Trailer brake gain based on regenerative brake capacity

A dynamic braking system for an electrified vehicle having a high voltage (HV) battery system and an electric propulsion system, the dynamic braking system comprising:

• a regenerative braking system configured to generate electrical energy to recharge the HV battery system;
• a vehicle controller configured to monitor and control the regenerative braking system to selectively perform a regenerative braking operation;
• a vehicle brake actuator configured to selectively actuate one or more vehicle friction brakes;
• a brake controller in signal communication with the vehicle brake actuator and configured for signal communication with a trailer brake actuator to selectively actuate one or more trailer friction brakes;
• and
• a brake pedal sensor in signal communication with the brake controller, wherein the brake controller is configured to receive one or more signals from the brake pedal sensor indicating the driver braking request, which represents a total brake demand,
• wherein the brake controller is programmed to:
• receive a driver braking request;
• receive a signal indicating a regenerative braking capacity of the electric propulsion system;
• based on the driver braking request and the regenerative braking capacity, automatically adjust a trailer brake gain to (i) maximize energy recovery via regenerative braking and (ii) reduce brake wear;
• send a vehicle brake request to the vehicle brake actuator to generate a first portion of the total brake demand;
• send a trailer brake request to the trailer brake actuator to generate a second portion of the total brake demand;
• and
• send a regenerative braking request to the regenerative braking system to generate a third portion of the total brake demand.

A control method for a dynamic braking system for an electrified vehicle having a high voltage (HV) battery system and an electric propulsion system, the dynamic braking system including a regenerative braking system and a vehicle brake actuator, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a brake controller, a driver braking request;
• receiving, by the brake controller, a signal indicating a regenerative braking capacity of the electric propulsion system;
• and
• based on the driver braking request and the regenerative braking capacity, automatically adjusting, by the brake controller, a trailer brake gain to maximize energy recovery via regenerative braking, and reduce brake wear,
• wherein said automatically adjusting a trailer brake gain includes:
• first satisfying, by the brake controller, a maximum amount of the driver braking request via the regenerative braking as allowed by the regenerative braking capacity;
• then satisfying, by the brake controller, a maximum amount of any remaining driver braking request via one or more trailer friction brakes;
• and
• finally satisfying, by the brake controller, any further remaining driver braking request via one or more vehicle friction brakes.