Optimizing diesel, reductant, and electric energy costs

#The present application relates generally to a vehicle management system for reducing operating expenses of a vehicle.

#An internal combustion engine burns gasoline, fuel oil, or other types of fuel to generate mechanical power. The burning of such fuel occurs via the use of an oxidizer (e.g., air) inside the internal combustion engine. Combustion of the fuel and air in the compression chambers of the engine produces exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is, in turn, managed (e.g., received and treated) by an exhaust aftertreatment system. Often times the costs of fuel and other sources to generate power fluctuate resulting in variable operating costs such that a need exists to reduce the operating costs of a vehicle.

#One implementation relates to an apparatus structured to reduce operating expenses of a vehicle based on control of operation of a vehicle system. The apparatus comprising: a controller, the controller structured to: receive one or more parameters comprising expense data; adjust operating expenses of a vehicle system based on the one or more parameters; and generate a command structured to adjust operation of the vehicle system responsive to the adjustment of the operating expenses.

#The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle management system according to an example embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system included in the vehicle management system, according to an example embodiment;

#It will be recognized that some or all of the figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration. The figures are provided for the purpose of illustrating one or more implementations with the explicit understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

#Embodiments described herein relate generally to a vehicle management system (e.g., an expense management system) that includes a control system. In this regard, the control system may be structured to receive one or more parameters comprising expense data and adjust a performance state of the vehicle system based on the one or more parameters. In turn, the control system may be further structured to generate a command structured to adjust operation of the vehicle system responsive to the adjustment of the performance state.

#FIG. 1 depicts a schematic block diagram of a vehicle 100 according to an example embodiment. The vehicle 100 may be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV), range-extended battery-electric vehicle (BEVx), or another vehicle powered by or otherwise operable with a vehicle system such as, but not limited to, a battery, generator system (e.g., a power generator, generator plant, electric power strip, on-board rechargeable electricity storage system, etc.), an engine system, a motor system (e.g., an electric motor, traction motor, motor-generator unit, etc.), exhaust aftertreatment system, etc. The vehicle 100 may be operable in series (e.g., utilizing a single path that powers the wheels of the vehicle and a plurality of energy sources) or in parallel (e.g., utilizing an engine path and an electrical path to power the wheels of the vehicle). The vehicle 100 may be an on-road or off-road vehicle including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, trains, ships, boats, vans, airplanes, spacecraft, or any other type of vehicle.