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

摘要

An automobile having an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon a user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the state of charge (SOC) is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the SOC is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The automobile can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.

主权项

1. A method for operating an automobile having an energy storage unit with a state of charge and an energy conversion unit for powering the automobile, 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; and 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 that is greater than the first charging range.