Hybrid Vehicle Battery Discharge Coefficient Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy control methods for hybrid vehicles are inadequate when driving conditions deviate from initial planned conditions, leading to unsuitable battery charge levels due to unforeseen factors like rapid acceleration or route variations, causing inefficiencies in energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method that periodically evaluates the actual discharge coefficient of batteries, remaining trip distance, and available charge level to calculate a new target discharge coefficient, ensuring the vehicle reaches the end of the trip with a minimum charge level, dynamically adjusting energy distribution between electric and thermal sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a constant theoretical consumption is calculated based on initial route planning, then energy distribution can be optimized for the planned route, but the control method becomes unsuitable when driving conditions deviate from the plan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption optimizationVSAvoidadaptability to changing driving conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the theoretical consumption value by periodically recalculating it based on actual battery charge level measurements and remaining route distance. Instead of using a fixed constant, the system continuously updates the theoretical consumption to reflect current driving conditions, allowing the control method to adapt to unplanned route modifications, varying traffic conditions, or changes in vehicle load while maintaining energy optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the battery charge level is allowed to vary freely according to actual driving conditions, then the vehicle can respond to unexpected situations, but the final charge level may fall below the minimum required level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse to unexpected driving situationsVSAvoidminimum charge level guarantee
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the actual battery charge level and compares it against the theoretically expected charge level calculated from the updated theoretical consumption. When the actual charge level deviates from the theoretical value, the control unit adjusts energy distribution to correct the deviation, ensuring the vehicle returns to the expected charge trajectory. This feedback mechanism guarantees that the minimum final charge level is maintained while allowing temporary flexibility for unexpected driving situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the theoretical consumption is regularly updated to match actual conditions, then the energy control remains suitable for the remaining route, but additional calculations and measurements are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuitability for remaining routeVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses readily available vehicle sensors and existing control unit capabilities to perform the recalculation of theoretical consumption. The control unit leverages data already being collected for other vehicle functions (battery charge level, route distance, driving conditions) to automatically update the theoretical consumption without requiring additional dedicated measurement devices or complex external systems. This self-service approach maintains adaptability while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2758292B1Method for monitoring the electric energy supplied by hybrid vehicle batteries
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2758292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2758292B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2758292B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for monitoring the electric energy supplied by batteries (4) for the propulsion of a hybrid vehicle, wherein the estimated remaining distance of a journey and the available charge of said batteries are taken into account in order to calculate a desired discharge coefficient of said batteries, which is transmitted to a distribution function of the torque setting (18) between the electric motorization (28) and a propulsion heat engine (24), characterized in that it makes an assessment periodically along the journey, according to the real discharge coefficient of the last period, the remaining distance of the journey and the available charge, in order to calculate in each instance a new target discharge coefficient making it possible, while remaining consistent, to reach the end of the journey with a final minimum charge.