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US-20260124933-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING EXTENDED RANGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SMART REMOTE CHARGING

US20260124933A1US 20260124933 A1US20260124933 A1US 20260124933A1US-20260124933-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing smart remote charging of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) are provided. The method may comprise receiving, using a computing device, one or more vehicle data inputs from an EREV. The EREV may comprise a battery, one or more onboard motor generator units (MGUs), and a power generation unit configured to charge the battery, utilizing the one or more MGUs, and the computing device, comprising a processor, memory, and user interface. The method may comprise determining, using the processor, whether there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, notifying, using the graphical user interface, a user of the opportunity and suggest one or more user commands for charging the vehicle, receiving one or more user commands, and, based on the one or more user commands, performing one or more charging functions of the EREV.

Inventors

  • Tucker Biallas
  • Peter J. Richmond
  • Dokyung Yim
  • Jason Lee

Assignees

  • HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
  • KIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241104

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method for performing smart remote charging of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), comprising: a) receiving, using a computing device, one or more vehicle data inputs from an EREV, the EREV comprising: i) a battery; ii) one or more onboard motor generator units (MGUs); iii) a power generation unit configured to charge the battery, utilizing the one or more MGUs; and iv) the computing device, comprising a processor and a memory; b) determining, using the processor, whether there is an opportunity to charge the EREV; c) when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, notifying, using the user interface, a user of the opportunity; d) receiving one or more user commands; and e) based on the one or more user commands, performing one or more charging functions of the EREV.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the EREV is configured to: a) perform using all wheel drive (AWD) when the battery is not charging, and b) not perform AWD when the battery is charging.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 1 wherein when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV suggest one or more user commands for charging the vehicle
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the power generation unit is an internal combustion engine (ICE).
  5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: a) when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, receiving one or more user data inputs; and b) based on the one or more vehicle data inputs and the one or more user data inputs, generating a pre-charge AWD range estimation of the EREV and a post-charging AWD range estimation of the EREV.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more user data inputs comprise one or more of the following: a) one or more vehicle usage patterns; b) previous visit to a location data; c) frequency information on the location; d) typical location duration; e) user calendar and schedule data; and f) navigation destination information data.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving, via the graphical user interface, the one or more user data inputs.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vehicle data inputs comprise one or more of the following: a) a vehicle location; b) one or more hardware conditions; c) a fuel level; d) a distance to a fueling location; e) a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; f) a closure status of the EREV; g) a charging status of the EREV; h) a towing status of the EREV; i) one or more ambient conditions; j) navigation data; k) expected duration data; l) advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) data; and m) user history data.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: a. the one or more user commands comprise a command to charge the battery, and the one or more charging functions comprises charging the battery.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, using the computing device, whether one or more set charging thresholds have been reached.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, when the one or more set charging thresholds have been reached, cancelling a charge function.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more set charging thresholds comprise one or more of the following: a) a set target state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and b) a distance to empty (DTE) of the EREV.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when there is not a charging opportunity, notifying, using the graphical user interface, the user of the lack of charging opportunity.
  14. 14 . A system for performing smart remote charging of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), comprising: an EREV, comprising: i) a battery; ii) one or more onboard motor generator units (MGUs); iii) a power generation unit configured to charge the battery, utilizing the one or more MGUs, and iv) a computing device comprising a processor and a memory, v) wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to: a) receive one or more vehicle data inputs from an EREV; b) determine, using the processor, whether there is an opportunity to charge the EREV; c) when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, notify, using the graphical user interface; d) receive one or more user commands; and e) based on the one or more user commands, perform one or more charging functions of the EREV.
  15. 15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to cause the processor to: a) when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, receive one or more user data inputs; and b) based on the one or more vehicle data inputs and the one or more user data inputs, generate a pre-charge AWD range estimation of the EREV and a post-charging AWD range estimation of the EREV.
  16. 16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more user data inputs comprise one or more of the following: a) one or more vehicle usage patterns; b) previous visit to a location data; c) frequency information on the location; d) typical location duration; e) user calendar and schedule data; and f) navigation destination information data.
  17. 17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more vehicle data inputs comprise one or more of the following: a) a vehicle location; b) one or more hardware conditions; c) a fuel level; d) a distance to a fueling location; e) a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; f) a closure status of the EREV; g) a charging status of the EREV; h) a towing status of the EREV; i) one or more ambient conditions; j) navigation data; k) expected duration data; l) advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) data; and m) user history data.
  18. 18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein: a) the one or more user commands comprise a command to charge the battery, and b) the one or more charging functions comprises charging the battery.
  19. 19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to cause the processor to, when there is not a charging opportunity, notify, using the user interface, the user of the lack of charging opportunity.
  20. 20 . A vehicle comprising the system of claim 14 .

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for performing extended range electric vehicle (EREV) smart remote charging. BACKGROUND Electric vehicles (EVs) comprise one or more batteries configured to power the EV and enable it to move. These batteries draft after use and over time and require charging. Typically, a charging cable is coupled to the EV, supplying power to charge the EV's battery or batteries. This process requires the cable to physically connect the charging port of the vehicle to the power supply. An extended range electric vehicle (EREV) is an EV that utilizes an onboard internal combustion engine (ICE) to charge a high voltage (HV) battery of the EREV but not power the wheels. When the battery state of charge (SOC) is low, the ICE will charge the battery utilizing an onboard motor generator unit (MGU). However, due to the unique cost-efficient layout of the ICE and motors, the EREV loses all wheel drive (AWD) functionality while the battery is charging since, when the front motor is utilized for charging, the EREV disconnects the motor via a clutch from torque output to the wheels SUMMARY According to an object of the present disclosure, a method for performing smart remote charging of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) is provided. The method may comprise receiving, using a computing device, one or more vehicle data inputs from an EREV. The EREV may comprise a battery, one or more onboard motor generator units (MGUs), and a power generation unit such as an internal combustion engine (ICE) configured to charge the battery, utilizing the one or more MGUs, and the computing device, comprising a processor, and a memory. The EREV may be configured to perform using all wheel drive (AWD) when the battery is not charging, and not perform AWD when the battery is charging. The method may comprise determining, using the processor, whether there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, notifying, using the graphical user interface, a user of the opportunity and suggest one or more user commands for charging the vehicle, receiving one or more user commands, and, based on the one or more user commands, performing one or more charging functions of the EREV. In one aspect, a method is provided for performing smart remote charging of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV), comprising: a) receiving, using a computing device, one or more vehicle data inputs from an EREV, the EREV comprising: i) a battery; ii) one or more onboard motor generator units (MGUs); iii) a power generation unit configured to charge the battery, utilizing the one or more MGUs; and iv) the computing device, comprising a processor and a memory; b) determining, using the processor, whether there is an opportunity to charge the EREV; when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, notifying, using the user interface, a user of the opportunity; c) receiving one or more user commands; and d) based on the one or more user commands, performing one or more charging functions of the EREV. In certain preferred methods the EREV is configured to i) perform using all wheel rive (AWD) when the battery is not charging, and ii) not perform AWD when the battery is charging. In certain preferred methods, when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV suggest one or more user commands for charging the vehicle. In certain preferred methods, the power generation unit is an internal combustion engine (ICE). Other preferred and suitable power generation units include e.g. a fuel cell. In preferred aspects, the computing device suitably further comprises a user interface such as a graphical user interface. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method may comprise, when there is an opportunity to charge the EREV, receiving one or more user data inputs, and, based on the one or more vehicle data inputs and the one or more user data inputs, generating a pre-charge AWD range estimation of the EREV and a post-charging AWD range estimation of the EREV. According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more user data inputs may comprise one or more of the following: one or more vehicle usage patterns; previous visit to a location data; frequency information on the location; typical location duration; user calendar and schedule data; and navigation destination information data. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method may comprise receiving, via the graphical user interface, the one or more user data inputs. According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more vehicle data inputs may comprise one or more of the following: a vehicle location; one or more hardware conditions; a fuel level; a distance to a fueling location; a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; a closure status of the EREV; a charging status of the EREV; a towing status of the EREV; one or more ambient conditions; navigation data; expected duration data; advanced driver assistanc