IP Library Granted Patent US 10,000,129
Granted Patent B2
US 10,000,129 · App. 14/800,095 · Granted Jun 19, 2018

Electric vehicle charging via grid and engine

Inventors: Brock Dunlap (Plymouth, MI); Karin Lovett (Novi, MI); Bryan Michael Bolger (Canton, MI); William David Treharne (Ypsilanti, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60L11/1816Y02T10/7005Y02T10/7088Y02T10/92
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,000,129
App. No.
14/800,095
Granted
Jun 19, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes an engine, a traction battery, a generator coupled to the engine and battery, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, in response to a current flowing from a battery charge station to the battery being less than a maximum charge current, a selection of a fast charge mode, and a temperature of the engine being less than a predetermined temperature, operate the engine to generate a supplemental current to charge the battery.

Claims (27)

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a traction battery; and

a controller configured to,

responsive to battery charge current from a battery charge station being less than a maximum charge current while the vehicle is parked and in fast charge mode, operate the engine to generate current to increase a charge rate of the battery, and

responsive to a signal indicative of a future route expected to traverse a green zone, inhibit operation of the engine.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a temperature of the engine exceeding a predetermined temperature.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate a cooling fan for the engine when the engine is rotating.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to a temperature of the engine being greater than a predetermined temperature, activate a cooling fan at a speed greater than a standard speed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a level of carbon monoxide in an area proximate to the vehicle being greater than a predetermined concentration.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a vehicle location being indoors.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a charge duration defined by a difference in an expected start time of the future route and a current time being less than a time to charge the battery with the charge current.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery charge station is an inductive charge station.

9. A powertrain control module for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a controller configured to,

responsive to selection of a fast charge mode and flow of electric charge from a battery charge station to a traction battery, operate an engine to drive a generator to generate current to increase a rate of charge of the battery, and

responsive to a signal indicative of a future route expected to traverse a green zone, inhibit operation of the engine.

10. The module of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a temperature of the engine exceeding a predetermined temperature.

11. The module of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a vehicle location being indoors.

12. The module of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to inhibit operation of the engine responsive to a charge duration defined by a difference in an expected start time of the future route and a current time being less than a time to charge the battery with the charge current.

13. The module of claim 9 , wherein the battery charge station is an inductive charge station.

14. A method to supplement current from a battery charge station comprising:

while a traction battery is receiving current from a charge station, operating an engine to drive a generator electrically coupled with a traction battery to generate a supplemental current to increase a charge rate of the battery; and

inhibiting operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a future route expected to traverse a green zone.

15. The method of claim 14 further including inhibiting operation of the engine responsive to a signal indicative of a temperature of the engine exceeding a predetermined temperature.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the battery charge station is an inductive charge station.

17. The method of claim 14 further including inhibiting operation of the engine responsive to a charge duration defined by a difference in an expected start time and a current time being less than a time to charge the battery with the charge current.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: DUNLAP, BROCK; LOVETT, KARIN; BOLGER, BRYAN MICHAEL; TREHARNE, WILLIAM DAVID
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 036098/0086 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170015208A1 · Jan 19, 2017