Method of operating vehicle and associated system

Abstract

A method of operating a vehicle having an electric drive is provided. The method includes defining a first zone and a second zone. The first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The method further includes switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in the first zone to a second operating mode in the second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone. Associated vehicles and systems are provided also.

1 . A method, comprising:
 defining a first zone and a second zone, and the first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic; and   switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in the first zone to a second operating mode in the second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone.   
   
   
       2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising separating the first zone from the second zone by a geo-fence. 
   
   
       3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising bounding the first zone as a geographical area. 
   
   
       4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the first zone dynamically with reference to a time of day. 
   
   
       5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the first zone dynamically with reference to a day of a week. 
   
   
       6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the first zone dynamically with reference to a day of a year. 
   
   
       7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising limiting the first zone dynamically by reference to an environmental indicator corresponding to the first zone. 
   
   
       8 . The method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the environmental indicator is at least one of UV index, pollution index, ground level ozone content, NOx content, SOx content, carbon dioxide content, carbon monoxide content, wind speed, wind direction, particulate matter content, or pollen count. 
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic is, relative to the second characteristic, a tax benefit or a reduction in one or more of tax liability based on one or more of emissions, fuel consumption, or noise; emissions; fuel consumption; or, noise. 
   
   
       10 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic is a topologically-based ability to regenerate an energy storage device of the vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising bounding the second zone as a geographical area. 
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the second zone dynamically with reference to a time of day. 
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the second zone dynamically with reference to a day of a week. 
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a boundary of the second zone dynamically with reference to a day of a year. 
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining the second zone dynamically by reference to an environmental indicator corresponding to the second zone. 
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the environmental indicator is at least one of UV index, pollution index, wind speed, or wind direction. 
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the environmental indicator is at least one of ground level ozone content. 
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second characteristic is, relative to the first characteristic, an increased one or more of tax liability based on one or more of emission, fuel consumption, or noise; noise sensitivity; population; or, environmental or pollution sensitivity. 
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second characteristic is a topologically-based need for a regenerated energy storage device of the vehicle. 
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first operating mode comprises operating the vehicle in a manner to accomplish at least one of:
 an increase in battery life, an increase in battery charge, an increase in vehicle speed, or an increase in fuel economy; or,   an optimization of at least one battery characteristic selected from the group consisting of battery temperature and battery state of charge; or,   a reduction or elimination of discharge of an energy storage device coupled to electrical drive motors of the vehicle.   
   
   
       21 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode comprises operating the vehicle in a manner to accomplish at least one of: an increased tax benefit based on one or more of reduced emissions, reduced fuel consumption, or reduced noise; decreased emissions; decreased fuel consumption; decreased noise from an on-board engine; or decreased tax liability based on one or more of emissions, fuel consumption, or noise. 
   
   
       22 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode comprises operating the vehicle by drawing stored energy from an energy storage device of the vehicle. 
   
   
       23 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode comprises operating the vehicle by drawing energy only from an energy storage device of the vehicle and not from an engine of the vehicle. 
   
   
       24 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode comprises determining a compliant operating mode that is a mixture of energy from an energy storage device of the vehicle and from an engine of the vehicle, and the engine is run in a manner that has at least one of less noise, less emissions, or less of a taxable event relative to the first mode of operation. 
   
   
       25 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising determining the translation point by a signal/sensor pair, a global positioning system, or a calculation based on a known route and a distance or time measurement along the route. 
   
   
       26 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the signal/sensor pair comprises an RFID sensor. 
   
   
       27 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising defining a third zone having an associated third characteristic; and
 switching the vehicle operating mode to the third operating mode in the third zone in response to the vehicle translating to the third zone from the first zone or the second zone.   
   
   
       28 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the third characteristic comprises one or more of a minimum travel length to take an energy storage device on the vehicle from a current state of charge to a full useable state of charge; or a topographical feature biased for regenerative braking. 
   
   
       29 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a route of the vehicle so that a travel path of the vehicle in the third zone is of sufficient length to charge an energy storage device of the vehicle to a full useable charge state. 
   
   
       30 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising determining a current state of charge of an energy storage device of the vehicle and determining a minimum distance for regenerative braking to bring the energy storage device from the current state of charge to a full useable state of charge. 
   
   
       31 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising determining a travel path length in the second zone, determining a state of charge of an energy storage device of the vehicle, determining an expected hybrid propulsion distance based on the useable state of charge, and comparing the expected hybrid propulsion distance to the travel path length. 
   
   
       32 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising charging the energy storage device to a full useable state of charge in the third zone prior to translating to the second zone. 
   
   
       33 . The method as defined in  claim 32 , further comprising slowing the vehicle using regenerative braking at a rate that is determined by the energy uptake rate of the energy storage device and the energy generating capacity of a regenerative braking system coupled thereto. 
   
   
       34 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first operating mode comprises operating an auxiliary electrical system in a first, higher-energy consuming operating mode; and the second operating mode comprises operating the auxiliary electrical system a second, lower-energy consuming operating mode. 
   
   
       35 . An electrically drivable vehicle, comprising:
 a controller capable of switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in a first zone to a second operating mode in a second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone, wherein the first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic; and   a sensor communicating with the controller that is operable to determine if the vehicle translates to and from the second zone.   
   
   
       36 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein the vehicle comprises an energy storage device that can propel, or assist in propelling, the vehicle in at least one mode of operation. 
   
   
       37 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the energy storage device is not electrically coupled to an engine-driven alternator. 
   
   
       38 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein the vehicle does not have an engine. 
   
   
       39 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein the sensor is a global positioning satellite sensor system or is an RFID component that communicates with a corresponding RFID component that is at a known location. 
   
   
       40 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , wherein the vehicle is a diesel electric hybrid locomotive. 
   
   
       41 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , further comprising a fuel cell that is operable to supply energy to an auxiliary electrical system or an electrical vehicle accessory system. 
   
   
       42 . The vehicle as defined in  claim 35 , further comprising a fuel cell that is operable to supply energy to an energy storage device to charge the energy storage device. 
   
   
       43 . A system for use with an electrically driven vehicle, comprising:
 means for identifying a first zone and a second zone, and the first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic; and   means for switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in the first zone to a second operating mode in the second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone.   
   
   
       44 . A system having information correlating an amount of energy used by a vehicle to an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle or an amount of emissions emitted by the vehicle, comprising:
 a controller operable to determine at least one of a saved amount of fuel or a reduced amount of emissions; and   a sensor operable to measure an amount of energy supplied by an energy storage device and to communicate information about that amount to the controller, wherein   the controller determines the saved amount of fuel or the reduced amount of emissions based on the amount of the energy supplied by the energy storage device.   
   
   
       45 . The system as defined in  claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy storage device was provided to the energy storage device by regenerative braking of the vehicle. 
   
   
       46 . The system as defined in  claim 44 , wherein the correlating information refers to an engine only propelled vehicle that consumes fuel and emits emissions, so that the amount of fuel saved or emissions reduced is an amount referring to the instant vehicle relative to the engine only propelled vehicle. 
   
   
       47 . The system as defined in  claim 44 , wherein comprising a display screen secured to the vehicle that displays the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle or an amount of emissions emitted by the vehicle.