Control system for hybrid vehicles with high degree of hybridization

A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• a fuel consuming engine configured to supply power to drive the hybrid vehicle;
• an energy storage device disposed within the hybrid vehicle, the energy storage device configured to supply power to drive the hybrid vehicle;
• a prediction processor configured to predict power demand to drive the hybrid vehicle based on changing conditions during operation of the hybrid vehicle, the prediction processor configured to:
• use a degradation model to predict degradation of one or more hybrid vehicle components of the fuel consuming engine, drive train, movement system, and/or charging system of the hybrid vehicle;
• and
• revise the degradation model based on sensed changes in a condition of the one or more hybrid vehicle components;
• a drive train coupled to cause movement of the hybrid vehicle;
• a controller configured to automatically control power flow between at least one of:
• the engine and the drive train,
• the energy storage device and the drive train, and
• the engine and the energy storage device, so as to provide the power to drive the hybrid vehicle based at least in part on the predicted power demand and on the degradation model, wherein the power demand to drive the hybrid vehicle is greater than a maximum power available from the engine at a point in time during operation of the hybrid vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle control system, comprising:

• a prediction processor configured to predict power demand to drive a hybrid vehicle based on changing conditions during operation of the hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle comprising a fuel consuming engine and an energy storage device coupled to a drive train of the hybrid vehicle, the prediction processor configured to:
• use a degradation model to predict degradation of one or more hybrid vehicle components of the fuel consuming engine, drive train, movement system, and/or charging system of the hybrid vehicle;
• and
• revise the degradation model based on sensed changes in a condition of the one or more hybrid vehicle components;
• and
• a controller configured to automatically control power flow between at least one of:
• the engine and the drive train,
• the energy storage device and the drive train, and
• the engine and the energy storage device, so as to provide the power to drive the hybrid vehicle based at least in part on the predicted power demand and on the degradation model, wherein the power demand to drive the hybrid vehicle is greater than a maximum power available from the engine at a point in time during operation of the hybrid vehicle.

A computer implemented method, comprising:

• predicting, in a prediction processor, hybrid vehicle power demand to drive a hybrid vehicle by a fuel consuming engine and an energy storage device based on changing conditions during operation of the hybrid vehicle, the predicting comprising:
• predicting degradation of one or more hybrid vehicle components of the fuel consuming engine, drive train, movement system, and/or charging system of the hybrid vehicle using a degradation model;
• and
• revising the degradation model based on sensed changes in a condition of the one or more hybrid vehicle components;
• controlling, in a control processor, the power flow so as to provide power to drive the hybrid vehicle based on the predicted hybrid vehicle power demand and on an output of the degradation model, wherein the predicted hybrid vehicle power demand is greater than a maximum power available from the engine at a point in time during operation of the hybrid vehicle.