Vehicle Battery SOC Target Switching for Generator Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicles face challenges in maintaining battery state of charge during transit to ensure sufficient power for auxiliary loads at a destination, as existing systems often deplete the battery during travel, limiting the ability to use battery power for external loads.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle is equipped with a controller that switches from a baseline state of charge target to a higher target when approaching a destination, activating a battery-saver mode to charge the traction battery, ensuring it remains at a high state of charge, and includes a human-machine interface and navigation system to optimize routing and charging based on user input for generator mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle uses battery power during transit, then the battery state of charge decreases, but the ability to power auxiliary loads at the destination is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging action during transit by switching to a higher SOC target before reaching the destination. The controller proactively charges the battery during the travel phase so that sufficient charge is available when the vehicle arrives and needs to power auxiliary loads, thus resolving the contradiction between energy consumption during transit and energy availability at destination.
2Reliability
If the vehicle switches to a higher SOC target during transit, then the battery remains charged for auxiliary loads, but energy is consumed during charging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the SOC target based on the vehicle's operational context. During transit, the controller switches to a higher SOC target to ensure battery availability for auxiliary loads at the destination. The HMI provides different SOC targets for transit mode versus auxiliary load mode, allowing the system to optimize energy management dynamically rather than using a fixed target.
3Quantity of substance
If the vehicle uses engine power during transit, then the battery can be maintained at high charge, but the vehicle loses the ability to operate in electric mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple power sources (battery and engine) into a unified power management system that can operate in multiple modes. The controller can switch between electric mode and engine mode, or combine both, depending on the selected HMI mode and battery charge levels. This multi-functionality allows the vehicle to maintain battery charge through engine operation when needed while still preserving the capability to operate in electric mode when the battery has sufficient charge.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine selectively coupled to the engine, a traction battery, an electrical outlet, and first and second power inverters. The first power inverter is configured to transfer power between the traction battery and the electric machine. The second power inverter is configured to transfer power between the traction battery and the electrical outlet. A human-machine interface (HMI) has a selectable option indicative of a user's desire to use the electrical outlet at a next destination. A controller of the vehicle includes a processor and memory having stored therein a first battery state of charge (SOC) target and a second battery SOC target that is greater than the first SOC target. The controller is programmed to, in response to the selectable option being selected, switch from the first SOC target to the second SOC target and command charging of the traction battery responsive to a measured battery SOC being less than the second target.