Hybrid Vehicle Prep-Zone Control for Zero-Emission Geographic Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hybrid electric vehicles do not automatically adjust to operate within geographic areas with specific noise and zero emissions requirements, limiting their range and risking non-compliance due to human error.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system equipped with a control system and cloud computing that analyzes routes and determines operational requirements, creating a prep zone to charge the battery and switch to electric mode before entering restricted areas, ensuring compliance with noise and emissions regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operation is used to ensure compliance with operational requirements, then the vehicle can operate in restricted zones, but human error risks non-compliance and limits the vehicle's range
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors the vehicle's location, determines operational requirements for upcoming geographic zones, manages battery charging in prep zones, and switches powertrain modes without driver intervention. The system serves itself by using its own sensors, processors, and actuators to ensure compliance, eliminating reliance on manual driver actions while maintaining high reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle operates without automated preparation for geographic zones, then the system remains simple, but the vehicle range is limited and compliance at risk
Solution Approach 1:
The control system identifies upcoming geographic zones with operational requirements and creates prep zones before the vehicle enters them. During these prep zones, the system automatically charges the battery system and configures the powertrain for compliance with the upcoming zone's requirements. This preliminary preparation ensures the vehicle has sufficient electrical energy and correct mode settings before entering restricted areas, enhancing adaptability without requiring complex real-time decisions during zone transitions.
3Reliability
If the battery system is not pre-charged before entering restricted zones, then energy consumption is optimized for overall range, but the vehicle cannot comply with zero emissions or noise requirements in restricted zones
Solution Approach 1:
The route is divided into segments including prep zones and geographic zones with operational requirements. The control system segments energy management by charging the battery system specifically during prep zone segments rather than continuously. This segmentation allows the vehicle to accumulate sufficient electrical energy in battery-powered segments (prep zones) to ensure compliance during restricted zone segments, while maintaining overall energy efficiency by not charging at maximum rate throughout the entire journey.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of preparing a vehicle for operation in a geographic zone having an operational requirement are disclosed that include determining a route for the vehicle, determining whether a geographic zone having an operational requirement exists on the route, and determining a powertrain configuration that includes a minimum state of charge (SoC) for a battery system of the vehicle based on the route data, the vehicle data, and/or the external data. The minimum SoC ensures that the vehicle can travel through the geographic zone while complying with the operational requirement. The systems and methods disclosed herein also include identifying a preparation zone for each geographic zone having an operational requirement and operating the vehicle through the preparation zone to ensure the battery system achieves the minimum SoC prior to entering the geographic zone having the operational requirement.