A vehicle controller 10 for a hybrid vehicle comprising a combustion engine 20, a motor/generator 30 and an electrical energy storage means (such as a battery) 40, both of which are selectively connectable to a transmission 50. The controller identifies an opportunity to coast the vehicle based on signals indicative of vehicle driving conditions, disconnects the combustion engine and motor/generator from the transmission to allow coasting, whilst keeping the combustion engine and motor/generator connected to each other, and controls revolutions of the combustion engine to the motor/generator, causing it to charge the battery. Driving conditions may include terrain, vehicle location derived from satellite navigation systems, speed limits, weather, traffic, vehicle loading, or driver behaviour. The combustion engine RPM may be varied to optimise fuel efficiency. Data concerning driving conditions could be used to determine when to reconnect the combustion engine or motor/generator, wherein driving conditions may include an acceleration demand above a predetermined level, a braking demand, and/or a vehicle stability/traction control system identifying an unsafe condition.
Control of hybrid vehicles
2020-07-29
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60W CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION , Gemeinsame Steuerung oder Regelung von Fahrzeug-Unteraggregaten verschiedenen Typs oder verschiedener Funktion |