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EP-4741207-A1 - CONTROL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH USAGE OF A POWER TAKE-OFF

EP4741207A1EP 4741207 A1EP4741207 A1EP 4741207A1EP-4741207-A1

Abstract

A control arrangement (100) and a method for controlling a vehicle (1) in conjunction with usage of a power take-off (11, 12) of the vehicle (1). The vehicle (1) comprises a powertrain (2) configured to power the power take-off (11, 12), and an energy storage device (10) configured to power the powertrain (2). The method comprises determining (S102) a first state of charge threshold for the energy storage device (10) based on map data, said first state of charge threshold corresponding to a minimum state of charge sufficient for the vehicle (1) to reach a e.g., a predefined charging station or a nearest charging station. Optionally, the method further comprises determining (S103) a second state of charge threshold based on the first state of charge threshold. The method may further comprise activating (S105) a limitation of allowable power supply to the power take-off (11, 12) when a state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the optional second state of charge threshold, and/or interrupting (S107) power supply to the power take-off (11, 12) when the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the first state of charge threshold.

Inventors

  • BERGVALL, Jimmy

Assignees

  • Scania CV AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241107

Claims (15)

  1. A method, performed by a control arrangement (100), for controlling a vehicle (1) in conjunction with usage of a power take-off (11, 12) of the vehicle (1), said vehicle (1) comprising: a powertrain (2) configured to provide motive power to one or more drive wheels (3) of the vehicle (1) and to power the power-take off, and an energy storage device (10) configured to power the powertrain (2), the method comprising: - determining (S102) a first state of charge threshold for the energy storage device (10) based on map data, said first state of charge threshold corresponding to a minimum state of charge sufficient for the vehicle (1) to reach a predefined charging station, at least one nearest charging station, or a geographical position at which the vehicle (1) may be driven using an energy source other than the energy storage device (10), and - optionally determining (S103) a second state of charge threshold based on the first state of charge threshold, said second state of charge threshold being higher than the first state of charge threshold, wherein, unless an optional third state of charge threshold is applied in response to a user-initiated request therefore , the method further comprises: - when a state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the optional second state of charge threshold, activating (S105) a limitation of allowable power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12) and/or communicating, using a user interface (50), a warning message to an operator of the vehicle (1), and/or - when the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the first state of charge threshold, interrupting (S107) power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12).
  2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: in response to a user-initiated request for the optional third state of charge threshold, activating (S108) said third state of charge threshold, and when the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches said third state of charge threshold, either (i) interrupting power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12), or (ii) activating (S111) a limitation of allowable power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12) and/or communicating (S110), using the user interface (50), a warning message to the operator of the vehicle (1).
  3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the determination of the first state of charge threshold is performed taking into account a predicted future vehicle load or a predefined maximum allowable vehicle load.
  4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is performed while the vehicle (1) is at standstill.
  5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is performed in response to a user-initiated request therefore.
  6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: when the power take-off (11, 12) is activated, predicting a duration of possible use of the power take-off (11, 12) until the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the first state of charge threshold, the optional second state of charge threshold, and/or the optional third state of charge threshold, and communicating, using the user interface (50), the predicted duration(s) of possible use to the operator of the vehicle (1).
  7. A control arrangement (100) configured to control a vehicle (1) in conjunction with usage of a power take-off (11, 12) of the vehicle (1), said vehicle (1) comprising: a powertrain (2) configured to provide motive power to one or more drive wheels of the vehicle (1) and to power the power-take off, and an energy storage device (10) configured to power the powertrain (2), the control arrangement (100) being configured to: - determine a first state of charge threshold for the energy storage device (10) based on map data, said first state of charge threshold corresponding to a minimum state of charge sufficient for the vehicle (1) to reach a predefined charging station, at least one nearest charging station, or a geographical position at which the vehicle (1) may be driven using an energy source other than the energy storage device (10), and - optionally, determine a second state of charge threshold based on the first state of charge threshold, said second state of charge threshold being higher than the first state of charge threshold, the control arrangement (100) further being configured to, unless an optional third state of charge threshold is applied in response to a user-initiated request therefore: - activate a limitation of allowable power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12) when a state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the optional second state of charge threshold, - communicating, using a user interface (50), a warning message to an operator of the vehicle (1) when a state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the optional second state of charge threshold, and/or - interrupt power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12) when the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the first state of charge threshold.
  8. The control arrangement (100) according to claim 7, wherein the control arrangement (100) is further configured to: in response to a user-initiated request for the optional third state of charge threshold, activate said third state of charge threshold, and when the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches said third state of charge threshold, either (i) interrupt power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12), or (ii) active a limitation of allowable power supply from the powertrain (2) to the power take-off (11, 12) and/or communicate, using the user interface (50), a warning message to the operator of the vehicle (1).
  9. The control arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the control arrangement (100) is configured to determine the first state of charge threshold taking into account a predicted future vehicle (1) load or a predefined maximum allowable vehicle load.
  10. The control arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the control arrangement (100) is further configured to: when the power take-off (11, 12) is activated, predict a duration of possible use of the power take-off (11, 12) until the state of charge of the energy storage device (10) reaches the first state of charge threshold, the optional second state of charge threshold, and/or the optional third state of charge threshold, and communicate, using the user interface (50), the predicted duration of possible use to the operator of the vehicle (1).
  11. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a control arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, cause the control arrangement (100) to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
  12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program according to claim 11.
  13. A vehicle (1) comprising: a first powertrain (2), said first powertrain (2) being configured to provide motive power to one or more drive wheels (3) of the vehicle (1), an energy storage device (10) configured to power the first powertrain (2), a power take-off (11, 12) configured to be powered by the first powertrain (2), and the control arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 10.
  14. The vehicle (1) according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle (1) is a battery electric vehicle.
  15. The vehicle (1) according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle (1) further comprises a second powertrain )2') configured to provide motive power to one or more drive wheels (3') of the vehicle (1), said second powertrain (2') being mechanically separated from the first powertrain (2) and being configured to be powered by an energy source other than the energy storage device (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates in general to a method for controlling a vehicle in conjunction with usage of a power take-off of the vehicle. The present disclosure also relates in general to a control arrangement configured to control a vehicle in conjunction with usage of a power take-off of the vehicle. The present disclosure also relates in general to a computer program, a computer-readable medium, and a vehicle. BACKGROUND Vehicles may be equipped with one or more power take-offs (PTOs), each allowing a possible auxiliary device of the vehicle to be powered by means of the vehicle's powertrain. Examples of such auxiliary devices include various pumps, cranes, mixers, compressors, etc.. Operation of one or more such auxiliary devices consumes part of the available propulsion energy stored onboard the vehicle (e.g., as fuel and/or electrical energy) and therefore also affects the vehicle's driving range. The efforts within the automotive industry to reduce the environmental impact has led to an increase in the number of heavy-duty vehicles that are electrified at least in part. Examples of such vehicles include battery electric vehicles, which are fully electrified, and parallel or series plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are only partly electrified. Furthermore, vehicles comprising a plurality of independent powertrains of which at least one is fully electric are developed. An example of such a vehicle is a vehicle comprising a first powertrain comprising a conventional combustion engine and a second powertrain in the form of an electric drive axle (also known as an e-Axle). One of the greatest concerns associated with electrification of heavy-duty vehicles is the limited driving range that may be achieved on stored electrical energy, which in turn is a result of the energy storage device that may reasonably be arranged onboard the vehicle in terms of e.g., size and weight thereof. An auxiliary device, connected to an electric powertrain via a power take-off, would inherently lead to a further limitation of the driving range in view of consuming part of the stored electrical energy. It may be quite difficult for a driver to estimate how the operation of a power take-off (PTO), for the purpose of driving an auxiliary device of the vehicle, affects the remaining possible driving range of the vehicle. In many cases, the PTO may be operated while the vehicle is at standstill and with the driver working outside the driver's cabin. This could for example be the case when operating a crane of a timber truck to load timber onto the vehicle, when controlling the drum's rotation and operating a chute (and/or pump) during pouring of concrete from a concrete truck, or when operating a pump of a vacuum truck for suction of sludge or the like from a site. The difficulties in estimating the driving range that may remain after a certain time of PTO usage may cause the driver to choose to end the usage of the PTO early to ensure that the vehicle may be safely driven to a charging station. This may in turn cause unnecessary disruptions in the operation of the auxiliary device, and/or may increase the down-time of the vehicle as such for having to drive to a charging station more often. Furthermore, the driver needs to regularly check the state of charge of the energy storage device to determine when to interrupt the PTO work, which may cause annoyance and anxiety. It has previously been proposed to overcome this issue by estimating a distance-to-empty (i.e. how far the vehicle may be driven given the available stored energy) taking into account a predicted power consumption of the PTO, and presenting this to a driver in the instrument cluster of the vehicle. However, a vehicle manufacturer is typically not aware of which auxiliary device(s) a customer, a body builder or a user of the vehicle intends to connect to the vehicle powertrain. It is therefore very difficult to accurately predict power consumption of the PTO (in particular a future power consumption of the PTO, as well as duration of use), especially in case the PTO is operated when the vehicle is at standstill. This in turn naturally affects the accuracy of the information presented to the driver. Furthermore, the driver may still need to interrupt his work on a regular basis to check whether the information previously presented to him has been updated. SUMMARY The object of the present invention is to provide assistance to an operator of the vehicle for the purpose of reducing the risk that operation of a power take-off of the vehicle may lead to a situation where the vehicle may not be driven to a desired destination due to an insufficient charge of the energy storage device of the vehicle. The object is achieved by the subject-matter of the appended independent claim(s). The present disclosure relates to a method, performed by a control arrangement, for controlling a vehicle in conjunction with usage of a power take-off of the vehicle. Said vehi