EV Motor Torque Profiles for Low-Energy Acceleration Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle acceleration systems, particularly in stop-and-go traffic, are not optimized for energy efficiency, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced driving range.

Innovation Solution

An electric vehicle acceleration control system that utilizes a vehicle control module to generate and implement low energy torque profiles based on pre-calculated, vehicle-specific torque profiles, adjusting torque settings based on road conditions, driver inputs, and vehicle attributes to minimize energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional acceleration control is used in stop-and-go traffic, then the vehicle can respond to driver input, but energy consumption increases and driving range decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddriving range

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores optimal torque profiles for various acceleration scenarios before actual driving. When acceleration is needed, the controller retrieves the pre-computed profile matching current conditions (speed, temperature, road grade) and executes it, avoiding real-time computation delays and ensuring optimal energy efficiency from the start of each acceleration event

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects torque profiles based on real-time vehicle conditions including battery temperature, state of charge, ambient temperature, and road grade. The controller adjusts which pre-calculated profile to use and modifies torque values to match actual operating conditions, ensuring optimal energy efficiency across varying driving scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If torque is increased to improve acceleration performance, then acceleration speed increases, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceleration speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes torque parameters dynamically during acceleration based on the vehicle's current speed and the optimal energy efficiency curve. The controller commands torque values that vary with speed, applying higher torque at lower speeds where it's most effective for acceleration, then gradually reducing torque as speed increases, matching the physics of efficient acceleration while maintaining performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies torque in controlled periodic increments during acceleration rather than maintaining constant high torque. The controller adjusts torque levels at different speed intervals, applying force when most effective and allowing brief periods of reduced torque, creating a rhythm of acceleration that improves energy efficiency while maintaining overall acceleration performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If multiple torque profiles are stored for different conditions, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores optimal torque profiles for various acceleration scenarios before actual driving. When acceleration is needed, the controller retrieves the pre-computed profile matching current conditions (speed, temperature, road grade) and executes it, avoiding real-time computation delays and ensuring optimal energy efficiency from the start of each acceleration event

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes torque parameters dynamically during acceleration based on the vehicle's current speed and the optimal energy efficiency curve. The controller commands torque values that vary with speed, applying higher torque at lower speeds where it's most effective for acceleration, then gradually reducing torque as speed increases, matching the physics of efficient acceleration while maintaining performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12552266B2Electric motor torque control for electric vehicles

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An electric vehicle acceleration control system includes an electric motor configured to drive wheels of an electric vehicle, a steering wheel configured to steer the wheels of the electric vehicle, an acceleration paddle adjacent the steering wheel, and a vehicle control module configured to, in response to detecting activation of the acceleration paddle, set a target speed value, determine an average acceleration value to reach the target speed value, obtain a stored torque profile according to the target speed value and the average acceleration value, the stored torque profile including a specified torque value for each of multiple speed breakpoints, and control the electric motor by commanding the specified torque value at each of the multiple speed breakpoints.