Propulsion system for automotive vehicles

Abstract

The propulsion system includes a battery powered or combustion powered prime mover and a secondary or auxiliary mover. When the prime mover is battery powered, the secondary mover is controlled so as to optimize the use of the electrical energy stored in the batteries, while using the secondary mover, when necessary, to supply auxiliary power when required for vehicle performance. This is done by keeping the prime mover operating, primarily, in the low to moderate current range, where energy loss in the battery is low and controlling the secondary mover to supply as much power as is necessary to keep the battery drain as near as possible to a preselected threshold value. When the prime mover is combustion powered, the secondary mover is similarly controlled to keep the prime mover within the torque range of most efficient operation. The propulsion system is used either to power a hybrid low pollution vehicle or to provide auxiliary power to a battery operated vehicle to extend its range or enable it to pull occasional heavy loads (e.g. a trailer).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.