Hybrid Vehicle Control Device Optimizing EV Mode via Dynamic Battery Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid vehicles, the frequent warming up of the internal combustion engine's catalyst during EV mode transitions leads to excessive fuel consumption and reduced fuel efficiency, as existing systems do not account for catalyst warm-up fuel consumption when selecting driving modes.
Innovation Solution
A control device that divides routes into sections and sets driving modes to EV mode to minimize catalyst warm-up, adjusting battery state of charge thresholds to maintain optimal EV mode usage and reduce catalyst warm-up events, particularly by lowering the lower limit value for EV routes closest to the final destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the EV mode selection ratio is increased to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the number of catalyst warm-up events increases causing fuel consumption to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of catalyst temperature at each via point before finalizing the driving mode selection. By predicting the catalyst temperature in advance based on the planned driving mode sequence, the system can identify routes that would cause excessive warm-up events and adjust the EV mode selection accordingly, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by calculating the predicted catalyst temperature at via points and using this information to adjust the driving mode selection. The catalyst temperature calculation serves as a feedback parameter that influences the optimal EV mode selection, creating a closed-loop control system that balances fuel efficiency with catalyst maintenance requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lower limit value of battery state of charge is maintained at a high level to ensure EV mode operation, then EV mode availability is improved, but the battery capacity utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lower limit value of battery state of charge is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the lower limit value based on the selected driving mode and route characteristics. When EV mode is selected for a route section, the lower limit value is set higher to ensure sufficient battery capacity. When HEV mode is selected, the lower limit value is reduced to maximize battery capacity utilization. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both EV mode availability and battery capacity usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device of a hybrid vehicle 1, 1′ comprises a driving plan generating part 61 setting a driving mode, an output control part 62 controlling outputs of the internal combustion engine 40 and the motor 16, and a lower limit value setting part 63 setting a lower limit value of a state of charge of the battery. The driving plan generating part divides a plurality of routes into pluralities of sections, and sets driving modes of all sections of at least one route to an EV mode. If an actual state of charge of the battery becomes lower than the lower limit value, the output control part changes the driving mode so that the actual state of charge is maintained or becomes higher. The lower limit value setting part lowers the lower limit value at an EV route, compared with a non-EV route other than the EV route.