Method and system for more efficient operation of plug-in electric vehicles

A method for operating an automobile, comprising:

• providing an energy storage unit with a state of charge;
• providing an energy conversion unit having an engine for at least one of powering a movement of the automobile, storing energy in the energy storage unit, or powering an electronic device of the automobile;
• and
• configuring the automobile to operate in an extended charging mode that asynchronously increases and decreases the state of charge of the energy storage unit to maintain the state of charge of the energy storage unit within a charging range that is between a first state of charge limit value and a second state of charge limit value.

A method for operating an automobile having an energy conversion unit for powering the automobile, an energy storage unit with a state of charge, and a control unit connected to the energy conversion unit, the method comprising:

• configuring the automobile to operate in a charge depletion mode that decreases the state of charge of the energy storage unit due to energy being provided by the energy storage unit to power the automobile;
• configuring the automobile to operate in a charge sustaining mode that maintains the state of charge of the energy storage unit within a first charging range by powering the automobile using energy from the energy conversion unit;
• configuring the automobile to operate in an extended charging mode that asynchronously increases the state of charge of the energy storage unit using energy from the energy conversion unit to charge the energy storage unit and decreases the state of charge of the energy storage unit to power the automobile to maintain the state of charge of the energy storage unit within a second charging range which is greater than the first charging range;
• and
• configuring the automobile to operate in a forced charging mode that automatically increases the state of charge of the energy storage unit until the state of charge of the energy storage unit reaches a forced charging threshold, and thereafter maintains the energy storage unit at or within a proximity of the forced charging threshold.

An automobile comprising:

• an energy storage unit for storing electrical energy and having a state of charge;
• a first energy conversion unit including an engine for powering a movement of the automobile or providing energy to the energy storage unit;
• a second energy conversion unit including a motor for moving the automobile using the electrical energy stored in the energy storage unit;
• and
• a control unit connected to the first energy conversion unit and the second energy conversion unit, the control unit configured to:
• operate the automobile in a charge depletion mode that decreases the state of charge of the energy storage unit due to energy being provided by the energy storage unit to power the automobile,
• operate the automobile in a charge sustaining mode that maintains the state of charge of the energy storage unit within a first charging range by powering the automobile using energy from the energy conversion unit,
• operate the automobile in an extended charging mode that asynchronously increases the state of charge of the energy storage unit and decreases the state of charge of the energy storage unit to maintain the state of charge of the energy storage unit within a second charging range which is greater than the first charging range, and
• switch a current charging mode from the charge depletion mode to the charge sustaining mode when the state of charge of the energy storage unit reaches a first state of charge threshold.