Hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904835-B2
Application number	US-202117456845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2021
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes: a driving power source including an engine and an electric motor; a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor; and a controller that controls the engine and the electric motor according to a temperature of the battery. When a predetermined EV mode condition is satisfied, and a normal-temperature condition in which the temperature of the battery is a threshold or more is satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source in an EV mode in which the electric motor is driven. When the EV mode condition is satisfied, and a low-temperature condition in which the temperature of the battery is less than the threshold is satisfied, the controller operates the electric motor in a state where electric current flows between the battery and the electric motor drives the engine such that the engine generates traveling power transmitted to a driving wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
a driving power source including an engine and an electric motor;
a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor; and
a controller that controls the engine and the electric motor in accordance with a temperature of the battery, wherein:
in response to determining that a predetermined EV mode condition is satisfied, and a normal-temperature condition that the temperature of the battery is a threshold or more is satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source in an EV mode in which the electric motor is driven; and
in response to determining that the EV mode condition is satisfied, and a low-temperature condition that the temperature of the battery is less than the threshold is satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source so as to operate the electric motor in a predetermined state where electric current flows between the battery and the electric motor and so as to drive the engine such that the engine generates traveling power transmitted to a driving wheel.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a battery output limiter that:
in response to determining that the normal-temperature condition is satisfied, sets maximum electric current with which charging and discharging of the battery is performed, to a predetermined normal temperature restriction value; and
in response to determining that the low-temperature condition is satisfied, sets the maximum electric current with which the charging and discharging of the battery is performed, to a low temperature restriction value smaller than the normal temperature restriction value.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the EV mode condition and the low-temperature condition are satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source such that driving power output by the engine becomes larger than driving power output by the electric motor.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the EV mode condition and the low-temperature condition are satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source such that the electric motor is set to an electric power generating state.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater that is in contact with the battery and generates heat with electric power from the battery to heat the battery;
a switch that switches a circuit between an energized state and a non-energized state, the circuit connecting the battery to the heater; and
a switch driver that drives the switch such that the circuit is set to the energized state when the temperature of the battery is less than the threshold.

6. An electric vehicle comprising:
a driving power source including an electric motor;
a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor;
a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the battery;
a heater that is in contact with the battery and generates heat with the electric power from the battery to heat the battery;
a switch that switches a circuit between an energized state and a non-energized state, the circuit connecting the battery to the heater; and
a switch driver that drives the switch such that the circuit is set to the energized state when the temperature of the battery is less than a threshold.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein, in response to determining the EV mode condition and the low-temperature condition are satisfied, the controller sets an EV-mode output of the engine to be higher than an HEV-mode output of the engine under a same set of conditions as in the EV mode, other than:
satisfaction of the normal-temperature condition; and
setting of an HEV mode in which the electric motor and the engine are driven.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the controller sets the electric motor to a driving state at a time of traveling and sets the electric motor to an electric power generating state at a time of braking or in a stopped state.

9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the threshold is a first threshold;
when the temperature of the battery is less than the first threshold, the controller makes electric current to flow between the battery and the electric motor; and
when the temperature of the battery is less than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, the controller selects an EG mode in which electric current does not flow between the battery and the electric motor and only a driving power of the engine is used for travelling.

10. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an instrument panel that informs a rider of the operation of the predetermined state in response to determining the low-temperature condition is satisfied.

11. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining the EV mode condition and the low-temperature condition are satisfied, the controller controls the driving power source such that the electric motor is set to a driving state that discharges the battery.

12. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, based at least in part on a battery remaining amount detected by a battery remaining amount sensor, the controller selects whether to prioritize discharging the battery or prioritize charging the battery.

13. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein:
the heater is arranged in a duct via which airflow is introduced to the battery; and
the heater is located between an inflow opening of the duct and the battery.

14. An electric vehicle comprising:
a driving power source including an electric motor;
a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor;
a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the battery;
a heater that generates heat with the electric power from the battery to heat the battery;
a switch that switches a circuit between an energized state and a non-energized state, the circuit connecting the battery to the heater; and
a switch driver that drives the switch such that the circuit is set to the energized state when the temperature of the battery is less than a threshold,
wherein:
the heater is arranged in a duct via which airflow is introduced to the battery; and
the heater is located between an inflow opening of the duct and the battery.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Tada Tomoki
• Terai Shohei

Classifications

• B60W20/15 Primary

  Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect · CPC title

• B60W20/40

  Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} · CPC title

• B60Y2200/91

  Electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60Y2200/92

  Hybrid vehicles · CPC title

• B60W20/20

  Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration · CPC title