Energy Optimization for Integrated Powertrain of Combined Vehicle System Having Vehicle and Electrically Powered Trailer Towed by the Vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsKeith Weston, David Guglielmo, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Shehan Haputhanthri, Brendan F. Diamond
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a vehicle having an electrically powered trailer towed thereto. The vehicle has a vehicle powertrain, and the trailer has a trailer powertrain. A controller, in order to propel the vehicle with the trailer towed thereto, operates the vehicle powertrain and the trailer powertrain according to a combined efficiency map based on (i) an efficiency map associated with the vehicle powertrain and (ii) an efficiency map associated with the trailer powertrain.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a vehicle having an electrically powered trailer towed thereto, the vehicle having a vehicle powertrain and the trailer having a trailer powertrain;
- and
- a controller programmed to, in order to propel the vehicle with the trailer towed thereto, operate the vehicle powertrain and the trailer powertrain according to a combined efficiency map based on (i) an efficiency map associated with the vehicle powertrain and (ii) an efficiency map associated with the trailer powertrain.
A control system for a combined vehicle system having a vehicle and an electrically powered trailer towed by the vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle powertrain and the trailer having a trailer powertrain, the control system comprising:
- a controller programmed to, in order to propel the combined vehicle system, operate the vehicle powertrain and the trailer powertrain according to a combined efficiency map based on (i) an efficiency map associated with the vehicle powertrain and (ii) an efficiency map associated with the trailer powertrain.
A method comprising:
- upon an electrically powered trailer having a trailer powertrain being connected to a vehicle having a vehicle powertrain for the trailer to be towed by the vehicle, generating, by a controller of the vehicle, a combined efficiency map based on (i) an efficiency map associated with the vehicle powertrain and (ii) an efficiency map associated with the trailer powertrain;
- and
- operating, by the controller of the vehicle, in order to propel the vehicle with the trailer towed thereto, the vehicle powertrain and the trailer powertrain according to the combined efficiency map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.