Vehicle to vehicle communication

Abstract

A system for communication between a first electric vehicle, and a second electric vehicle following the first electric vehicle on a route comprises a controller communicatively coupled to a battery associated with the second electric vehicle. The controller is configured to receive a set of first operating parameters associated with the first electric vehicle. The controller determines whether to adjust a component operating parameter of at least one component of the second electric vehicle based on the set of first operating parameters. The controller generates an adjustment command configured to adjust a component operating parameter of the at least one component responsive to the determination. The adjustment of the component operating parameter is configured to manage a state of charge of the battery associated with the second electric vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for communication between a first electric vehicle and a second electric vehicle following the first electric vehicle on a route after a time period, the system comprising:
 a controller communicatively coupled to a battery associated with the second electric vehicle, the controller configured to:
 receive a set of first operating parameters associated with the first electric vehicle; 
 determine whether to adjust a component operating parameter of at least one component of the second electric vehicle based on the set of first operating parameters; and 
 generate an adjustment command configured to adjust a component operating parameter of the at least one component responsive to the determination, wherein the adjustment of the component operating parameter is configured to manage a state of charge of the battery associated with the second electric vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 estimate a set of second operating parameters based on the set of first operating parameters; and   adjust the component operating parameter of at least one component based on the set of second operating parameters.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle comprises a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a battery electric vehicle or a range extender electric vehicle, and wherein the component comprises at least one of a motor, the battery, and an engine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustment command is further configured to cause the motor to operate according to a determined torque amount, and wherein the adjustment command is further configured to cause the engine to operate according to a determined power amount. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of first operating parameters comprise at least one of traffic data, ridership data, charge station data, time of day data, day of week data, time of operation relative to daily mission data, route schedule data, vehicle weight, and ambient conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the charge station data comprises at least one of a current charge station status and a previous charge station status, wherein the charge station data is associated with a location of at least one of the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the set of first operating parameters between a plurality of electric vehicles. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is structured to charge responsive to the adjustment of the component operating parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to a geolocation system, the geolocation system configured to determine a geolocation of the first electric vehicle or the second electric vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . A controller configured to be coupled to a battery of a second electric vehicle which follows a first electric vehicle on a route, the controller configured to:
 receive a set of first operating parameters associated with the first electric vehicle;   determine whether to adjust a component operating parameter of at least one component of the second electric vehicle based on the set of first operating parameters; and   generate an adjustment command configured to adjust a component operating parameter of the at least one component responsive to the determination, wherein the adjustment of the component operating parameter is configured to manage a state of charge of a battery associated with the second electric vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 10 , further configured to:
 estimate a set of second operating parameters based on the set of first operating parameters; and   adjust the component operating parameter of at least one component based on the set of second operating parameters.   
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle comprises a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a range extender electric vehicle, and wherein the component comprises at least one of a motor, the battery, and an engine. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustment command is further configured to cause the motor to operate according to a determined torque amount, and wherein the adjustment command is further configured to cause the engine to operate according to a determined power amount. 
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein the set of first operating parameters comprise at least one of traffic data, ridership data, charge station data, time of day data, day of week data, time of operation relative to daily mission data, route schedule data, vehicle weight, and ambient conditions. 
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the set of first operating parameters between a plurality of electric vehicles. 
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 10 , wherein the battery is structured to charge responsive to the adjustment of the component operating parameter. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a set of first operating parameters associated with a first electric vehicle;   determining whether to adjust a component operating parameter of at least one component of a second electric vehicle based on the set of first operating parameters, the second electric vehicle following the first electric vehicle on a route; and   generating an adjustment command configured to adjust a component operating parameter of the at least one component responsive to the determination, wherein the adjustment of the component operating parameter is configured to manage a state of charge of the battery associated with the second electric vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising monitoring the battery of the second electric vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the set of first operating parameters comprise at least one of traffic data, ridership data, charge station data, time of day data, day of week data, time of operation relative to daily mission data, route schedule data, vehicle weight, and ambient conditions. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle comprises a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a range extender electric vehicle, and wherein the component comprises at least one of a motor, the battery, and an engine. 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 determining a set of first operating parameters associated with a first electric vehicle traveling on a route;   receiving, by a second electric vehicle following the first electric vehicle on the route, the set of first operating parameters;   estimating a set of second operating parameters based the set of first operating parameters; and   adjusting a component operating parameter of at least one component of the second electric vehicle based on the set of second operating parameters.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one component comprises at least one of an engine, a battery and a motor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the component operating parameter comprises at least one of an engine speed, an engine torque, a motor speed, a motor torque and a battery usage.