Vehicle Plug-in Advisory System for Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plug-in electric vehicles experience performance limitations due to extreme ambient temperatures, which can be exacerbated by storage in cold or hot conditions, leading to reduced battery performance and drivability.
Innovation Solution
A control system and method that includes a controller and user interface to advise drivers to plug the vehicle into an external power supply when the ambient temperature falls below or rises above predetermined thresholds, using visual and auditory cues, and illuminating the charging port light to remind drivers to charge the vehicle, thereby maintaining optimal battery performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is stored in extreme ambient temperatures, then the battery performance is limited and drivability is reduced, but the vehicle can still be operated in these conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides advance warning to the driver before extreme temperatures significantly impact battery performance. By detecting temperature thresholds and notifying the driver in advance, the system enables proactive action (plugging in the vehicle) to prevent performance degradation rather than reacting after damage occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ambient temperature and provides real-time feedback to the driver through user interface notifications. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the driver to understand current battery risk levels and take appropriate action to maintain optimal battery performance in extreme conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the driver is provided with detailed information about battery temperature and charging status, then the driver can optimize vehicle performance, but the user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides targeted, context-specific information rather than comprehensive data. Notifications are tailored to the specific situation (e.g., only warning about extreme temperatures when they actually occur), providing just enough information for the driver to take appropriate action without overwhelming them with unnecessary details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the most critical information needed for driver decision-making from the complex array of battery parameters. Instead of displaying all temperature, charge, and performance data, it selectively presents only the essential warnings and recommendations relevant to current operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Many plug-in electric vehicles include a high voltage battery for outputting electrical power to a traction motor in order to propel the vehicle. Storing a plug-in electric vehicle in cold or hot ambient temperatures can cause the high voltage battery to become performance limited. If the vehicle has a battery thermal system, then plugging in the vehicle to an external power supply when not in use can help keep the battery at a temperature where performance will not be limited. To educate a driver and increase the probability of avoiding performance limits, a user interface may convey a reminder message advising or alerting the driver to plug the vehicle in to an external power supply at the end of a drive when the ambient temperature is extreme.