Assistive traction drive forces during towing events
Systems and methods are proposed for coordinating and providing assistive traction drive forces during towing events between a motor vehicle and one or more charging trailers. The assistive traction drive forces may be provided in the form of a propulsive torque applied by an electric machine of the charging trailer. Electrical energy for powering the electric machine may be supplied by a powertrain system of the towing vehicle or an energy storage device of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably connected to the charging trailer. Energy expended by the energy storage device for powering the electric machine may be replenished during the towing event by regenerative braking.
1 . A mobile generator trailered system, comprising:
a towing vehicle including a power source and an accelerator pedal;
a charging trailer operably coupled to the towing vehicle;
an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle operably coupled to the charging trailer, wherein the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle is a separate vehicle from the towing vehicle; and
a control module programmed to request an assistive propulsive torque from the charging trailer for assisting with acceleration or traction of the towing vehicle when a torque output of the power source is greater than or equal to 50% of a maximum torque output of the power source or when a position of the accelerator pedal is greater than or equal to 50% of a maximum pedal position of the accelerator pedal,
wherein the assistive propulsive torque is supplied by an electric machine of the charging trailer, and the electric machine is powered by a traction battery pack of the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle.
2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control module is further programmed to determine an amount of regenerative braking necessary to charge the traction battery pack of the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle to a desired threshold subsequent to powering the electric machine.
3 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the assistive propulsive torque is powered by a powertrain system of the towing vehicle.
4 . The system as recited in claim 3 , the powertrain system of the towing vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine.
5 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the powertrain system includes an electric machine, an inverter system, and an electric power take-off.
6 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control module is further programmed to communicate a traction assistance end signal to the charging trailer for ending the assistive propulsive torque when the torque output of the power source falls below 50% of the maximum torque output of the power source or when the position of the accelerator pedal is less than 50% of the maximum pedal position of the accelerator pedal.
7 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a utility vehicle (UTV), a motorcycle, a bike, a snowmobile, an off-road vehicle, a personal watercraft, a tractor, a backhoe, a harvester, a drone, a towable light tower, a forklift/telehandler, an excavator, a boom/scissor lift, a cranes, a trencher, a paver, a compactor, a dozer, or a drum roller.
8 . The system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a second charging trailer and a second electrified recreational/industrial vehicle operably coupled to the second charging trailer, wherein the assistive propulsive torque is supplied by both the charging trailer and the second charging trailer.
9 . A motor vehicle, comprising:
a wheel;
a powertrain system configured to provide a propulsive torque for propelling the wheel; and
a control module programmed to communicate a traction assistance request signal to a structure separate from the motor vehicle during a towing event when a torque output of a power source of the powertrain system is greater than or equal to 50% of a maximum torque output of the power source,
wherein the control module is further programmed to calculate an amount of regenerative braking necessary to replenish an amount of energy expended in order to provide an assistive propulsive torque during the towing event,
wherein the assistive propulsive torque is supplied by an electric machine of the structure, and the electric machine is powered by a traction battery pack of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably coupled to the structure,
wherein the amount of regenerative braking is an amount necessary to charge the traction battery pack of the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle to a desired threshold subsequent to powering the electric machine of the structure.
10 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the structure is a charging trailer.
11 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine.
12 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the powertrain system includes an electric machine and an inverter system that establish an electric power take-off.
13 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the control module is further programmed to communicate a traction assistance end signal to the structure when the torque output of the power source falls below 50% of the maximum torque output of the power source.
14 . A method, comprising:
during a towing event in which a towing vehicle is towing a charging trailer, providing an assistive propulsive torque from the charging trailer for augmenting a traction drive force of the towing vehicle,
wherein the assistive propulsive torque is supplied by an electric machine of the charging trailer, and
wherein the electric machine is powered by a traction battery pack of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably coupled to the charging trailer,
wherein the electrified recreational/industrial vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a utility vehicle (UTV), a motorcycle, a bike, a snowmobile, an off-road vehicle, a personal watercraft, a tractor, a backhoe, a harvester, a drone, a towable light tower, a forklift/telehandler, an excavator, a boom/scissor lift, a cranes, a trencher, a paver, a compactor, a dozer, or a drum roller.