Hybrid electric vehicle controller and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having an engine, electric propulsion means powered by energy storage means and electric generator means operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage means, the controller being operable to: receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid driving mode; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the energy storage means; determine which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the generator means to recharge the energy storage means and an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion means is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid driving mode, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of the instant state of charge of the energy storage means and a reference value of state of charge, the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid driving mode.

1 . A controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, and an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, the controller configured to:
 receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode of the vehicle;   determine which of a plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain modes including at least one powertrain mode in which the engine is switched on and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and   cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain mode according to the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption,   wherein the controller is operable to cause the engine to switch on when vehicle speed exceeds a prescribed value, wherein the prescribed value when the vehicle is operating in the first hybrid operating mode is set to a value exceeding that of a prevailing speed limit of a road which the vehicle is driving on.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , configured to receive a signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode from a user. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the prescribed value is higher when the vehicle is operating in the first hybrid operating mode relative to the second hybrid operating mode. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 3 , wherein the prescribed value in the first hybrid operating mode is 35 mph and the prescribed value in the second hybrid operating mode is 30 mph, the prevailing speed limit being 30 mph. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 3 , wherein the prescribed value in the first hybrid operating mode is 40 mph and the prescribed value in the second hybrid operating mode is 35 mph, the prevailing speed limit being 35 mph. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery;
 wherein the powertrain modes include an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the electrical generator to recharge the battery;   wherein the first hybrid operating mode favors prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge when the powertrain is in the engine charging mode; and   wherein the controller is operable for determining which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on a signal indicative of an instant state of charge of the battery and a reference value of state of charge, the reference value in the first hybrid operating mode being higher than that in the second hybrid operating mode, and the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of defined respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid operating mode and additionally in dependence on a selected transmission mode, the selected transmission mode being one of a plurality of selectable transmission modes.   
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 6 , configured to determine the appropriate powertrain mode in dependence on a deviation of the signal indicative of the instant state of charge from the reference value of state of charge. 
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 6 , configured to determine which of the powertrain modes is appropriate at a given moment in time according to a value of a cost function for each powertrain mode, the value of the cost function being determined by reference to the signal indicative of the instant state of charge and the reference value of state of charge of the respective powertrain modes. 
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein the value of the cost function of each powertrain mode is determined in further dependence on at least one selected from amongst a rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle, a rate of emission of a gas by the vehicle and an amount of noise generated by the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to determine a required powertrain mode according to a feedback Stackelberg equilibrium control optimization methodology. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein, when the powertrain is in the EV powertrain mode, the controller is operable to cause the powertrain to assume the engine charging powertrain mode in dependence on driver torque demand, wherein when the first hybrid operating mode is selected the controller is configured to cause the vehicle to assume the engine charging powertrain mode only at higher values of driver torque demand than when the second hybrid operating mode is selected. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein, when the powertrain is in the engine charging operating mode, the controller is configured to cause the electric generator to apply a greater charging load to the engine when the vehicle is in the first hybrid operating mode compared with the second hybrid operating mode. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to command the powertrain to assume the engine charging mode when the second hybrid operating mode is selected and the state of charge of the battery is below a prescribed soft minimum value state of charge, the soft minimum value state of charge being greater than a prescribed absolute minimum value state of charge, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether it is appropriate for the powertrain to assume the engine charging powertrain mode or the EV powertrain mode when the vehicle is operating in the first hybrid operating mode or upon vehicle initialization and the state of charge is below the prescribed soft minimum value state of charge, wherein a magnitude of an interval from the prescribed absolute minimum value state of charge to the prescribed soft minimum value state of charge is approximately 10% of the magnitude of the interval from the prescribed absolute minimum value state of charge to a prescribed absolute maximum value state of charge. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 6 , wherein if the state of charge reaches a value below a prescribed engine start value of the state of charge, the controller commands the engine to start and the powertrain to assume the engine charging mode until the state of charge exceeds a prescribed minimum engine stop value of the state of charge, wherein once the state of charge exceeds the minimum engine stop value of the state of charge the powertrain may resume operation in the EV powertrain mode if the controller determines this is the optimum powertrain mode according to an energy optimization strategy; and wherein if the powertrain resumes operation in the EV powertrain mode once the state of charge exceeds the prescribed minimum engine stop value of the state of charge following an engine start due to the state of charge falling below the engine start value of the state of charge causing the powertrain to assume the engine charging mode, the minimum engine stop value of the state of charge is incremented by a prescribed increment amount. 
     
     
         14 . A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:
 a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, and a controller;   wherein the controller is configured to:   receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode of the vehicle;   determine which of a plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain modes including at least one powertrain mode in which the engine is switched on and an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle;   cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain mode according to the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption; and   cause the engine to switch on when vehicle speed exceeds a prescribed value, wherein the prescribed value when the vehicle is operating in the first hybrid operating mode is set to a value exceeding that of a prevailing speed limit of a road which the vehicle is driving on.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the electric generator and the electric propulsion motor are each provided by an electric machine, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the electric machine to be operated as the electric propulsion motor or as the electric generator. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the electric generator and electric propulsion motor are provided by respective different electric machines. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further configured to operate in a parallel mode in which the engine delivers drive torque to the powertrain. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further configured to operate in a series mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to develop charge to recharge the battery or power the electric propulsion motor while the electric propulsion motor delivers drive torque to the powertrain. 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by a battery, and an electric generator configured to be driven by the engine to recharge the battery, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a required hybrid operating mode;   determining which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including at least one powertrain mode in which the engine is switched on and an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is configured to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle;   causing the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid operating mode, wherein hybrid operating modes include a first hybrid operating mode favoring prolonged operation in the EV powertrain mode by promoting charging of the battery to a higher state of charge, and a second hybrid operating mode favoring a reduction in fuel consumption; and   causing the engine to switch on when vehicle speed exceeds a prescribed value, wherein the prescribed value when the vehicle is operating in the first hybrid operating mode is set to a value exceeding that of a prevailing speed limit of a road which the vehicle is driving on.   
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium carrying computer program code for controlling a vehicle to carry out the method of  claim 19 .