Dynamic tag e-axle and method for controlling a drivetrain having a dynamic tag e-axle
AssigneeHyliion Inc.
InventorGeorge James Noland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for adjusting a drivetrain comprising an e-axle on a vehicle comprises accessing route data and compressing the route data into a plurality of linearized segments. Each segment is determined by analyzing points along the route to determine when a set of route data points indicates an uphill, downhill, or flat segment. Using the segments, drivetrain configuration information for a vehicle and a weight of the vehicle, embodiments determine a performance plan that is tailored to the vehicle, including raising the e-axle to reduce rolling resistance on some segments and lowering the e-axle for some segments for increased power for acceleration, improved braking, or increased regenerative capabilities.
Claims20
A method of adjusting operation of a drivetrain of a vehicle, the drivetrain comprising an engine, an e-axle, a battery system, and a motor/generator coupled to the e-axle and operable as a motor to receive electric power from the battery system to supply rotational power through the e-axle and as a generator to receive rotational power from the e-axle to generate electric power to charge the battery system, the method comprising:
- determining a route of the vehicle;
- determining a drivetrain configuration for the vehicle over the route;
- determining a starting state of charge (SOC) of the battery system for a portion of the route;
- determining a target end SOC of the battery system at an end of the portion of the route;
- calculating, based on the starting SOC of the battery system and the drivetrain configuration of the vehicle, a predicted end SOC of the battery system at the end of the portion of the route;
- determining whether the predicted end SOC of the battery system will be less than the target end SOC of the battery system;
- and
- determining a performance plan for the vehicle, the performance plan including a set of instructions causing the vehicle to change the drivetrain configuration based on a comparison of the predicted end SOC of the battery system with the target end SOC of the battery system, wherein changing the drivetrain configuration comprises lowering the e-axle to a down position such that a set of wheels coupled to the e-axle contact a road surface, or raising the e-axle to an up position such that the set of wheels coupled to the e-axle do not contact the road surface.
A system for controlling operation of a drivetrain in a vehicle, the drivetrain comprising an engine, an e-axle, a battery system, a motor/generator coupled to the e-axle and operable as a motor to receive electric power from the battery system to supply rotational power through the e-axle and as a generator to receive rotational power from the e-axle to generate electric power to charge the battery system, the system comprising:
- a sensor for determining a location of the vehicle over a route;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller executing a set of instructions to:
- determine a drivetrain configuration for the vehicle over the route;
- determine a starting state of charge (SOC) of the battery system for a portion of the route;
- determine a target end SOC of the battery system at an end of the portion of the route;
- and
- calculate, based on the starting SOC of the battery system and the drivetrain configuration of the vehicle, a predicted end SOC of the battery system at the end of the portion of the route;
- determine whether the predicted end SOC of the battery system will be less than the target end SOC of the battery system;
- and
- determine a performance plan for the vehicle, the performance plan including a set of instructions causing the vehicle to change the drivetrain configuration based on a comparison of the predicted end SOC of the battery system with the target end SOC of the battery system, wherein changing the drivetrain configuration comprises the controller executing one or more instructions to:
- lower the e-axle to a down position such that a set of wheels coupled to the e-axle contact a road surface;
- or
- raise the e-axle to an up position such that the set of wheels coupled to the e-axle do not contact the road surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.