Fuel life monitor and engine management for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsEdward D. Tate, Mark A. Theobald
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Abstract
An engine management system for a hybrid vehicle may include a hybrid vehicle controller that selects a power source to be one of an electric propulsion system and a combustion engine. The hybrid vehicle controller may include an engine operation module configured to determine when operation of the combustion engine is required based on a predetermined set of operating parameters associated with the combustion engine.
Claims26
A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle having a combustion engine and an electric propulsion system, the method comprising:
- providing motive power to the vehicle through the electric propulsion system;
- determining an elapsed time from when the combustion engine was last operated;
- and
- operating the combustion engine based on the elapsed time being greater than a predetermined value.
A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle having a combustion engine and an electric propulsion system, the vehicle also including a fuel reservoir for the combustion engine, the method comprising:
- determining the age of the fuel in the fuel reservoir;
- and
- determining whether engine-on operation is required based on the age of the fuel being greater than a predetermined value.
An engine management system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- a control module that selects a power source to be one of an electric propulsion system and a combustion engine, the control module including an engine operation module configured to determine when operation 5 of the combustion engine is required based on a predetermined set of operating parameters associated with the combustion engine, the predetermined set of operating parameters being related to characteristics of the combustion engine associated with non-operation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.