EV Battery Power Limiting Strategy for Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in managing battery state of charge to prevent damage from overcharging or deep discharging, leading to limited operational range and potential battery degradation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes a controller to monitor battery state of charge and power limits, disabling climate control systems and reducing battery power when the state of charge falls below a certain threshold to extend the vehicle's operational range by limiting power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery operates within a strict discharge limit (e.g., 20% BSOC) to prevent damage, then battery reliability is improved, but the vehicle's travel range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the discharge limit adaptive rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the discharge limit based on real-time battery conditions (temperature, charge rate, age) and vehicle operational context (climate control needs, driving conditions). This allows the system to safely extend operation below the traditional 20% BSOC threshold when conditions permit, thereby increasing travel range while maintaining battery reliability through context-aware monitoring and adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If climate control systems remain operational at low battery state of charge, then passenger comfort is improved, but battery power consumption increases and travel range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively maintaining climate control functionality rather than fully disabling it at low BSOC. The controller prioritizes essential climate functions (such as defrosting for safety) while reducing or disabling non-essential functions (such as heating or cooling). This partial maintenance of climate control preserves critical passenger comfort and safety while significantly reducing battery power consumption compared to full operation, thereby extending travel range.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the battery power limit is reduced to an intermediate power limit when BSOC is low, then travel range is extended, but vehicle propulsion power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the power limit adjustment contextual rather than absolute. The controller dynamically determines the intermediate power limit based on battery conditions, vehicle mass, terrain, and driving conditions. This allows the system to maintain higher power output when conditions permit (such as on flat terrain or with light loads) while still extending travel range through adaptive power management, rather than imposing a fixed power reduction that would unnecessarily limit vehicle performance.
Data Source
AI summary
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.