Method for controlling fuel cell vehicles and fuel cell vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129807-A1
Application number	US-201514938117-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2015
Priority date	Nov 12, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle capable of informing a user outside of the vehicle of the possibility that the fuel cell stops power generation and external power-feeding stops, whereby problems due to unexpected stopping of power feeding can be avoided. In a method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle 100 including an external power-feeding device 50, when it is determined that a state of a fuel cell exceeds a limiting point where deterioration of the fuel cell 20 or a failure of a driving device to supply fuel to the fuel cell 20 occurs during external power feeding, warning is issued to outside of the vehicle 10 before the fuel cell 20 stops power generation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle including an external power-feeding device, comprising:
when it is determined that a state of a fuel cell exceeds a limiting point where deterioration of the fuel cell or a failure of a driving device to supply fuel to the fuel cell occurs during external power feeding, issuing warning to outside of the vehicle before the fuel cell stops power generation.

2 . The method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the warning is issued by an auxiliary device that is controlled by a controller of the fuel cell.

3 . The method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the warning is issued by a horn or a lamp of the fuel cell vehicle.

4 . The method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the warning is issued through rotation of a fan of a radiator of the fuel cell vehicle.

5 . The method for controlling a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein when it is determined that the state of the fuel cell returns to the limiting point or lower after issuance of the warning, issuance of the warning is stopped.

6 . A fuel cell vehicle, comprising:
a fuel cell; a driving device that supplies fuel to the fuel cell; an external power-feeding device that feeds an electric power produced by the fuel cell to outside; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is programmed to perform issuing, when it is determined that a state of the fuel cell exceeds a limiting point where the fuel cell is deteriorated or where the driving device fails during external power feeding, warning to outside of the vehicle.

7 . The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising an auxiliary device for the fuel cell, wherein the control unit is programmed to perform issuing the warning by controlling the horn or the lamp.

8 . The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising a horn or a lamp, wherein the control unit is programmed to perform issuing the warning by controlling the horn or the lamp.

9 . The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising a radiator, wherein the control unit is programmed to perform issuing the warning by controlling rotation of a fan of the radiator.

10 . The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit is programmed to further perform, when it is determined that the state of the fuel cell returns to the limiting point or lower after issuance of the warning, stopping issuance of the warning.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamoto Yohei
• Imanishi Hiroyuki
• Nada Mitsuhiro
• Yamada Takashi

Classifications

• H01M8/04664

  Failure or abnormal function · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• B60L58/30 Primary

  for monitoring or controlling fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04992

  characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title