Patent ID: 7966121
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: B60L,B60W,G01F,H01M,Y02E,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle including a motor that is a driving source of the fuel cell vehicle, a motor controller that controls an operation status of the motor, a fuel cell system that is a power source for the motor, and a controller that calculates and displays fuel efficiency, said fuel cell system including a fuel cell which receives reaction gasses and performs electrochemical reactions to generate an electrical power, and a power storage device which is charged with the generated electrical power from the fuel cell and a regeneration power from the motor, and discharges an assisting power to assist the electrical power of the fuel cell, said fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle comprising: a first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining step for obtaining a first interval vehicle efficiency that is an average energy efficiency at a predetermined first time-interval that ascends from the present time to the past and is a relatively long time interval, based on (i) a reaction gas amount that was consumed for power generation in the fuel cell in the first time-interval, and (ii) a traveling energy generated in the first time-interval, wherein an increase of the reaction gas amount consumed in the fuel cell is suppressed in accordance with increasing an amount of the assisting power from the power storage device; a second interval traveling energy obtaining step for obtaining a second interval traveling energy that is a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval and is also an instant time-interval with respect to the present time; a second interval fuel efficiency obtaining step for obtaining a second interval fuel efficiency that is an average fuel efficiency of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval, based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy; an ideal fuel efficiency obtaining step for obtaining an ideal fuel efficiency that is a predetermined ideal fuel efficiency which corresponds to a state of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval; a second interval fuel efficiency difference calculating step for calculating a second interval fuel efficiency difference that is a fraction of the second interval fuel efficiency corresponding to a driving operation of a driver with respect to the ideal fuel efficiency in the second time-interval, based on the second interval fuel efficiency and the ideal fuel efficiency; and a displaying step for displaying the second interval fuel efficiency difference, wherein in said displaying step, an image having a circular-shape and size corresponding to said second interval fuel efficiency difference is displayed, and a diameter of the circular-shape is changed in response to said second interval fuel efficiency difference.