DE-102015207874-B4 - Hybrid vehicle mode

Abstract

Vehicle comprising: a controller programmed to respond to user input determining an electric mode intensity, to adjust a battery charge level threshold while the vehicle transitions from EV mode to HEV mode during a driving cycle, with the total duration the vehicle operates in EV mode for the driving cycle increasing as the electric mode intensity increases.

Inventors

• Hai Yu

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20150429

Priority Date

20140430

Claims (6)

1. Vehicle comprising: a controller programmed to respond to user input determining an electric mode intensity, to adjust a battery charge level threshold while the vehicle transitions from EV mode to HEV mode during a driving cycle, with the total duration the vehicle operates in EV mode for the driving cycle increasing as the electric mode intensity increases.
2. Vehicle after Claim 1 , with the controller still being programmed to increase the electric mode intensity so that the vehicle operates in EV mode while at a predetermined location.
3. Vehicle after Claim 1 , whereby the controller remains programmed to operate the vehicle in HEV mode, so that the battery charge level is increased while it is near a predetermined location.
4. Vehicle after Claim 1 , whereby the controller is still programmed to lower a vehicle speed threshold in response to an increase in electric mode intensity, so that the HEV mode occurs at reduced vehicle speed.
5. Method for controlling a vehicle comprising: reducing, by a controller, a threshold of a battery charge level while the vehicle is to transition from an EV mode to an HEV mode in a driving cycle, in response to a user input selecting an increase in electric mode intensity, with a duration for which the vehicle is operated in EV mode increasing for the driving cycle.
6. Method for controlling a vehicle comprising: increasing, by a controller, a threshold of a battery charge level while the vehicle is to transition from an EV mode to an HEV mode in a driving cycle, in response to a user input selecting a decrease in electric mode intensity, thereby decreasing the duration for which the vehicle operates in EV mode for the driving cycle.

Description

The present application relates to a preferred electric vehicle mode for hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles are generally equipped with an algorithm to determine when to start or stop the engine based on a sequence of factors related to powertrain and vehicle states. The engine is kept in an "off" state or is stopped when there is no engine-on request or when an engine-off request is received. Otherwise, the engine is automatically started when an engine-on request is sent based on a variety of factors, including battery charge level or vehicle speed. Hybrid vehicle strategies can generally implement a fixed threshold to determine when to send an engine-on or engine-off request. For example, an engine-on request might be sent at high positive vehicle speeds, and no request would be sent at low vehicle speeds. The state of the art refers to the DE 10 2011 075 145 A1 referred. In at least one embodiment, a vehicle can include a controller programmed to adjust operating parameters that define the conditions under which the vehicle is to operate in electric mode, in response to a user input selecting an electric mode intensity. The frequency and total duration with which the vehicle operates in electric mode increase for a given driving cycle as the electric mode intensity increases. In at least one embodiment, a vehicle controller can include at least one processor programmed to calibrate, in response to a user input selecting an initial operating mode intensity, operating parameters that define the conditions under which the vehicle is to operate in the initial operating mode. The frequency and total duration with which the vehicle operates in the initial operating mode increase for a given driving cycle as the initial operating mode intensity increases. A method for controlling a vehicle involves adjusting operating parameters that define the conditions under which the vehicle should operate in electric mode, in response to a user input selecting an electric mode intensity. The frequency and total duration with which the vehicle operates in electric mode increase for a given driving cycle as the electric mode intensity increases. 1 This is a schematic diagram of a hybrid vehicle. 2 is an interior view of the vehicle from 1 . 3 This is a flowchart of an exemplary procedure for controlling a vehicle. As requested, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed here; however, it is understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of certain components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed here are not to be regarded as limiting, but merely as a representative basis to teach the person skilled in the art how to use the invention in different ways. With reference to 1 A schematic diagram of a vehicle 10 is shown. The vehicle 10 includes a motor 12, an electric machine 14, a battery 16, a navigation system 18, at least one wheel brake 20, an accelerator pedal 22, and a brake pedal 24. The vehicle further includes at least one controller 26, a display 28, and a communication system 30. The motor 12, the electric machine 14, the battery 16, the navigation system 18, the wheel brake 20, the accelerator pedal 22, the brake pedal 24, the display 28, and the communication system 30 all communicate with or are controlled by the controller 26. In at least one embodiment, the navigation system 18 can be an in-vehicle GPS or an aGPS system. aGPS or Assisted GPS modules use mobile communication data to improve the time required to determine a location. In another embodiment, the navigation system 18 can include a location-dependent mobile device such as a mobile phone or an independent GPS unit. Other configurations are of course also possible. The at least one controller 26 can issue stop and start commands to the motor 12 during vehicle operation. The controller 26 can include motor on/off logic that issues stop commands to switch off the motor 12 and start commands to start the motor 12. The controller 26 can be further programmed to operate the vehicle in at least two modes. These modes can include an electric vehicle mode (EV mode) and a hybrid electric vehicle mode (vehicle mode). In the first operating mode, the EV mode, the motor 12 can be deactivated or otherwise prevented from distributing torque to the transmission (not shown) in order to save fuel. The electric machine 14 can act as the sole or primary power source. The motor 12 can be disconnected from the rest of the vehicle 10. The battery 16 can transfer stored electrical energy through wiring (not shown) so that it can be used by the electric machine 14. Upon initial vehicle startup, the controller 26 can be programmed to operate the vehicle 10 in EV mode in order to utilize as much of the pre-stored electrical battery energy as