Propulsion systems and methods for controlling electric marine drives for a marine vessel
A method of controlling at least one battery-powered electric marine drive configured to propel a planing marine vessel includes receiving a control command to engage an efficiency control mode configured to provide propulsion efficiency of the electric marine drive at a planing speed of the marine vessel, comparing at least one propulsion output value for the electric marine drive to at least one battery range optimization value indicating optimized propulsion output efficiency, and generating a range optimization action based on the comparison.
1 . A method of controlling at least one battery-powered electric marine drive configured to propel a planing marine vessel, the method comprising:
receiving a control command to engage an efficiency control mode configured to provide propulsion efficiency of the electric marine drive at a planing speed of the marine vessel;
comparing at least one propulsion output value for the electric marine drive to at least one battery range optimization value indicating optimized propulsion output efficiency; and
generating a range optimization action based on the comparison.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control command to engage the efficiency control mode is a user input; and
wherein the range optimization action includes automatically adjusting propulsion output of the electric marine drive based on the comparison to the at least one battery range optimization value.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the user input to engage the efficiency control mode includes placing a throttle lever associated with the electric marine drive at a wide-open-throttle position.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one propulsion output value and the at least one battery range optimization value each include a vessel speed, a motor rpm, a motor current, and/or a motor torque.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery range optimization value includes a vessel speed, a motor rpm, a motor current, and/or a motor torque that produces a greatest battery range value for the electric marine drive propelling the planing marine vessel.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to comparing the at least one propulsion output value to the at least one battery range optimization value, determining the at least one battery range optimization value based on a battery range for the electric marine drive at a plurality of propulsion outputs.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the range optimization action includes automatically controlling the electric marine drive such that the propulsion output value is maintained within a predetermined range of the at least one battery range optimization value.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein generating the range optimization action includes maintaining the propulsion output value within the predetermined range of the at least one battery range optimization value until user input is received to disengage the efficiency control mode.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the efficiency control mode, a control system is configured to automatically control the electric marine drive to maintain the vessel at a minimum sustainable planing speed for the planing marine vessel.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the range optimization action includes automatically controlling a trim position of the electric marine drive to provide propulsion efficiency of the electric marine drive at the planing speed of the marine vessel.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the trim position of the electric marine drive includes automatically controlling a trim actuator to move the electric marine drive to a predetermined trim position once the marine vessel is on plane.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the range optimization action includes controlling a user interface to advise a user whether the electric marine drive is operating at an optimized propulsion output consistent with the at least one battery range optimization value.
13 . An electric propulsion system for a planing marine vessel, the system comprising:
an electric marine drive powered by a battery;
a control system configured to:
receive a control command to engage an efficiency control mode configured to provide propulsion efficiency of the electric marine drive at a planning speed of the marine vessel;
compare at least one propulsion output value for the electric marine drive to at least one battery range optimization value indicating optimized propulsion output efficiency; and
generate a range optimization action based on the comparison.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one propulsion output value and the at least one battery range optimization value each include a vessel speed, a motor rpm, a motor current, and/or a motor torque.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one battery range optimization value includes a vessel speed, a motor rpm, a motor current, and/or a motor torque that produces a greatest battery range value for the electric marine drive propelling the planing marine vessel.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to, prior to comparing the at least one propulsion output value to the at least one battery range optimization value, determine the at least one battery range optimization value based on a battery range for the electric marine drive at a plurality of propulsion outputs.
17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to, when generating the range optimization action, automatically control the electric marine drive such that the propulsion output value is maintained within a predetermined range of the at least one battery range optimization value.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the control system is configured to, when generating the range optimization action, maintain the propulsion output value within the predetermined range of the at least one battery range optimization value until user input is received to disengage the efficiency control mode.
19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein, in the efficiency control mode, the control system is configured to automatically control the electric marine drive to maintain the vessel at a minimum sustainable planing speed for the planing marine vessel.
20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to, when generating the range optimization action, automatically control a trim position of the electric marine drive to provide propulsion efficiency of the electric marine drive at the planing speed of the marine vessel.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the control system is configured to, when controlling the trim position of the electric marine drive, automatically control a trim actuator to move the electric marine drive to a predetermined trim position once the marine vessel is on plane.
22 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to, when generating the range optimization action, control a user interface to advise a user whether the electric marine drive is operating at an optimized propulsion output.