IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,344,228
Granted Patent B2
US 12,344,228 · App. 18/370,546 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

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.
B60W20/13B60K6/24B60K6/26B60K6/28B60K6/46B60W10/06B60W10/08B60W20/11B60W20/12G07C5/04B60W2510/0619B60W2510/0666B60W2510/0676B60W2510/068B60W2510/244B60W2520/10B60W2530/209B60W2540/10B60W2555/20B60W2710/06B60W2710/08B60Y2200/92B60Y2300/91
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,344,228
App. No.
18/370,546
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
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 (41)

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

a powertrain including an engine and a motor/generator (MG);

an energy storage device coupled to the MG; and

a controller coupled to the powertrain 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 one or more of: a blended mode, a battery recharging mode, or a charge sustaining mode of the vehicle.

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

3. 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.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , 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.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the look-ahead information comprises traffic, speed, fleet information, and weather.

6. The vehicle of claim 3 , 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.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , 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.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , 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.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 , 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.

10. 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.

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 an engine above a threshold temperature during one or more of: a blended mode, a battery recharging mode, or a charge sustaining mode of the vehicle.

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. 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.

20. 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 one or more of: a blended mode, a battery recharging mode, or a charge sustaining mode of the vehicle.

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

22. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the engine is a combustion engine, and the energy storage device is a battery.

23. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain uses hydrogen for fuel.

24. The method of claim 11 , wherein the engine is a combustion engine and the energy storage device is a battery.

25. The method of claim 11 , wherein the powertrain uses hydrogen for fuel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: LE, DAT DUC; LANA, CARLOS A.; FOLLEN, KENNETH M.
To: CUMMINS INC.
Reel/Frame 065914/0074 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17246678 · May 2, 2021
Related Publication 20240010183A1 · Jan 11, 2024
References Cited (35)
US 5892346A · Moroto · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6427793B1 · Hanada · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 6484830B1 · Gruenwald et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 7539562B2 · Maguire · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 8565952B2 · Mehr et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8731752B2 · Yu · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8774993B2 · Harada · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8825249B2 · Ohno · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9266524B2 · Lutz et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9285432B2 · Schwarz et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10471950B2 · Kim · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10800402B2 · Park · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11794717B2 · Le et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20070208467A1 · Maguire · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20090259363A1 · Li · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100138142A1 · Pease · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100161166A1 · Yamada · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100280687A1 · Tate, Jr. · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20110246010A1 · de la Torre Bueno · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120035795A1 · Yu · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130006462A1 · Fleckner · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140074386A1 · McGee · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140163789A1 · Yu · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140288743A1 · Hokoi · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150275787A1 · Dufford · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150314775A1 · Dextreit · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160297424A1 · Park · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160325729A1 · Askerdal · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170130635A1 · Smith · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190161070A1 · Kamatani · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190176802A1 · Kim · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190299968A1 · Morita · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200079223A1 · Puri · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200094812A1 · Kurihashi · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220348185A1 · Le et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]