Electric Vehicle Motor Control Method for Smooth Acceleration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle control systems face issues with constant braking and speed regulation, leading to unreliable and load-dependent driving behavior, as torque control sets torque to zero at the 'zero' accelerator position, causing coasting and inability to maintain constant speed, and speed control results in overshoots and uneven acceleration/deceleration.

Innovation Solution

A method that combines torque and speed control, switching between states based on a speed threshold, using non-linear torque control for large speed deviations and aperiodic speed control when close to target speed, with proportional and integral components for smooth transitions, ensuring continuous acceleration and braking without overshoots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If torque control is used with accelerator pedal position mapping to target torque, then the control system implementation is simple and continuous acceleration is achieved, but permanent recuperation of braking energy is not possible and constant speed maintenance requires continuous driver correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system implementation simplicityVSAvoiddriving behavior reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adapts its behavior based on vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position. At low speeds, it provides torque control for responsive acceleration, while at higher speeds it transitions to speed control for maintaining constant speed and enabling reliable recuperation, thus combining simplicity with reliability through dynamic adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes control parameters (switching between torque control and speed control modes) based on operating conditions. The control mode transitions from torque-based at low speeds to speed-based at high speeds, allowing the system to optimize performance and reliability for different driving scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If speed control is used to maintain constant speed, then constant speed maintenance is possible, but overshoots occur during acceleration and deceleration leading to non-uniform transition processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstant speed maintenance capabilityVSAvoidtransition process smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the control mode based on the magnitude of speed deviation. For small deviations near target speed, it uses speed control to maintain precision. For large deviations during acceleration/deceleration, it switches to torque control for smoother, overshoot-free transitions, thus maintaining both constant speed capability and transition smoothness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically monitors speed deviation and switches control modes accordingly. When deviation exceeds a threshold, it transitions from speed control to torque control to prevent overshoot, then switches back when deviation is reduced, creating a periodic adaptation that ensures smooth transitions while maintaining constant speed capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of energy

If accelerator pedal is reset to zero position for coasting, then energy recuperation should occur, but torque is set to zero causing undefined rolling behavior especially on downhill gradients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking energy recuperationVSAvoidcoasting behavior predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of setting torque to zero for coasting (which causes undefined behavior), the system inverts the approach by using speed control with a non-zero target speed even when the accelerator pedal is at zero position. This maintains predictable coasting behavior and enables reliable energy recuperation by keeping the motor in generating mode with controlled speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2705977B1Control method for electric vehicles
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 LINDE MATERIAL HANDLING GMBH
  • EP2705977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2705977B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2705977B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The method involves performing torque control in which position of driving signal generator is associated with target torque of traction drive motor (17) in primary operating state (25), \and speed control in which position of driving signal generator is associated with target rotation speed of drive motor in secondary operating state (26). The control of drive motor is performed in primary operating state when deviation of target rotation speed to actual speed of vehicle drive motor is greater than threshold value and otherwise, drive motor is regulated in secondary operating mode.