EV Battery Emergency Mode for Range Extension Under Estimation Error
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles have a limited range due to the capacity of their energy accumulators, and the limited number of public charging stations increases the risk that the vehicle may not reach its destination, necessitating manual interventions by the driver.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize an electronic control unit to continuously estimate the state of charge of the high-voltage battery, display the remaining range to the driver, and automatically activate an emergency mode to temporarily lower the cell voltage limit, thereby increasing the usable range without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the energy accumulator is operated in the standard operating mode within the intended fill level range, then the service life of the energy accumulator is preserved, but the range of the electric vehicle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between standard operating mode and capacity-increasing operating mode based on detected conditions. The fill level reserve is normally excluded but can be temporarily included when specific conditions are met, creating a dynamic adjustment of the usable fill level range that balances service life preservation with range extension when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the energy accumulator by temporarily allowing operation in the fill level reserve (below minimally permissible fill level or above maximally permissible fill level) when specific conditions are detected. This parameter change enables range extension while maintaining service life protection through conditional activation.
2Length of moving object
If the fill level reserve of the energy accumulator is utilized to increase the range, then the range of the electric vehicle is extended, but the service life of the energy accumulator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary protective action by detecting specific conditions (such as ambient temperature, driver behavior patterns, or charging opportunities) before allowing operation in the fill level reserve. This preliminary detection and condition-checking prevents premature or inappropriate activation that would unnecessarily reduce service life, while still enabling range extension when truly needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously determines when to activate the capacity-increasing operating mode based on detected conditions without requiring manual driver input. The electronic control unit automatically assesses whether the benefits of extended range outweigh the costs to service life, and makes the decision to utilize the fill level reserve independently.
3Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required to activate the capacity-increasing operating mode, then the driver has control over energy accumulator usage, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-assessment of the operational conditions and automatically activates the capacity-increasing operating mode when predefined conditions are met. The electronic control unit monitors relevant parameters and independently decides when range extension is appropriate, eliminating the need for manual driver intervention while maintaining safe operation through programmed condition checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters and uses this feedback to automatically determine when to activate the emergency mode. The electronic control unit processes real-time data about battery state, environmental conditions, and vehicle operation to make automated decisions about utilizing the fill level reserve, creating a closed-loop control system that balances range needs with service life protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for increasing the range of an electric vehicle. A control unit estimates a remaining range of the high-voltage battery based on a state-of-charge of the high-voltage battery. The remaining range is displayed on a display. If the control unit determines, during driving in the normal mode, that the remaining range results from an estimation error that over-estimates the remaining range, then without correcting the remaining range displayed, the control unit automatically switches the electric vehicle from a normal mode to an emergency mode in which a cell voltage below a first cell voltage limit is useable by the electric motor. The cell voltage below the first cell voltage limit is not useable by the electric vehicle in the normal mode. The first cell voltage limit is associated with a lower state-of-charge limit at which the remaining range is displayed as a no-remaining-range indicator.