IP Library Granted Patent US 11,794,717
Granted Patent B2
US 11,794,717 · App. 17/246,678 · Granted Oct 24, 2023

Power management for hybrid electric vehicles

Inventors: Dat Duc Le (Columbus, IN); Carlos A. Lana (Columbus, IN); Kenneth M. Follen (Greenwood, IN)
Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
B60W20/13B60K6/24B60K6/26B60K6/28B60K6/46B60W10/06B60W10/08B60W20/11B60W20/12G07C5/04B60W2510/068B60W2510/0619B60W2510/0666B60W2510/0676B60W2510/244B60W2520/10B60W2530/209B60W2540/10B60W2555/20B60W2710/06B60W2710/08B60Y2200/92B60Y2300/91
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,794,717
App. No.
17/246,678
Granted
Oct 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.

Claims (46)

1. A plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

a motor/generator (MG) coupled to the engine;

a traction motor coupled to the MG and configured to propel the vehicle;

an energy storage device coupled to the MG; and

a controller coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold power value, wherein the controller maintains an aftertreatment temperature associated with the engine above a threshold temperature during operation of the engine.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the engine is spark ignited and the energy storage device is a high voltage battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the SOC of the energy storage device is a minimum allowable SOC at the end of the trip.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:

an electric vehicle (EV) enabler configured to enable or disable pure electric mode;

a battery management system (BMS) configured to measure the SOC of the energy storage device; and

a dynamic SOC reference (DSR) module configured to generate SOC reference dynamically.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the controller, including the EV enabler, is configured to calculate EV range based on energy per mile (EPM) estimation, vehicle position in real time, trip distance, and look-ahead information.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the look-ahead information comprises traffic, speed, fleet information, and weather.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the controller further comprises:

a frequency counter configured to calculate a start/stop frequency of an engine; and

an engine power module configured to calculate engine power limits.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the start/stop frequency and to update a start/stop counter to maintain a number of engine start/stops within a threshold value.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the engine power limits are based on at least one of a driver demand power, traction motor efficiency, inverters efficiency, and battery power limits.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the engine power module comprises one or more sensors to detect at least one of a catalyst temperature, a turbine outlet temperature, vehicle speed, ambient temperature, battery internal resistance, battery open circuit voltage, battery full energy, engine coolant temperature, air-fuel ratio.

11. A method for controlling a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

controlling operation of a powertrain during a trip such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device tracks a dynamic SOC reference profile; and

controlling operation of the powertrain to maintain an average engine power (AEP) above a threshold power value to maintain an aftertreatment temperature associated with the engine above a threshold temperature during operation of the engine.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including estimating a total energy required from the engine for a trip.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein estimating a total energy required from the engine includes determining a duration of the trip and estimating an energy per mile (EPM) for a vehicle during the trip.

14. The method of claim 12 , further including dynamically generating a reference SOC of the energy storage device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the SOC of the energy storage device is a minimum allowable SOC at the end of the trip.

16. The method of claim 11 , further including:

calculating start/stop frequency; and

updating a start/stop counter to maintain a number of engine start/stops within a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 12 , further including calculating engine power limits.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the engine power limits are calculated based on at least one of a driver demand power, traction motor efficiency, inverters efficiency, and battery limits.

19. A power management system for a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

a controller/processor including a memory;

wherein the memory includes instructions;

wherein the controller/processor is configured to execute the instructions to control operation of a motor/generator (MG) powered by an energy storage device during a trip such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic SOC reference profile; and

wherein the controller/processor is configured to execute the instructions to control operation of an engine to maintain an average engine power (AEP) above a threshold power value to maintain an aftertreatment temperature associated with the engine above a threshold temperature during operation of the engine.

20. The power management system of claim 19 , wherein a length of the trip is known at a beginning of the trip.

21. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the threshold power value is determined using at least one of vehicle speed, wind speed, or ambient air temperature.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the threshold power value is determined using at least one of vehicle speed, wind speed, or ambient air temperature.

23. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises a segment comprising a blended mode.

24. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises one or more segments comprising a blended mode and a pure EV mode.

25. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises one or more segments comprising a pure EV mode and a charge sustaining mode.

26. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises one or more segments comprising a pure EV mode and a battery recharging mode.

27. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises one or more segments comprising a pure EV mode, a battery recharging mode, and a battery sustaining mode.

28. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic reference SOC profile comprises one or more segments comprising a pure EV mode, a battery recharging mode, and a blended mode.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2023
From: LE, DAT DUC; LANA, CARLOS A.; FOLLEN, KENNETH M.
To: CUMMINS INC.
Reel/Frame 063779/0073 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CUMMINS, INC. D/B/A CUMMINS TECHNICAL CENTER
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 059722/0889 →
Continuity (1)
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