Hybrid Vehicle Mode Control for Low-Emission Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric vehicles face inefficiencies in mode switching between charge depleting (CD) and charge sustaining (CS) modes, particularly in low-emission zones, where engine operation is minimized to reduce exhaust emissions, but existing methods fail to optimize energy efficiency based on route-specific conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling hybrid electric vehicle mode transitions using route information to detect specific low-emission areas and calculate the energy required to travel through these areas, determining whether the vehicle can operate in CD mode based on battery state, and setting charging sections to ensure efficient energy use and minimize engine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the vehicle operates in CD mode to minimize engine operation and reduce exhaust emissions in low-emission zones, then exhaust emissions are reduced, but the vehicle may run out of battery charge before completing the route
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of energy required to travel through low-emission zones before making mode transition decisions. The controller calculates the energy consumption for CD mode operation in advance, compares it with current battery charge state, and determines whether to maintain CD mode or switch to HEV mode to ensure the vehicle can complete the route without running out of charge.
2Reliability
If the vehicle switches to HEV mode to ensure sufficient battery charge for the entire route, then battery charge sufficiency is maintained, but exhaust emissions increase due to engine operation in low-emission zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates energy requirements in advance for low-emission zones and compares them with available battery charge. This preliminary assessment enables the controller to make informed mode transition decisions that balance emission reduction goals with the constraint of maintaining sufficient charge to complete the route.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts driving mode based on real-time battery charge state and route characteristics. The controller can switch between CD mode and HEV mode at optimal points along the route, allowing the vehicle to minimize emissions when battery charge is sufficient and switch to HEV mode when charge levels indicate risk of depletion.
3Productivity
If the vehicle calculates energy requirements and dynamically switches between CD and HEV modes based on battery charge state, then both emission reduction and charge sufficiency are optimized, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller calculates energy requirements in advance for upcoming low-emission zones using stored route information and vehicle parameters. This preliminary calculation simplifies real-time control decisions by providing pre-computed energy consumption data that can be directly compared with current battery charge state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing vehicle sensors and onboard storage to gather necessary information for energy calculations, eliminating the need for external calculation services. The controller autonomously performs energy consumption calculations and mode transition decisions based on integrated data from vehicle sensors and navigation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises calculating, for a low-emission area on the vehicle's current travel, a first energy to travel the low-emission area in a first driving mode, determining whether the hybrid vehicle is capable of traveling the low-emission area in the first driving mode using current energy of a vehicle battery, and when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is incapable of traveling the low-emission area in the first driving mode using current energy of the vehicle batter, initiating a battery charging operation before the vehicle enters the emission-restricted area.