Vehicle and method for improving performance at low battery limits
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsQing Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Carol Louise Okubo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a generator, and a traction battery. Available electric power in the HEV is based upon the available power in the traction battery. The engine and the motor may both work simultaneously to propel the HEV. While the engine is powering the HEV, a controller is configured to increase a power output of the engine based upon a difference between available battery power and a combination of desired motor power and desired generator power.
Claims16
A method for controlling a vehicle having an engine, a generator drivably coupled to the engine, a traction motor electrically coupled to the generator and to an electrical storage device comprising:
- while the engine is providing drive torque, increasing engine output to increase available traction motor torque at a rate that varies based on available power from the electrical energy storage device when driver demanded power exceeds a corresponding threshold, and
- wherein the rate of increase engine output varies based upon a difference between available power in the electrical energy storage device and a combination of desired motor power and desired generator power.
A vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- a generator drivably connected to the engine;
- a battery electrically coupled to a motor and the generator;
- and
- a controller configured to increase engine output to increase rotational speed of the generator and available motor torque while the engine is running, wherein a magnitude of the increase of engine output is based upon a difference between available power in the battery and desired power in the motor and generator.
A computer system for controlling an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
- a controller communicatively coupled to an engine and programmed to
- transmit power to wheels of the vehicle from both an engine and a traction motor;
- and
- while engine power is transmitting, increase engine power, to increase available traction motor torque, at a rate that varies based on available power from an electrical energy storage device when driver demands exceed a corresponding threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.