EV Distance-to-Empty Prediction Using Dynamic Mass Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles (EVs) struggle to accurately predict the distance-to-empty (DTE) due to the lack of consideration for the vehicle's weight changes during cargo loading or unloading, leading to reduced driver confidence in the provided information.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that estimate the vehicle's mass changes while running, calculate driving energy consumption based on past-learned data and current conditions, and update the displayed DTE accordingly, taking into account factors like reducer efficiency, motor torque, running load, vehicle speed, and road gradient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional EV predicts DTE without considering vehicle weight changes, then the prediction method is simple, but the prediction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the energy consumption model based on vehicle mass variations. When cargo is loaded or unloaded, the system detects mass changes and modifies the energy consumption parameters accordingly, allowing accurate DTE prediction across different vehicle loading conditions without requiring a completely new prediction system
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual energy consumption and comparing it with predicted consumption. The mass detection system provides feedback on cargo loading status, which is then fed back into the DTE calculation algorithm to adjust predictions in real-time, improving accuracy while maintaining system simplicity
2Measurement precision
If vehicle mass estimation is added to DTE calculation, then DTE prediction accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mass detection system that specifically measures cargo mass changes. This intermediary component bridges the gap between simple vehicle operation and complex DTE calculation by providing a dedicated mass measurement interface, thereby improving prediction accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the DTE calculation process into distinct modules: mass detection module, energy consumption calculation module, and DTE prediction module. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, with the mass detection module handling only cargo mass changes rather than entire vehicle mass, thus improving accuracy while controlling complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for displaying a distance to empty of a vehicle includes a controller configured to: estimate a mass of the vehicle, which increases or decreases while the vehicle is running; to calculate a driving energy consumption using a past-learned energy consumption based on a mass level corresponding to the increase or decrease in mass of the vehicle while the vehicle is running, and a current energy consumption of the vehicle; to calculate the distance to empty of the vehicle based on the driving energy consumption; to determine whether to update the distance to empty displayed on a display based on the mass level while the vehicle is running; and to update display information on the display based on the distance to empty.