navigation ECU18 and display 30 may also be connected by a one-to-one wiring.

[0040] <Processing by the Navigation ECU> Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processes performed by the navigation ECU 18. The navigation ECU 18 executes the flow shown in Figure 3 at predetermined intervals. It is assumed that the user has specified the destination of the vehicle before the flow in Figure 3 is executed.

[0041] In S100, the navigation ECU 18 checks whether the vehicle can reach its destination in the current air conditioning mode. Specifically, the navigation ECU 18 first obtains the remaining battery charge (SOC) from the SOC monitoring unit 42. Then, the navigation ECU 18 calculates the amount of power required for driving the vehicle from the current location to the destination (details will be described later). In addition, the navigation ECU 18 calculates the amount of power required for air conditioning when the air conditioning unit 56 is operated in the currently selected air conditioning mode during the vehicle's journey from the current location to the destination (details will be described later).

[0042] The navigation ECU 18 then calculates the total power consumption, which is the sum of the power consumption for driving and the power consumption for air conditioning. The navigation ECU 18 determines that the vehicle can reach its destination if the remaining charge of the battery 40 is equal to or greater than the above total power consumption (S100: Yes). On the other hand, the navigation ECU 18 determines that the vehicle cannot reach its destination if the remaining charge of the battery 40 is less than the above total power consumption (S100: NO), and proceeds to S102.

[0043] In S102, the navigation ECU18 displays on the display 30 the points (reachable points) between the current location and the destination that the vehicle can reach with the currently selected air conditioning mode. The method for obtaining reachable points will be described later.

[0044] Figures 4 and 5 show examples of the display in S102. Figure 4(A) shows the case when the current air conditioning mode is "Standard," Figure 4(B) shows the case when it is "Eco," Figure 5(A) shows the case when it is "Minimum," and Figure 5(B) shows the case when it is "Off." Note that the map 100 displayed on the display 30 in each figure is drawn in a simplified manner. The symbols with "-1" appended to the end indicate the symbols related to the "Standard" air conditioning mode, and similarly, the symbols with "-2," "-3," and "-4" appended to the end indicate the symbols related to the "Eco," "Minimum," and "Off" air conditioning modes, respectively. In the following explanation, if it is not necessary to explain the differences in air conditioning modes, the symbols without the "-1" to "-4" appended to the end will be used.

[0045] The vehicle's instrument panel 70 includes a display 30 and a button 53 for switching between air conditioning modes. The display 30 shows a map 100 containing the current location and destination, a guidance line 102 superimposed on the map 100, a charging spot mark 106, and the remaining driving range 112. The guidance line 102 is a line from the current location to a point that the vehicle can reach in the currently selected air conditioning mode. The tip of the guidance line 102 indicates the reachable point 104. The charging spot mark 106 is a mark indicating the location of a charging spot around the reachable point 104. The charging spot represented by the charging spot mark 106 is a charging spot that the vehicle can reach in the currently selected air conditioning mode. The remaining driving range 112 is the distance the vehicle can travel in the currently selected air conditioning mode.

[0046] The display 30 also shows the current air conditioning mode 108 and an indicator 110 that shows the type of air conditioning mode. The indicator 110 is a line that represents the type of air conditioning mode by color. For example, in Figure 4(A), indicator 110-1 for the "Standard" air conditioning mode is blue, indicator 110-2 for the "Eco" air conditioning mode in Figure 4(B) is green, indicator 110-3 for the "Minimum" air conditioning mode in Figure 5(A) is yellow, and indicator 110-4 for the "Off" air conditioning mode in Figure 5(B) is red. In addition, the guide line 102 and the charging spot mark 106 are the same color as the indicator 110. In other words, for example, in the "Standard" air conditioning mode in Figure 4(A), the guide line 102-1 and the charging spot mark 106-1 are the same blue color as the indicator 110-1, and in the "Eco" air conditioning mode in Figure 4(B), the guide line 102-2 and the charging spot mark 106-2 are the same green color as the indicator 110-2. The same applies to the "Minimum" and "Off" air conditioning modes. In each figure, elements with the same hatching have the same color. This display allows the user to clearly understand the guide line 102, reachable points 104, and charging spot mark 106 corresponding to the air conditioning mode 108 (indicator 110). The colors mentioned above are just examples. In this embodiment, each element is the same color as described above, but each element may be represented by the same pattern.

[0047] As shown in the display in Figures 4 and 5, the user can see the reachable points (reachable points 104) when the air conditioning unit 14 is operated in the currently selected air conditioning mode. In addition, charging spots (charging spot marks 106) around reachable points 104 are displayed on the display 30, so the user can easily move the vehicle to a charging spot and charge the vehicle's battery.

[0048] In S104 of Figure 3, the navigation ECU 18 checks via the air conditioning ECU 50 whether the air conditioning mode switching button 53 has been pressed by the user (whether the air conditioning mode has been switched to a different mode). If S104 is Yes, the navigation ECU 18 obtains the points that the vehicle can reach in the newly selected air conditioning mode (reachable points) (S106). Then, in S102, the navigation ECU 18 displays information such as the guidance line 102, reachable points 104, and charging spot marks 106 related to the newly selected air conditioning mode on the display 30. In other words, each time the user presses the switching button 53, the display changes in the order of Figure 4(A), Figure 4(B), Figure 5(A), Figure 5(B), Figure 4(A)... This allows the user to switch air conditioning modes and understand the reachable points (driving range) in each air conditioning mode. Therefore, users can choose the air conditioning mode while considering the balance between in-car comfort and driving range.

[0049] In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 6(A), the navigation ECU 18 may display a "Show All" button 116 on the touch panel display 30. When the navigation ECU 18 receives a signal indicating that the user has touched the "Show All" button 116, it may display indicators 110 for all air conditioning modes, guidance lines 102, reachable locations 104, and charging spot marks 106 on the touch panel display 30, as shown in Figure 6(A). In this configuration as well, the user can understand the reachable locations for each air conditioning mode and the charging spots around those locations.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(B), the navigation ECU 18 may display the charging spot marker 106A of charging spots around a point reachable by the vehicle (reachable point 104-2) in the currently selected air conditioning mode ("Eco" in Figure 6(B)) using a different color or pattern than the charging spot markers 106B of other charging spots. This configuration allows the user to clearly identify the charging spot (charging spot marker 106A) corresponding to the vehicle's reachable point 104-2.

[0051] <Method for calculating the amount of electricity needed for driving> As described above, in S100 in Figure 3, the navigation ECU18 calculates the amount of power used for driving and the amount of power used for air conditioning. Here, we will explain an example of how to calculate the amount of power used for driving and the amount of power used for air conditioning in S100.

[0052] The navigation ECU18 calculates the amount of power required for driving from the current location to the destination. First, the navigation ECU18 obtains the distance of the guided route from the information of the guided route from the current location to the destination. The MG-ECU60's memory has the average power consumption of the battery 40 per certain distance (average power consumption for driving) stored in advance. The navigation ECU18 obtains the average power consumption for driving from the MG-ECU60. Then, the navigation ECU18 calculates the amount of power for driving by multiplying the distance of the guided route by the average power consumption for driving (power consumption per unit distance).

[0053] Furthermore, the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted using traffic information, including congestion levels along the route from the current location to the destination. For example, in congested areas, the frequency of accelerator and brake operations increases compared to uncongested areas, so the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted to increase in the case of congested areas. Also, if there are suburban roads on the route, there are fewer traffic lights and other obstacles than in urban areas, resulting in a lower frequency of accelerator and brake operations, so the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted to decrease in the case of suburban roads. In addition, the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted considering uphill and downhill sections along the route. That is, if there are uphill sections, the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted to increase, and if there are downhill sections, the amount of electricity used for driving may be adjusted to decrease.

[0054] <Method for calculating electricity consumption for air conditioning> The navigation ECU 18 calculates the amount of power required for air conditioning when the air conditioning unit 56 is operated in the currently selected air conditioning mode during the vehicle's journey from the current location to the destination. First, the navigation ECU 18 obtains the current power consumption of the air conditioning unit 56 (air conditioning power, power consumption in the currently selected air conditioning mode) from the air conditioning ECU 50. Then, the navigation ECU 18 obtains the time required for the vehicle to travel from the current location to the destination. Finally, the navigation ECU 18 calculates the amount of power required for air conditioning by multiplying the air conditioning power (amount of power per unit time) by the time required.

[0055] Note that the power consumption of the air conditioning unit 56 is not constant and may change over time. Generally, when the air conditioning unit 56 is in operation, the cabin temperature (indoor temperature) approaches the set temperature specified by the user, so the power consumption of the air conditioning unit 56 tends to decrease. Therefore, the amount of power consumption for air conditioning calculated above may be corrected to obtain a more accurate amount of power consumption for air conditioning. For example, a table of correction values ​​(for example, values ​​less than 1.0) linked to four conditions consisting of the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 14, the indoor temperature, the power consumption for air conditioning, and the operating time of the air conditioning unit 56 may be stored in memory in advance. The navigation ECU 18 may then obtain the correction value from the table linked to the current set temperature of the air conditioning unit 14, the indoor temperature, the power consumption for air conditioning, and the operating time (the time required for the vehicle to travel from its current location to its destination), and correct the amount of power consumption for air conditioning calculated above by multiplying it by the correction value.

[0056] Furthermore, a method for calculating the amount of power used for driving and the amount of power used for air conditioning is also disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-255686). The navigation ECU 18 may calculate the amount of power used for driving and the amount of power used for air conditioning using the method described in Patent Document 1.

[0057] <How to obtain reachable locations> As described above, at S102 in Figure 3, the navigation ECU18 acquires the points that the vehicle can reach (reachable points) with the currently selected air conditioning mode. Here, we will explain one example of how this acquisition is performed.

[0058] The navigation ECU18 first obtains the time required for the vehicle to travel from its current location to its destination. Then, the navigation ECU18 calculates the average power consumption for driving (power consumption per unit time) by dividing the power consumption for driving (power consumption required for driving from the current location to the destination) by the time required. In addition, the navigation ECU18 calculates the average power consumption for air conditioning (power consumption per unit time) by dividing the power consumption for air conditioning (power consumption required by the air conditioning system when operating in the currently selected air conditioning mode during the drive from the current location to the destination) by the time required.

[0059] The navigation ECU 18 then calculates the total average power, which is the sum of the average power for driving and the average power for air conditioning. Next, the navigation ECU 18 divides the remaining charge (SOC) of the battery 40 by the total average power (power consumption per unit time) to determine the operating time (operating time) of the electric vehicle 10. Then, the navigation ECU 18 obtains the points that the vehicle can reach within the operating time from the guidance route information as reachable points. Note that the acquisition method described here is just one example, and other methods may be used.

[0060] <Other Embodiments> In the embodiments described above, the electric vehicle 10 was a battery electric vehicle (BEV), but the electric vehicle 10 may also be a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). For example, when a PHEV is driving in EV mode (a mode in which only the electric motor is used as the power source), the navigation ECU 18 of the PHEV may display information on the display about the vehicle's reachable points and the locations of charging spots around those points, similar to the embodiments described above.

[0061] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the navigation ECU 18 performed the processing to determine the amount of power used for driving, the amount of power used for air conditioning, and the reachable locations. However, in addition to or instead of the navigation ECU 18, another computer may perform these processes.

[0062] The remaining charge (SOC) of the battery 40 used in the process described above may be the remaining charge based on 0[Ah], or it may not be. For example, the remaining charge (SOC) of the battery 40 may be the remaining charge based on the lower limit of battery capacity (a value greater than 0[Ah]) determined from the viewpoint of preventing degradation of the battery 40.

[0063] The above explains that switching the air conditioning mode changes the power consumption for air conditioning, and that the display shows information corresponding to the current air conditioning mode (such as reachable locations and charging spots). However, air conditioning modes are not a mandatory configuration. Air conditioning units can operate based on air conditioning settings such as temperature and airflow from the user, and the power consumption for air conditioning changes accordingly. Therefore, the controller may obtain the air conditioning power consumption of the air conditioning unit according to the air conditioning settings set by the user (e.g., temperature, humidity, airflow, heating / cooling, dehumidification, etc.) and display the above-mentioned information on the display (such as reachable locations and charging spots) based on that air conditioning power consumption. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 10 Electric vehicle, 12 Motor unit, 14 Air conditioning unit, 16 Navigation unit, 18 Navigation ECU (controller), 19 Map information database (Map Information DB), 20 Position detection device, 22 Traffic information receiver, 30 Touch panel display (Display), 40 Battery, 42 SOC monitoring unit, 50 Air conditioning ECU, 52 Operation panel, 53 Switching button (User operation unit), 56 Air conditioning unit main body, 57 Cooling and dehumidifying device, 58 Air heating device, 60 MG-ECU, 62 Inverter, 64 Electric motor (Motor generator, MG), 70 Instrument panel (Instrument panel), 90 Communication bus, 100 Map, 102, 102-1~102-4 Guidance lines, 104, 104-1~104-4 Reachable points (location), 106, 106-1~106-4, 106A, 106B; Charging spot marks (location of charging spots), 108, 108-1~108-4; Air conditioning mode, 110, 110-1~110-4; Indicator, 112, 112-1~112-4; Driving range, 116; Button.< / ecu>

Claims

1. A navigation device mounted on an electric vehicle comprising an electric motor as a power source, an air conditioning system capable of operating in multiple air conditioning modes including a mode with limited power load, and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor and the air conditioning system, Includes a controller that displays a navigation route on a screen from the current location to a destination specified by the user. The aforementioned controller, The total amount of power obtained is the sum of the amount of power required for driving the vehicle from the current location to the destination and the amount of power required for the air conditioning system to maintain operation in the currently selected air conditioning mode during the vehicle's journey. If the remaining charge of the battery is less than the total power, the air conditioning system will continue to operate in the currently selected air conditioning mode, and the points between the current location and the destination that the electric vehicle can reach will be superimposed on a map and displayed on the display. The aforementioned controller, The text information representing the currently selected air conditioning mode, A line positioned below the aforementioned textual information, which is an indicator that represents the currently selected air conditioning mode by color or pattern, Information superimposed on the aforementioned map, comprising a guide line from the current location to the aforementioned point, a notable charging spot mark representing charging spots around the aforementioned point, and a non-notable charging spot mark representing charging spots other than the aforementioned charging spot, Further display the above on the display, The aforementioned controller, The indicator, the guide line, and the charging spot mark of interest are displayed on the display in the same color or pattern, but with a different color or pattern from the non-noticeable charging spot mark. A navigation system for electric vehicles characterized by the following features.

2. Navigation device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, The electric vehicle is equipped with a user control unit that accepts the selection of a mode from among a plurality of air conditioning modes. A navigation system for electric vehicles characterized by the following features.

3. A navigation device for an electric vehicle according to Claim 2, The total power amount, the location, the text information, the indicator, the guide line, and the designated charging spot mark are, The first total power amount, the first location, the first character information, the first indicator, the first guide line, and the first charging spot mark, The aforementioned controller, If the user operation unit selects a different air conditioning mode that limits the power load of the air conditioning system more than the currently selected air conditioning mode, the display will show information about the different air conditioning mode instead of the first location, the first character information, the first indicator, the first guide line, and the first charging spot mark. The aforementioned controller, A second total power amount is obtained by adding the amount of power required for driving the vehicle from the current location to the destination and the amount of power required for the air conditioning system to maintain operation in the other air conditioning mode during the vehicle's journey. If the remaining charge of the battery is less than the second total power, the air conditioning system will continue to operate in the other air conditioning mode and will display on the display a second point between the current location and the destination that the electric vehicle can reach, superimposed on the map. The aforementioned controller, The second character information representing the aforementioned other air conditioning mode, A line positioned below the second character information, which is a second indicator representing the other air conditioning mode by color or pattern, Information superimposed on the aforementioned map, comprising a second guide line from the current location to the second location and a second charging spot mark representing charging spots around the second location, Further display the above on the display, The aforementioned controller, The second indicator, the second guide line, and the second charging spot mark are displayed on the display in the same color or pattern as the first indicator, the first guide line, and the first charging spot mark, with a different color or pattern from the first indicator, the first guide line, and the first charging spot mark. A navigation system for electric vehicles characterized by the following features.

4. The electric motor as a power source, An air conditioning system capable of operating in multiple air conditioning modes, including a mode with limited power load, A battery that supplies power to the electric motor and the air conditioning system, An electric vehicle comprising a navigation device having a controller that displays a guidance route from the current location to a destination specified by the user on a display, The aforementioned controller, The total amount of power obtained is the sum of the amount of power required for driving the vehicle from the current location to the destination and the amount of power required for the air conditioning system to maintain operation in the currently selected air conditioning mode during the vehicle's journey. If the remaining charge of the battery is less than the total power, the air conditioning system will continue to operate in the currently selected air conditioning mode, and the points between the current location and the destination that the electric vehicle can reach will be superimposed on a map and displayed on the display. The aforementioned controller, The text information representing the currently selected air conditioning mode, A line positioned below the aforementioned textual information, which is an indicator that represents the currently selected air conditioning mode by color or pattern, Information superimposed on the aforementioned map, comprising a guide line from the current location to the aforementioned point, a notable charging spot mark representing charging spots around the aforementioned point, and a non-notable charging spot mark representing charging spots other than the aforementioned charging spot, Further display the above on the display, The aforementioned controller, The indicator, the guide line, and the charging spot mark of interest are displayed on the display in the same color or pattern, but with a different color or pattern from the non-noticeable charging spot mark. An electric vehicle characterized by the following features.

Images