Range estimation for a rechargeable energy storage system of a vehicle

1. A method for estimating a range of a vehicle with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) for a current drive cycle, the method comprising:

obtaining a time of day for the current drive cycle;

determining a particular time interval corresponding to the time of day, wherein the particular time interval comprises one of a plurality of time intervals, each time interval generally associated with a respective temperature range relative to other of the plurality of time intervals;

determining an amount of energy available from the RESS;

calculating an average amount of energy used by the vehicle during a first plurality of previous drive cycles, each of the first plurality of previous drive cycles occurring during the particular time interval of a respective day; and

estimating, via a processor, the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available from the RESS and the average amount of energy used by the vehicle during the first plurality of previous drive cycles.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring a temperature outside the vehicle;

wherein the step of estimating the range for the vehicle comprises the step of estimating the range for the vehicle based on the time of day, the amount of energy available in the RESS, and the temperature outside the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the particular time interval corresponding to the time of day further comprise selecting either a daytime time interval or a nighttime time interval.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles comprises the steps of:

measuring a distance travelled by the vehicle during the first plurality of previous drive cycles;

determining a total energy usage from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles; and

calculating the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles using the distance travelled and the total energy usage.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature outside the vehicle; and

calculating an aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during a second plurality of previous drive cycles, regardless of the time of day of the drive cycles;

wherein the step of estimating the range for the RESS comprises the steps of:

estimating the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is within an expected range for the particular time interval; and

estimating the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during the second plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is not within the expected range for the particular time interval.

6. A system for estimating a range of a vehicle with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) for a current drive cycle, the system comprising:

an RESS sensor unit configured to measure one or more input values pertaining to the RESS; and

a processor coupled to the RESS sensor unit and configured to:

determine an amount of energy available from the RESS using the one or more input values;

obtain a time of day;

determine a particular time interval corresponding to the time of day, wherein the particular time interval comprises one of a plurality of time intervals, each time interval generally associated with a respective temperature range relative to other of the plurality of time intervals;

calculate an average amount of energy used from the RESS during a first plurality of previous drive cycles, each of the first plurality of previous drive cycles occurring during the particular time interval of a respective day; and

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to estimate the range for the vehicle based on the time of day, the amount of energy available in the RESS, and the temperature outside the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the particular time interval is selected from a daytime time interval and a nighttime time interval.

9. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a mileage sensor configured to measure a distance travelled by the vehicle during the first plurality of previous drive cycles;

wherein the processor is coupled to the mileage sensor and is further configured to:

determine a total energy usage from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles; and

calculate the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles using the distance travelled and the total energy usage.

10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the vehicle;

wherein the processor is coupled to the temperature sensor and is further configured to:

calculate an aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during a second plurality of previous drive cycles, regardless of the time of day of the drive cycles;

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is within an expected range for the particular time interval; and

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during the second plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is not within the expected range for the particular time interval.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a drive system including a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS); and

an estimation system coupled to the RESS and configured to estimate a range for the vehicle, the estimation system comprising:

a sensor unit configured to measure one or more input values pertaining to the RESS; and

a processor coupled to the sensor unit and configured to:

determine an amount of energy available for the RESS using the one or more input values;

obtain a time of day;

determine a particular time interval corresponding to the time of day, wherein the particular time interval comprises one of a plurality of time intervals, each time interval generally associated with a respective temperature range relative to other of the plurality of time intervals;

calculate an average amount of energy used from the RESS during a first plurality of previous drive cycles, each of the first plurality of previous drive cycles occurring during the particular time interval of a respective day; and

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the amount of energy available and the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the estimation system further comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to estimate the range for the vehicle based on the time of day, the amount of energy available, and the temperature outside the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the estimation system further comprises:

a mileage sensor configured to measure a distance travelled by the vehicle during the first plurality of previous drive cycles;

wherein the processor is coupled to the mileage sensor and is further configured to:

determine a total energy usage from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles; and

calculate the average amount of energy used from the RESS during the first plurality of previous drive cycles using the distance travelled and the total energy usage.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the estimation system further comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate an aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during a second plurality of previous drive cycles, regardless of the time of day of the drive cycles;

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the time of day, the amount of energy available, and the average amount of energy used from the RESS during for the first plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is within an expected range for the particular time interval; and

estimate the range for the vehicle based on the time of day, the amount of energy available in the RESS, and the aggregate average amount of energy used from the RESS during the second plurality of previous drive cycles, if the temperature is not within the expected range for the particular time interval.