IP Library Granted Patent US 10,093,303
Granted Patent B2
US 10,093,303 · App. 12/858,112 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Method and system for determining a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle expected drive range

Inventors: Duane M. Grider (Farmington Hills, MI); Bruce Carvell Blakemore (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60W20/11B60W10/06B60W10/08B60W20/00B60W2050/146B60W2510/244B60W2560/02Y02T10/6269Y02T10/6286Y02T90/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,093,303
App. No.
12/858,112
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle may include an engine and electric machine each configured to generate motive power for the vehicle, a battery configured to store energy for the electric machine, and a tank configured to store fuel for the engine. The vehicle may further include one or more controllers configured to determine a vehicle drive range based on an amount of fuel in the tank and an available charge depletion energy in the battery.

Claims (17)

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine and electric machine each configured to generate motive power for the vehicle;

a battery configured to store energy for the electric machine;

a tank configured to store fuel for the engine; and

one or more controllers configured to output a vehicle drive range based on output from a first sensor related to an available charge depletion energy in the battery for operating in charge depleting mode and output from a second sensor related to an amount of fuel in the tank.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the available charge depletion energy in the battery is based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at a state of charge approximately equal to the battery's charge depleting lower threshold.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the output is further based on an efficiency associated with converting electrical power to mechanical power and an efficiency associated with converting fuel power to mechanical power.

4. A method for advising a driver of a vehicle including a battery and fuel tank comprising:

outputting, by at least one controller, a drive range based on output from sensors related to a gasoline consumption rate for a drive cycle of the vehicle, an equivalent gasoline consumption rate for the drive cycle, an amount of fuel in the fuel tank, and an available charge depletion energy in the battery for operating in charge depleting mode.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the available charge depletion energy in the battery is based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at state of charge approximately equal to the battery's charge depleting lower threshold.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the equivalent gasoline consumption rate for the drive cycle is further based on an efficiency associated with converting electrical power to mechanical power.

7. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a fuel tank; and

one or more controllers configured to output an expected drive range of the vehicle based on output from a first sensor related to an available charge depletion energy in the battery for operating in charge depleting mode and output from a second sensor related to an amount of fuel in the fuel tank.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the available charge depletion energy in the battery is based on a difference between an energy content of the battery at a current state of charge and an energy content of the battery at a state of charge approximately equal to the battery's charge depleting lower threshold.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the output is further based on an efficiency associated with converting electrical power to mechanical power and an efficiency associated with converting fuel power to mechanical power.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 12, 2018
From: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 046530/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2010
From: GRIDER, DUANE M.; BLAKEMORE, BRUCE CARVELL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 024862/0244 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61234958 · Aug 18, 2009
Provisional Application 61329915 · Apr 30, 2010
Related Publication 20110046834A1 · Feb 24, 2011