Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorThomas G. Leone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle propulsion system and a method of its operation are described. As one example, the vehicle propulsion system includes a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The method may include starting the engine responsive to different criteria, including criteria related to potential degradation effects that may occur due to excessive durations of engine off vehicle operation.
Claims19
A method for controlling a plug-in hybrid vehicle having an engine, the method carried out by a control system, comprising:
- during a first engine stopped condition, performing a first start of the engine in response to a battery state of charge, where the engine is started during a first state of charge;
- during a second engine stopped condition, performing a second start of the engine in response an operating parameter, where the engine is started during a second state of charge, the second state of charge higher than the first state of charge;
- delaying the performing of the second start until a selected event occurs;
- and
- performing a first stop of the engine in response to the battery state of charge, where the engine is stopped during a third state of charge higher than the first and second states of charge.
A method for controlling a plug-in hybrid vehicle having an engine, the method carried out by a control system of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- during vehicle operation:
- starting and stopping the engine in response to a battery state of charge, where the engine is started during a first state of charge and stopped during a second, higher, state of charge;
- and
- requesting a vehicle operator to start the engine in response to selected engine off conditions.
A method for controlling a plug-in hybrid vehicle having an engine, the method carried out by a control system of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- starting and stopping the engine in response to a battery state of charge, where the engine is started in response to state of charge being below a first state of charge and stopped in response to state of charge being above a second, higher, state of charge;
- generating an engine starting request in response to a duration of an engine off condition even when the state of charge is above the first state of charge;
- and
- starting the engine in response to the engine starting request only after selected conditions occur or after a first threshold duration elapses from the initiation of the request, where the threshold duration is based on operating conditions, and continuing operation of the engine until the engine operates for a second threshold duration, where the second threshold duration is varied based on which conditions generated the request engine start.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.