Energy storage system energy capacity and capability monitor

1. A method for reporting the characteristics of an energy storage system, the method comprising:

acquiring the open circuit voltage of the energy storage system;

providing a coulomb capability and a coulomb capacity of the energy storage system based on the open circuit voltage; and

determining at least one of an energy capability or an energy capacity of the energy storage system based on at least one of the coulomb capacity, coulomb capability, or combinations thereof such that the determining comprises:

determining the present state of charge of the energy storage system;

calculating the mean state of charge for the energy storage system; and

determining the open circuit voltage of the energy storage system based on the mean state of charge and the present state of charge.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a target energy usage window from the energy capability.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the target energy usage window comprises a maximum and minimum energy usage limit such that the area between the maximum and minimum energy usage limit comprises a sustainable energy usage band.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining both the energy capability and the energy capacity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the energy capability of the energy storage system further comprises:

determining the current-resistance compensated voltage for the energy storage system;

calculating the energy capability of the energy storage system based on the open circuit voltage, the coulomb capability, and the current-resistance compensated voltage.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the current-resistance compensated voltage comprises:

determining a voltage offset of the energy storage system; and

calculating a current-resistance compensated voltage based on a sum of the open circuit voltage and voltage offset.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the voltage offset of the energy storage system comprises:

determining the resistance of the energy storage system;

calculating the estimated current of the energy storage system;

determining the voltage offset based on the resistance and current of the energy storage system.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the resistance comprises an estimate from circuit model algorithm.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system is provided as part of a vehicle that derives at least a portion of its motive power from the energy storage system.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining an effective driving range of the vehicle based on the energy capability; and

conveying the effective range to a user-readable display.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the energy capacity of the energy storage system comprises:

determining the current-resistance compensated voltage for the energy storage system; and

calculating the energy capacity based on the current-resistance compensated voltage and the charge capacity of the energy storage system.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a target energy usage window from the energy capacity.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a plurality of energy storage modules, and the method further comprises allocating a total of amount of commanded charging and discharging power among the plurality of energy storage modules based on the energy capability of each of the plurality of energy storage modules.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring the open circuit voltage is selected from the group consisting of direct measurement, calculating from a state of charge, receiving from manufacturer's data, and determining from chemical testing.

15. A method for estimating the range of a vehicle that receives at least a portion of its motive power from an energy storage system, the method comprising:

acquiring the open circuit voltage of an energy storage system;

providing a coulomb capability and a coulomb capacity of the energy storage system based on the open circuit voltage;

determining at least one of an energy capability or an energy capacity of the energy storage system based on at least one of the coulomb capacity, coulomb capability, or combinations thereof such that the determining comprises:

determining the present state of charge of the energy storage system;

calculating the mean state of charge for the energy storage system; and

determining the open circuit voltage of the energy storage system based on the mean state of charge and the present state of charge; and

determining an effective driving range of the vehicle based on at least one of the energy capacity and the energy capability.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising displaying the effective driving range of the vehicle to a user.

17. A device for controlling the operation of a vehicle that receives at least a portion of its motive power from an energy storage system, the device comprising a control system comprising a memory device and a controller, wherein the controller is programmed to:

acquire the open circuit voltage of the energy storage system;

provide a coulomb capability and a coulomb capacity of the energy storage system based on the open circuit voltage; and

determine at least one of an energy capability or an energy capacity of the energy storage system based on at least one of the coulomb capacity, coulomb capability, or combinations thereof such that the determined energy capability or energy capacity comprises:

a determined present state of charge of the energy storage system;

a calculated mean state of charge for the energy storage system; and

a determined open circuit voltage of the energy storage system that is based on the mean state of charge and the present state of charge.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine a target energy usage window from the energy capacity.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine a target energy usage window from the energy capability.

20. A vehicle incorporating the device of claim 17 .