Method, system, and technology for preconditioning a vehicle interior
Methods, systems, and technologies for preconditioning an interior/cabin of a vehicle using a control system and an HVAC system. The preconditioning can include heating or cooling the interior/cabin to a desired temperature or temperature range, and/or maintaining the interior/cabin at the desired temperature or temperature range once reached, e.g., prior to departure/operation of an associated vehicle. The preconditioning can be initiated and/or controlled based on an estimated or selected departure time, and/or can be performed in multiple phases that use different operation of the HVAC system to manage heat transfer and power use. The preconditioning can also be adjusted based on a rate of battery charging to facilitate a desired battery charge prior to departure.
1 . A method for preconditioning an interior of an electric vehicle that includes a control system and a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the control system, an ambient temperature associated with the electric vehicle;
sending, by the control system, a signal to override a current setting of the HVAC system based at least in part on the ambient temperature; and
initiating, by the control system, preconditioning of the interior of the electric vehicle using the HVAC system, wherein the preconditioning includes:
a first phase having a first set of HVAC settings where a first output from the HVAC system is provided for a first period of time; and
a second phase having a second set of HVAC settings where a second output from the HVAC system is provided for a second period of time;
wherein the first phase is selected from a plurality of first phase preconditioning options based on the ambient temperature corresponding to a temperature band of the first phase, wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options corresponds to different ones of a plurality of temperature bands, and wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options has different values for one or more of the first set of HVAC settings.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric vehicle comprises a battery system, and wherein the preconditioning is initiated during charging of the battery system.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving, by the control system, a departure time, wherein the preconditioning is initiated by the control system based at least in part on the departure time.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving, by the control system, a departure time, wherein the preconditioning is initiated by the control system based on a time required for the HVAC system to produce a desired temperature or temperature range in the interior and the departure time.
5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, by the control system, a departure time;
receiving, by the control system, a rate of battery charging; and
adjusting a rate of heat transfer provided by the HVAC system based on the rate of battery charging and the departure time.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein adjusting the rate of heat transfer provided by the HVAC system comprises reducing a power consumption of the HVAC system to increase the rate of battery charging.
7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving, by the control system, an updated departure time; and
increasing the rate of heat transfer provided by the HVAC system based on the updated departure time and the rate of battery charging.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first output has a higher power consumption and produces a higher rate of heat transfer, and wherein the second output has a lower power consumption and produces a lower rate of heat transfer.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first output has a lower power consumption and produces a lower rate of heat transfer, and wherein the second output has a higher power consumption and produces a higher rate of heat transfer.
10 . An electric vehicle, comprising:
a battery system;
a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system; and
a control system connected to the HVAC system, wherein the control system is configured to:
obtain an ambient temperature associated with the electric vehicle;
based on the obtained ambient temperature, override one or more settings of the HVAC system including to change a blower mode setting, wherein the blower mode setting includes one of a panel mode, a bi-level mode, and a defrost mode;
initiate preconditioning of an interior of the electric vehicle using the HVAC system, wherein the preconditioning includes:
a first phase where a first output from the HVAC system is provided for a first period of time; and
a second phase where a second output from the HVAC system is provided for a second period of time; and
wherein the first phase has a first set of HVAC settings and the second phase has a second set of HVAC settings, wherein the first phase is selected from a plurality of first phase preconditioning options based on the ambient temperature corresponding to a temperature band of the first phase, wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options corresponds to different ones of a plurality of temperature bands, and wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options has different values for one or more of the first set of HVAC settings.
11 . The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the control system is configured to initiate the preconditioning during charging of the battery system.
12 . The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the control system is configured to receive a departure time and initiate the preconditioning based at least in part on the departure time.
13 . The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the control system is configured to receive a departure time, and wherein the control system is configured to initiate the preconditioning based on a time required for the HVAC system to produce a desired temperature or temperature range in the interior and the departure time.
14 . The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
receive a departure time,
receive a rate of battery charging, and
adjust a rate of heat transfer provided by the HVAC system based on the rate of battery charging and the departure time.
15 . The electric vehicle of claim 14 , wherein adjusting the rate of heat transfer provided by the HVAC system comprises reducing a power consumption of the HVAC system to increase the rate of battery charging.
16 . The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first output has a higher power consumption and produces a higher rate of heat transfer, and wherein the second output has a lower power consumption and produces a lower rate of heat transfer.
17 . The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first output has a lower power consumption and produces a lower rate of heat transfer, and wherein the second output has a higher power consumption and produces a higher rate of heat transfer.
18 . A method for re-configuring an electric vehicle for preconditioning, the electric vehicle comprising an interior, a control system, a battery system, and a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
configuring the control system to:
receive an indication of a departure time;
obtain an ambient temperature associated with the electric vehicle;
send a signal to the HVAC system to override a current setting of the HVAC system during charging of the battery system based at least in part on the indication of the departure time and the ambient temperature; and
operate the HVAC system to precondition the interior to a desired temperature or temperature range by the departure time, including to precondition in:
a first phase having a first set of HVAC settings where a first output from the HVAC system is provided for a first period of time; and
a second phase having a second set of HVAC settings where a second output from the HVAC system is provided for a second period of time;
wherein the first phase is selected from a plurality of first phase preconditioning options based on the ambient temperature corresponding to a temperature band of the first phase, wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options corresponds to different ones of a plurality of temperature bands, and wherein each of the plurality of first phase preconditioning options has different values for one or more of the first set of HVAC settings.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first set of HVAC settings includes an first blower mode setting and a first blower speed setting, and wherein the second set of HVAC settings includes a second blower mode setting and a second blower speed setting.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of HVAC settings includes an first blower mode setting and a first blower speed setting, and wherein the second set of HVAC settings includes a second blower mode setting and a second blower speed setting.
21 . The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein to override the one or more settings of the HVAC system the control system is further configured to change the blower mode setting to the defrost mode.