Patent ID: 9623765
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,Y02T

Claim:
1. A method of providing range optimization aid to a driver of an electric vehicle, wherein said electric vehicle is comprised of a battery pack coupled to an electric drive train, said method comprising: presetting a presentation order for a plurality of range extending recommendations, wherein each range extending recommendation of said plurality of range extending recommendations corresponds to a vehicle condition selected from the group of vehicle conditions consisting of driving behavior, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system settings, and auxiliary system settings, wherein said presentation order is preset in a system controller of said electric vehicle; monitoring a current battery pack charge level; determining a current driving range based on said current battery pack charge level and a predefined set of battery drainage rules; determining a first battery pack drain due to operation of said electric drive train; determining a second battery pack drain due to operation of at least one user controllable auxiliary system, wherein said at least one user controllable auxiliary system is electrically coupled to said battery pack; modifying said current driving range to yield a modified driving range, wherein said modifying step is based on said first battery pack drain and said second battery pack drain; displaying said modified driving range on a display, wherein said display is mounted within said electric vehicle; accepting a user request via a user interface for a suggestion to increase said modified driving range, wherein said user request is accepted by said system controller of said electric vehicle; and communicating a first range extending recommendation to said driver of said electric vehicle in response to said user request, wherein said system controller performs said communicating step, wherein said first range extending recommendation corresponds to a first adjustment of one of said group of vehicle conditions to obtain an increased driving range, wherein selection of said first range extending recommendation is preset by said presentation order, and wherein if said first range extending recommendation is rejected by said driver, said method further comprising: accepting a second user request via said user interface for a second suggestion to increase said modified driving range, wherein said second user request is accepted by said system controller of said electric vehicle; and communicating a second range extending recommendation to said driver of said electric vehicle in response to said second user request, wherein said system controller performs said communicating step, wherein said second range extending recommendation corresponds to a second adjustment of one of said group of vehicle conditions to obtain said increased driving range, and wherein said second range extending recommendation is preset by said presentation order.