Coast control for electrified vehicles to compensate for downhill grades with variable load

A coast control method for a battery electric vehicle (BEV), the coast control method comprising:

• providing a set of sensors configured to measure at least (i) a vehicle speed of the BEV and (ii) an accelerator pedal position of an accelerator pedal of the BEV, wherein the accelerator pedal is manipulated by a driver of the BEV to provide a driver torque request for the BEV;
• determining, by a control system of the BEV, a minimum pedal torque for the BEV corresponding to a minimum accelerator pedal position to maintain the BEV traveling at a given speed on a flat surface and carrying a nominal load;
• based on the minimum pedal torque, calculating, by the control system, maximum acceleration thresholds for the BEV for entry to and exit from a coast control feature of the BEV, respectively;
• and
• when a set of preconditions for the coast control feature are satisfied and a vehicle acceleration of the BEV is greater than the maximum acceleration threshold for entry into the coast control feature, executing, by the control system, the coast control feature by decreasing a driver torque request for the BEV and the minimum pedal torque by a coast control offset,
• wherein the set of preconditions includes the accelerator pedal position being less than an accelerator pedal position threshold indicative of the driver being off of the accelerator pedal.