Energy management system and method

Abstract

A fuel system controller obtains fuel burn data from an engine control module (ECM). The fuel system controller also obtains location data from a telematics control module, such as GPS location data identifying the location of a vehicle. The fuel system controller determines the vehicle's base location based on the location data, and determines how far the vehicle can travel based on the fuel burn data. The fuel system controller determines how many fueling stations are with a threshold distance of the determined distance to empty. The fuel system controller can use that data to identify which, and how many, fueling stations are within a threshold distance of the determined distance to empty. The fuel system controller can provide a fueling warning indication based on the number of fueling stations that are within the determined distance to empty.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A fuel system controller comprising:
 an engine control module (ECM) interface operable to obtain fuel burn data from an ECM;   a telematics data interface operable to obtain location data from a telematics control module; and   a processor operably coupled to the ECM interface and the telematics data interface and configured to:
 determine a base location based on the location data; 
 determine a distance to empty based on the fuel burn data; 
 based on fueling station map data, determine a number of fueling stations that are within a predetermined threshold distance of the determined distance to empty; 
 compare the number of fueling stations that are within the predetermined threshold distance of the determined distance to empty with a first threshold; 
 in response to the number of fueling stations being above the first threshold, generate a first fuel warning indication; and 
 in response to the number of fueling stations being at or below the first threshold, generate a second fuel warning indication, the second fuel warning indication being different from the first fuel warning indication. 
   
     
     
         22 . The fuel system controller of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 display at least one of the first fuel warning indication and the second fuel warning indication on a display device based on a user preference.   
     
     
         23 . The fuel system controller of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 compare the number of fueling stations with a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         24 . The fuel system controller of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 in response to the number of fueling stations being at or below the second threshold, generate the second fuel warning indication.   
     
     
         25 . The fuel system controller of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 in response to the number of fueling stations being above the second threshold, generate a third fuel warning indication, the third fuel warning indication being different from the second fuel warning indication, the third fuel warning indication being different from the first fuel warning indication.   
     
     
         26 . The fuel system controller of  claim 21 , wherein the location data comprises global positioning system (GPS) data. 
     
     
         27 . The fuel system controller of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the base location based on the GPS data.   
     
     
         28 . The fuel system controller of  claim 21 , wherein the base location includes a current location. 
     
     
         29 . The fuel system controller of  claim 21 , wherein the fuel burn data includes a current fuel burn rate of an engine. 
     
     
         30 . The fuel system controller of  claim 29 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the distance to empty based on the fuel burn rate data and a distance before the engine is derated.   
     
     
         31 . A method implemented on a system having one or more processors and memories, comprising:
 obtaining fuel burn data from an ECM;   obtaining location data from a telematics control module;   determining a base location based on the location data;   determining a distance to empty based on the fuel burn data;   based on fueling station map data, determining a number of fueling stations that are within a predetermined threshold distance of the determined distance to empty;   comparing the number of fueling stations with a first threshold;   in response to the number of fueling stations being above the first threshold, generating a first fuel warning indication; and   in response to the number of fueling stations being at or below the first threshold, generating a second fuel warning indication, the second fuel warning indication being different from the first fuel warning indication.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising displaying at least at least one of the first fuel warning indication and the second fuel warning indication on a display device based on a user preference. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising comparing the number of fueling stations with a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 in response to the number of fueling stations being at or below the second threshold, generating the second indication.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 in response to the number of fueling stations being above the second threshold, generating a third fuel warning indication, the third fuel warning indication being different from the first fuel warning indication, the third fuel warning indication being different from the second fuel warning indication.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the location data includes global positioning system (GPS) data. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising determining the base location based on the GPS data. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the base location includes a current location. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fuel burn rate data includes a current fuel burn rate of an engine. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising determining the distance to empty based on the fuel burn rate data and a distance before the engine is derated.