# US 9,751,407 B2 · System and method for reducing vehicle generated carbon dioxide emissions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,407 B2 - Document ID: US9751407B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/150,105 - Filed: 2016-05-09 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-17 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Torsten Gerhardt; Marcus Hurst; Robert Spahl; David Burrage - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751407B2 ## CPC - G01C 21/3469: {Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 35/85: Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data - B60P 3/06: for carrying vehicles (B60P3/12 takes precedence; caravans, camping, or like vehicles with vehicle-carrying means {B60P3/36}) - B60P 3/07: for carrying road vehicles - B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} - B60W 30/18: Propelling the vehicle - B62D 47/006: {Vehicles which can be divided in sub-vehicles; nestable vehicles} - F02D 41/042: {for stopping the engine} - G01C 21/3423: {Multimodal routing} - G07C 5/085: {using electronic data carriers} - B60K 2360/16: Type of output information - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - B60W 2556/10: Historical data - B60W 2556/45: External transmission of data to or from the vehicle - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - B60Y 2200/112: City movers, small sized city motor vehicles - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A system is disclosed having a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle that is carried by the primary vehicle when not in use. The system further includes at least one of an immobilizing device to immobilize the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the primary vehicle, a data storage device for storing information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, a user interface device for displaying information regarding usage of the primary and secondary vehicles, and a user prompt for providing information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle to encourage usage of the secondary vehicle and lower CO2 emissions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: propelling a primary vehicle via an engine mounted therein, the primary vehicle having an interface for interchanging data with, and a mount for carrying, a secondary vehicle producing less carbon dioxide emissions than the primary vehicle; immobilizing the primary vehicle by preventing the operation of an engine of the primary vehicle if the secondary vehicle is removed from the mount and not exchanging data with the primary vehicle; and displaying information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding potential opportunities for use of the secondary vehicle is based upon a destination of the primary vehicle, a proximity of the primary vehicle to the destination, and locations of parking garages in a vicinity of the destination. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information regarding a usage of the primary vehicle and a usage of the secondary vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle includes a distance travelled by the primary vehicle and a distance travelled by the secondary vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle to a third party. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle is stored via a data storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the data storage device comprises one or more memory devices formed as part of an electronic unit of the primary vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim of claim 8, wherein the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle is displayed via a user interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the information regarding the usage of the primary vehicle and the usage of the secondary vehicle further includes displaying an indication of actual usage of the primary vehicle compared to a target usage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle is immobilized via an immobilizing device, the immobilizing device comprising an electronic controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle is detected as being removed from the mount and not exchanging data with the primary vehicle responsive to signals of the secondary vehicle not being receivable by the primary vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the signals of the secondary vehicle are infared signals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the signals of the secondary vehicle are radio frequency signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein immobilizing the primary vehicle includes preventing operation of the engine of the primary vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle has front and rear road wheels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle is a large commercial vehicle, car, van, or truck. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary vehicle is a bicycle, scooter, moped, motorcycle, or hybrid vehicle, or another vehicle propelled in some part by a combustion engine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein operating the secondary vehicle produces zero carbon dioxide emissions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary vehicle has four wheels.