Method of using a regenerative brake system for heating a motor vehicle catalytic converter and powering other electrical accessories

摘要

A method for a motor vehicle includes using a regenerative brake system that produces electric current as a result of application of said regenerative brakes and sending at least a fraction of the electric current directly to an electrical accessory of the vehicle and bypassing the battery. One electrical accessory may be an electrically heated catalytic converter.

主权项

1. A method of heating a catalytic converter for a motor vehicle comprising:
providing a regenerative brake system in said motor vehicle for producing electric current as a result of application of said regenerative brake system; and sending at least a fraction of said electric current directly to an electric heater that is incorporated with said catalytic converter to heat said catalytic converter and bypassing a battery in said motor vehicle; having a controller determine said fraction of electric current to be supplied directly to the electric heater through a power distribution system by using one or more inputs and comparing said inputs with a respective predetermined referenced input and said power distribution system directing a remaining fraction of electric current from said regenerative brake system to said battery or an accessory power bus; determining said fraction of electric current to be supplied directly to the electric heater by determining an error factor (e) based on a reference input subtracted from an actual input; and said error factor being inputted into said controller.