IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,077,768
Granted Patent B2
US 11,077,768 · App. 14/813,704 · Granted Aug 3, 2021

Personalized range protection strategy for electrified vehicles

Inventors: Xiao Guang Yang (Northville, MI); Jianbo Lu (Northville, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60L58/12B60Q9/00B60L2240/12B60L2250/20B60L2260/52Y02T10/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,077,768
App. No.
14/813,704
Granted
Aug 3, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle system to refine a travel range estimation of an electrified vehicle if a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions. The controlling step includes warning a driver about a travel range based on the driver's driving habits, coaching the driver to modify the driving habits, and adjusting operation of at least one vehicle subsystem.

Claims (31)

1. A method, comprising:

controlling a vehicle system to refine a travel range estimation of an electrified vehicle when a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions, the controlling step including warning a driver about a travel range based on the driver's driving habits, coaching the driver to modify the driving habits, and adjusting operation of at least one vehicle subsystem in a manner that refines the travel range estimation,

wherein the vehicle system includes a control system configured to execute the controlling of the vehicle system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the refined travel range estimation is based on a combination of battery information, driver information and telematics information.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the battery information includes at least battery usable energy, battery state of charge, battery power capabilities, and battery thermal states.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the driver information includes at least the driving habits and driver preferences of the driver.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the telematics information includes at least traffic conditions, weather conditions, and road conditions.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the warning step and the coaching step include issuing a visual or audible output to the driver.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step includes reducing an auxiliary power usage associated with the at least one vehicle subsystem.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step includes automatically lowering the travel speed of the electrified vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step includes automatically maximizing regenerative braking.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising, after calculating the refined travel range estimation, determining whether the desired destination is reachable based on the refined travel range estimation.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , comprising rerouting the electrified vehicle to a nearby charging station when the desired destination is not reachable based on the refined travel range estimation.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the coaching step is performed only when manually turned ON.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising selecting the desired destination prior to performing the controlling step.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising collecting battery information, driver information and telematics information prior to performing the controlling step.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one vehicle subsystem is at least one of an HVAC system, a lighting system, and an entertainment system of the electrified vehicle.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein warning the driver includes issuing the warning on a user interface of the electrified vehicle indicating that the desired destination is likely not reachable under the current driving conditions.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein coaching the driver includes issuing a coaching prompt on a user interface of the electrified vehicle promoting the driver to either change the driver's driving habits or alter a driving route of the electrified vehicle.

18. A vehicle system, comprising:

a high voltage battery pack;

a vehicle subsystem selectively powered by said high voltage battery pack; and

a control system configured to warn a driver about a travel range based on the driver's driving habits and adjust operation of said vehicle subsystem in a manner that refines a travel range estimation when a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions.

19. The vehicle system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said control system is configured to coach the driver to modify the driving habits.

20. The vehicle system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said control system includes a battery management system.

21. The vehicle system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said control system is configured to receive battery information from said high voltage battery pack and navigation information from a navigation system.

22. The vehicle system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said control system is configured to receive driver information and telematics information.

23. The vehicle system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said vehicle subsystem is at least one of an HVAC system, a lighting system, and an entertainment system.

24. A method, comprising:

controlling a vehicle system to refine a travel range estimation of an electrified vehicle when a desired destination cannot be reached under current driving conditions, wherein controlling the vehicle system includes automatically reducing auxiliary power usage associated with a vehicle subsystem in a manner that increases a travel range of the electrified vehicle,

wherein automatically reducing the auxiliary power usage is executed by a control system module of the electrified vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2015
From: YANG, XIAO GUANG; LU, JIANBO
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 036223/0105 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170028912A1 · Feb 2, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,327,436