Method for starting a hybrid electric vehicle

A method of starting a hybrid electric vehicle, the steps comprising:

• (a) determining the status of a high voltage battery unit used for vehicle propulsion;
• (b) determining the status of a low voltage battery unit for starting the hybrid electric vehicle, wherein the high voltage battery unit generally has a higher voltage than the low voltage battery unit;
• (c) if the status of the high voltage battery unit indicates that it is able to provide charge and the status of the low voltage battery unit indicates that it is in need of charge, then providing charge from the high voltage battery unit to the low voltage battery unit to assist with starting the hybrid electric vehicle;
• and
• (d) monitoring one or more charge transfer conditions and using the charge transfer condition to automatically stop the provision of charge from the high voltage battery to the low voltage battery without further input from a user.

A system for use in a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• a high voltage battery unit for propelling the hybrid electric vehicle;
• a first set of sensors coupled to the high voltage battery unit, the first set of sensors provides a high voltage battery signal that is representative of the status of the high voltage battery unit;
• a low voltage battery unit for starting the hybrid electric vehicle;
• a second set of sensors coupled to the low voltage battery unit, the second set of sensors provides a low voltage battery signal that is representative of the status of the low voltage battery unit;
• an ignition unit coupled to the low voltage battery unit for starting the hybrid electric vehicle, the ignition unit provides an ignition signal that indicates when the hybrid electric vehicle is experiencing a starting event;
• a power module coupled to the high and low voltage battery units;
• and
• a control module coupled to the first set of sensors for receiving the high voltage battery signal, to the second set of sensor for receiving the low voltage battery signal, to the ignition unit for receiving the ignition signal, and to the power module for sending a command signal;
• wherein if the high voltage battery signal indicates that the high voltage battery unit is able to provide charge, the low voltage battery signal indicates that the low voltage battery unit is in need of charge, and the ignition signal indicates that the hybrid electric vehicle is experiencing a starting event, then the control module uses the command signal to instruct the power module to provide charge from the high voltage battery unit to the low voltage battery unit.