Electric vehicle battery lifetime optimization operational mode
View Patent ↗A multi-mode operating system for an electric vehicle is provided, the system including means for a user to select a preferred mode of operation from a plurality of operational modes that include at least a Battery Life mode and a Standard mode, wherein the Battery Life mode is configured to select operating and charging parameters that emphasize battery health and battery life over vehicle range and/or vehicle performance. The system includes a thermal management system for maintaining the vehicle's battery pack to within any of a plurality of temperature ranges, and a charging system for charging the vehicle's battery pack to any of a plurality of minimum and maximum SOC levels and at any of a plurality of charging rates.
1. A multi-mode operating system for an electric vehicle, comprising:
a battery charging system for charging a battery pack of said electric vehicle, wherein said battery charging system charges said battery pack to any of a plurality of maximum and minimum state-of-charge (SOC) levels, and wherein said battery charging system charges said battery pack using any of a plurality of charging rates;
a thermal management system coupled to said battery pack of said electric vehicle, wherein said thermal management system maintains said battery pack to within any of a plurality of temperature ranges;
a vehicle control system coupled to said battery charging system and to said thermal management system; and
means for selecting a vehicle operating mode from a plurality of operational modes controlled by said vehicle control system, wherein said plurality of operational modes includes at least a Battery Life mode and a Standard mode, wherein said selecting means is accessible by a user of said electric vehicle, wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a first maximum SOC level during battery pack charging that is at least 10% lower than a second maximum SOC level utilized in said Standard mode, wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a first maximum charge rate and said Standard mode utilizes a second maximum charge rate that is higher than said first maximum charge rate, wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a first maximum discharge rate and said Standard mode utilizes a second maximum discharge rate that is higher than said first maximum discharge rate.
2. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said first maximum SOC level is preset at 60% or less, wherein said first maximum charge rate is preset at C/20 or less, and wherein said first maximum discharge rate is preset at 1C or less.
3. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a first minimum SOC level during battery pack charging that is at least 5% higher than a second minimum SOC level utilized in said Standard mode.
4. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a first minimum SOC level during battery pack charging that is at least 15% higher than a second minimum SOC level utilized in said Standard mode.
5. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said Battery Life mode utilizes a minimum loaded voltage set to a preset level of approximately 3.0 volts.
6. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal management system maintains said battery pack during discharge to a first temperature within a first range of temperatures when said Battery Life mode is selected, wherein said thermal management system maintains said battery pack during discharge to a second temperature within a second range of temperatures when said Standard mode is selected, and wherein said first range of temperatures is less than said second range of temperatures.
7. The multi-mode operating system of claim 6 , wherein said first range of temperatures is approximately 25° C. to 30° C., and said second range of temperatures is approximately 30° C. to 35° C.
8. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery pack temperature sensor, wherein said first maximum charge rate utilized when said Battery Life mode is selected depends on a battery pack temperature, wherein said first maximum charge rate is preset at C/20 or less if said battery pack temperature is above 10° C., and wherein said first maximum discharge rate is preset at C/50 or less if said battery pack temperature is below 10° C.
9. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein during discharge said thermal management system maintains a thermal balance between a plurality of cells comprising said battery pack within a first preset limit when said Battery Life mode is selected and within a second preset limit when said Standard mode is selected, and wherein said first preset limit is less than said second preset limit.
10. The multi-mode operating system of claim 9 , wherein said first preset limit is approximately 5° C. and said second preset limit is approximately 10° C.
11. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein during an extended charging cycle said battery charging system allows said battery pack to self-discharge to a first minimum SOC level prior to re-initiating charging when said Battery Life mode is selected and to a second minimum SOC level prior to re-initiating charging when said Standard mode is selected, wherein said first minimum SOC level is at least 25% less than said second minimum SOC level.
12. The multi-mode operating system of claim 11 , wherein said first minimum SOC level is at least 30% less than said first maximum SOC level.
13. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said selecting means is comprised of a touch-sensitive screen.
14. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said selecting means is comprised of a display system and a plurality of switching means.
15. The multi-mode operating system of claim 14 , wherein said switching means are selected from the group consisting of push-buttons, toggle switches, rotating switches and slide switches.
16. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said selecting means is comprised of a plurality of switching means.
17. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , wherein said selecting means is a voice recognition system.
18. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface in communication with a network, wherein said selecting means is a remote mode selector in communication with said network, wherein said remote mode selector is separate from said electric vehicle.
19. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , further comprising an RF communication interface, wherein said selecting means is an RF remote mode selector separate from said electric vehicle.
20. The multi-mode operating system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one mode indicator, wherein said at least one mode indicator indicates which mode of said plurality of operational modes is selected by said selecting means.