Battery control system for hybrid vehicle and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle battery

1. A battery control system for controlling a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery, comprising:

a detecting arrangement for determining a vehicle operating state or an intended vehicle operating state; and

a controller for setting a target state of charge level of the battery based on the vehicle operating state or the intended vehicle operating state, wherein the controller is operable to set a target state of charge level at a first level during a mobile vehicle operating state and at a second level during a stationary vehicle operating state and in anticipation of the vehicle operating in the stationary vehicle operating state; and the second level is closer than the first level to an upper limit of a maximum state of charge,

wherein the stationary vehicle operating state comprises an engine-off state with the battery configured for an increased capacity to supply electrical power to on-board or off-board equipment.

2. The battery control system of claim 1 , wherein the first level includes a state of charge in a normally charged range of the battery.

3. The battery control system of claim 1 , wherein the first level includes a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 70%.

4. The battery control system of claim 1 , wherein the second level includes a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 100%.

5. The battery control system of claim 1 , wherein the second level includes a state of charge up to 100%.

6. A battery control system for controlling a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery, comprising:

operating state determining means for determining a vehicle operating state or an intended vehicle operating state; and

target level setting means for setting a target state of charge level of the battery based on the vehicle operating state or the intended vehicle operating state, wherein the target level setting means is operable to set a target state of charge level at a first level during a mobile vehicle operating state and at a second level during a stationary vehicle operating state and in anticipation of the vehicle operating in the stationary vehicle operating state and the second level is closer than the first level to an upper limit of a maximum state of charge

wherein the stationary vehicle operating state comprises an engine-off state with the battery configured for an increased capacity to supply electrical power to on-board or off-board equipment.

7. The battery control system of claim 6 , wherein the first level includes a state of charge in a normally charged range of the battery.

8. The battery control system of claim 6 , wherein the first level includes a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 70%.

9. The battery control system of claim 6 , wherein the second level includes a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 100%.

10. The battery control system of claim 6 , wherein the second level includes a state of charge up to 100%.

11. A method for controlling a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery, comprising:

determining a vehicle operating state or an intended vehicle operating state; and

setting a target state of charge level of the battery based on the vehicle operating state or the intended vehicle operating state, wherein the step of setting a target state of charge level includes setting a target state of charge level at a first level during a mobile vehicle operating state and at a second level during a stationary vehicle operating state and in anticipation of the vehicle operating in the stationary vehicle operating state, and the second level is closer than the first level to an upper limit of a maximum state of charge,

wherein the stationary vehicle operating state comprises an engine-off state with the battery configured for an increased capacity to supply electrical power to on-board or off-board equipment.

12. The battery control system of claim 11 further including the step of setting the first level at a normally charged range of the battery.

13. The battery control system of claim 11 further including the step of setting the first level at a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 70%.

14. The battery control system of claim 11 further including the step of setting the second level closer than the first level to an upper limit of a maximum state of charge.

15. The battery control system of claim 11 further including the step of setting the second level at a state of charge in a range of about 30% to about 100%.

16. The battery control system of claim 11 further including the step of setting the second level at a state of charge up to 100%.