Electric Work Vehicle Power Control for Low-Battery Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric work vehicles face the risk of power depletion during movement, necessitating cumbersome towing or charging arrangements when the power storage is exhausted, unlike internal combustion engine vehicles which can be refueled on the spot.
Innovation Solution
An electric work vehicle with a controller that switches between first and second control modes based on power remaining, reducing motor power consumption in the second mode when the power is low, allowing safe travel to a charging location without depleting the power storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the driver continues work after being informed of the end time, then the work can be completed, but the power storage may be depleted during movement requiring cumbersome towing or charging arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary action by detecting the remaining power amount before the power storage is depleted, and proactively switches from first control to second control to reduce power consumption. This prevents the adverse effect of power depletion during movement, allowing the vehicle to complete work and travel to charging location without requiring towing arrangements.
2Reliability
If the controller reduces power consumption in second control, then the vehicle can travel to charging location without depleting power, but the work output is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically switches between first control and second control based on the detected remaining power amount. When power is sufficient, first control maintains normal work output. When power falls below the threshold, the controller transitions to second control with reduced power consumption, enabling reliable travel to charging location. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining productivity and ensuring power supply reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric work vehicle includes a power storage to store power, a motor to drive at least either a travel device or a work device by consuming the power stored in the power storage, a remaining amount detector to detect a remaining amount of power suppliable by the power storage, and a controller configured or programmed to switch between a first control to control driving of the motor in response to a remaining amount value indicative of the remaining amount being greater than a preset threshold, and a second control to control driving of the motor so that power consumption of the motor is smaller than in the first control in response to the remaining amount value being less than or equal to the threshold.