EV Tow-Mode Activation From Malfunction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles often require manual activation of 'tow-mode' to prevent damage during towing, which can be overlooked by users, especially in vehicles without a human-machine interface, leading to potential driveline damage and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and module for automatically identifying the need for tow-mode activation by comparing malfunction data with pre-defined criteria, determining if the vehicle needs to be towed, and activating the necessary disconnections to protect the drivetrain, thereby ensuring the vehicle is in a safe state for towing without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual activation of tow-mode is required, then the user can activate it when needed, but the user may overlook it leading to driveline damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects malfunction data and determines whether tow-mode activation is needed without requiring user knowledge or action. The control unit autonomously compares malfunction data against predefined criteria and activates tow-mode when necessary, making the system self-protecting rather than relying on user awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors malfunction data from the vehicle and provides automatic feedback by comparing it against predefined criteria. When the criteria indicate tow-mode is needed, the system responds by activating the appropriate mode, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures driveline protection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual activation interface is provided, then user can activate tow-mode, but vehicles without HMI cannot activate it
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for any user interaction by automatically detecting malfunctions and activating tow-mode when needed. This self-service approach works universally across all vehicle types regardless of whether they have HMI interfaces, making the system adaptable to diverse vehicle configurations while ensuring activation capability is always available.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic detection and activation system functions universally across different vehicle types (those with and without HMI interfaces). The control unit's ability to autonomously determine tow-mode activation needs makes the system versatile and applicable to all electric vehicles regardless of their interface capabilities.
3Extent of automation
If automatic identification is implemented, then user intervention is eliminated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit leverages existing malfunction data already present in the vehicle's diagnostic system to automatically determine tow-mode activation needs. By reusing existing data infrastructure and adding logical comparison against predefined criteria, the system achieves high automation without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses predefined criteria that are established in advance, containing all the logic needed to determine when tow-mode activation is required. This preliminary preparation of decision-making rules allows the automatic identification to proceed with simple data comparison rather than complex real-time analysis.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for identifying a need of a tow-mode activation in an electric vehicle, the tow-mode being a state of the electric vehicle in which the electric vehicle is suitable for being towed. The method comprises obtaining a first data indicative of a malfunction of the electric vehicle, determining whether the first data corresponds to a second data indicative of a malfunction requiring tow-mode activation, and providing a signal indicative of the need of the tow-mode activation, when the first data corresponds to the second data. The disclosure also relates to a module for identifying a need of a tow-mode activation in an electric vehicle and a battery electric vehicle comprising a battery, an electric motor, a drivetrain and a module for identifying a need of a tow-mode activation.