Hybrid Vehicle Drive Mode Planning for Regenerative Energy Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid vehicles face challenges in allocating suitable driving modes along a route, particularly when regenerative energy collection is expected, as the battery state of charge may reach a lower limit, making it difficult to maintain EV mode usage.

Innovation Solution

A movement support apparatus and method that dynamically set up driving modes (EV and HV) for each section of a route based on energy consumption, regenerative energy availability, and distance to the destination, prioritizing HV mode when energy is low and regenerative energy is expected, and adjusting running loads to optimize battery usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If EV mode is set up for sections with regenerative energy collection to maximize energy recovery, then regenerative energy collection efficiency is improved, but battery state of charge may reach lower limit before reaching regenerative sections, making EV mode unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregenerative energy collection efficiencyVSAvoidbattery state of charge availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of battery state of charge changes from current location to each section, and preemptively adjusts driving mode allocations before reaching regenerative sections. By predicting future battery states and working backwards, the system ensures sufficient charge reaches regenerative sections to enable EV mode, while still maximizing overall energy recovery opportunities along the route.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts driving mode allocations based on real-time battery state of charge predictions. Rather than static mode assignment, the controller continuously recalculates optimal EV/HV mode distribution considering predicted battery charge levels at each section, enabling flexible adaptation to ensure EV mode availability at regenerative sections while maximizing energy recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If EV mode is used in sections with low running load to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but battery may be depleted before sections requiring energy collection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbattery remaining amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates battery state of charge changes in advance for each section and uses these predictions to determine optimal EV mode allocation. By working backwards from destination requirements, the system ensures sufficient battery charge is maintained to reach regenerative sections, while still utilizing EV mode in appropriate low-load sections to minimize energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the allocation parameters of driving modes based on predicted battery state of charge. By adjusting which sections are assigned EV versus HV mode according to calculated battery availability, the system optimizes energy consumption while ensuring battery reliability for reaching future regenerative energy collection opportunities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If driving mode is allocated to balance total energy consumption along the entire route, then overall energy efficiency is improved, but local battery state of charge may reach lower limit before regenerative sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall energy efficiencyVSAvoidbattery state of charge at specific sections
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of battery state of charge changes for each section along the route and uses this information to adjust driving mode allocations. By predicting future battery states and working backwards from destination requirements, the system ensures sufficient charge reaches regenerative sections to enable EV mode, while still optimizing overall energy efficiency through strategic mode selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different driving mode allocations to different sections based on local conditions and predicted battery state of charge. Rather than uniform allocation, the controller optimizes EV/HV mode distribution section-by-section, ensuring local battery reliability at regenerative sections while maintaining overall energy efficiency through targeted EV mode usage in appropriate sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3060445B1Movement support apparatus and movement support method
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3060445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3060445B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3060445B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An apparatus includes an unit that plans any driving mode of an EV mode in which the motor is used as the drive source and an HV mode in which at least the engine is used as the drive source for each section, into which a route from the current location to the destination is partitioned, when a load for running in each section is set. The setup unit plans the mode using an aspect in which the HV mode is preferentially planned for a section including at least one of a current section including the current location and a section after the current section when a remaining amount of the battery is lower than a threshold of the remaining amount of the battery, and regenerative energy obtained from running load information is higher than or equal to a value determining a restoration of the remaining amount of the battery.