Energy control mechanisms for an electric vehicle
AssigneeProterra Inc.
InventorsSeneca A. Schepmann, Robert Clippard, Tim Stafford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of controlling an electric vehicle having an HVAC system configured to condition a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle, and one or more batteries configured to provide energy to the HVAC system, may include controlling an output of the HVAC system based on one or more of a charging state of the one or more batteries, a state of charge of the one or more batteries, and an ambient temperature outside of the electric vehicle.
Claims20
A method of controlling an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle having an HVAC system configured to condition a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle, and one or more batteries configured to provide energy to the HVAC system, the method comprising:
- receiving a user-selected temperature setpoint for the HVAC system;
- determining if the electric vehicle is being charged at a charging station;
- if the electric vehicle is being charged, automatically modifying the temperature setpoint by increasing or decreasing the temperature setpoint of the HVAC system from the user-selected temperature setpoint;
- and
- controlling an output of the HVAC system to achieve the modified temperature setpoint within a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle.
A control system for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- an HVAC system configured to condition air within a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle;
- one or more batteries configured to provide energy to the HVAC system;
- and
- a control unit configured to:
- receive a user-selected temperature setpoint for the HVAC system;
- determine if the electric vehicle is being charged at a charging station;
- if the electric vehicle is being charged, automatically modify the temperature setpoint by increasing or decreasing the temperature setpoint of the HVAC system from the user-selected setpoint, wherein an amount of the increase or decrease in temperature is based on an ambient temperature outside the vehicle;
- if the electric vehicle is not being charged, set the temperature setpoint of the HVAC system to the user-selected setpoint;
- and
- control an output of the HVAC system to achieve the modified temperature setpoint within a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle when the vehicle is being charged.
A method of controlling an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle having an HVAC system configured to condition a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle, and one or more batteries configured to provide energy to the HVAC system, the method comprising:
- selecting a temperature from a temperature setpoint window as a user-selected temperature setpoint, wherein the temperatures presented in the temperature setpoint window are selected based on an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle;
- determining if the electric vehicle is being charged at a charging station;
- if the electric vehicle is being charged, automatically modifying the temperature setpoint by increasing or decreasing the temperature setpoint of the HVAC system from the user-selected temperature setpoint, wherein an amount of the increase or decrease in temperature is based on the ambient temperature;
- if the electric vehicle is not being charged, setting the temperature setpoint of the HVAC system to the user-selected setpoint;
- and
- controlling an output of the HVAC system to achieve the modified temperature setpoint within a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle when the vehicle is being charged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.