A hybrid vehicle includes a control apparatus having an engine controller and a motor controller A first battery and a second battery which has higher voltage than the first battery are provided An electric power generator which is driven by the engine is provided for charging the first battery The second battery and the electric motor are connected through the motor controller, and the first battery or the electric power generator is connected to the motor controller and the engine controller In addition, the first battery or the electric power generator is connected to the engine controller for maintaining a power supply for operation maintenance of the engine controller The second battery and the electric motor are connected through the motor controller The second battery or the electric motor is connected to the motor controller through a DC/DC converter As a result, even if the high voltage line including the electric motor in the control apparatus for the hybrid vehicle has failed, this system can drive the vehicle

Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

A vehicle battery (108) monitoring system and method that computes (100) dynamic internal and polarization resistences (IR and PR) from battery voltage (112) and current drain (110) during engine start. The quiescent voltage (QV) at a current drain of from O to a predetermined amount is also measured (S131) and the battery state-of-charge is computed (S133). Also predicted is the time during which the battery can still start the engine (S330-S340), and the minimum ambient temperature at which it will be able to do so (S420, S424, S426). Appropriate messages can be displayed to alert the driver of any potential problems (S239, S243, S273, S422).

System and method for monitoring a vehicle battery

In a hybrid vehicle with fuel cells and an engine mounted thereon as energy output sources, a technique is employed that adequately changes a working energy output source according to a driving state of the hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has the engine and a motor, both enabling power to be output to an axle. The hybrid vehicle also has fuel cells as a main electric power supply for driving the motor. The technique changes the working energy output source between the fuel cells and the engine, in order to reduce the output of the fuel cells with consumption of a fuel for the fuel cells. With a decrease in remaining quantity of the fuel, the technique narrows a specific driving range, in which the motor is used as the power source. The technique also causes the engine to drive the motor as a generator and charges a battery not with electric power of the fuel cells but with electric power generated by the motor. This arrangement effectively prevents the fuel for the fuel cells from being excessively consumed in one driving mode. The fuel cells can thus be used preferentially in a specific driving state of the hybrid vehicle where the fuel cells have a high efficiency.

Moving object with fuel cells incorporated therein and method of controlling the same

A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system comprising an actuator body, hydraulic pump, electric motor, plurality of sensors, energy storage facility, and controller is provided. The method comprises disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event.

Active vehicle suspension system

A preferred input torque for a hybrid powertrain is determined within a solution space of feasible input torques in accordance with a plurality of powertrain system constraints that results in a minimum overall powertrain system loss. System power losses and battery utilization costs are calculated at feasible input torques and a solution for the input torque corresponding to the minimum total powertrain system loss is converged upon to determine the preferred input torque.

Optimal selection of input torque considering battery utilization for a hybrid electric vehicle

A method for regeneration of particulate filters or traps in the context of a hybrid electric vehicle includes the step of measuring the back pressure of the filter, and adjusting the engine parameters when the back pressure exceeds a particular value to increase the exhaust temperature, to aid in regeneration. In one mode, the engine speed and engine load are both reset toward particular target values. In another version in which the engine load includes an energy storage device such as a battery, increasing the load includes the step of increasing the battery charge level setpoint. Additionally, for those situations in which the battery cannot accept more charge, a power-dissipating resistor is coupled to an electric source to increase the load. In yet another version, the use of the electrical resistor is made dependent upon the temperature of the filter during regeneration.

Regeneration control of particulate filter, particularly in a hybrid electric vehicle

An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state. Charging of the batteries from the auxiliary source is reduced during dynamic braking when the batteries are near full charge. Control of the amount of energy returned during dynamic braking may be performed by control of the transducing efficiency of the traction motor operated as a generator.

Electric vehicle with variable efficiency regenerative braking depending upon battery charge state

An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state Charging of the batteries from the auxiliary source is reduced during dynamic braking when the batteries are near full charge Control of the amount of energy returned during dynamic braking may be performed by control of the transducing efficiency of the traction motor operated as a generator

Hybrid electric vehicle with reduced auxiliary power to batteries during regenerative braking

Hybrid electric vehicle with traction motor drive allocated between battery and auxiliary source depending upon battery charge state

A hybrid electric vehicle (10) includes a traction
motor (40) driven by a traction battery (20), and a supplemental
or secondary electrical source (16) for charging the
traction battery (20). In order to warm the passenger
compartment during cold weather, heat is applied from
the traction motor (40) and the secondary source (16). Under
some conditions, there may be insufficient heat to
adequately warm the passenger compartment. The
traction motor (40) efficiency is lowered, so that more heat
is generated, to aid in supplying the deficiency. In
an embodiment in which the traction motor (40) is an ac
motor, the efficiency is lowered by applying a direct
current to the motor. In an embodiment in which the ac
motor is an induction motor, the efficiency is lowered
by increasing the average slip frequency.

Arthur Paull Lyons

Papers

Regeneration control of particulate filter, particularly in a hybrid electric vehicle

Electric vehicle with variable efficiency regenerative braking depending upon battery charge state

Hybrid electric vehicle with reduced auxiliary power to batteries during regenerative braking

Hybrid electric vehicle with traction motor drive allocated between battery and auxiliary source depending upon battery charge state

Heating system for a hybrid electric vehicle