Patent ID: 6230496
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,F01B,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
An energy control unit for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including an electric motor operable to provide a source of drive power to the hybrid vehicle, an energy storage unit operatively coupled to the electric motor to provide a first source of energy to the electrical motor, and a prime mover operatively coupled to the electric motor to provide a second source of energy to the electric motor, the energy control unit being operable to control an amount of stored potential energy of the energy storage unit such that an energy level of the hybrid vehicle is maintained substantially at a desired magnitude, the energy level of the hybrid vehicle being a function of at least: (i) mechanical kinetic energy of the hybrid vehicle; (ii) mechanical potential energy of the hybrid vehicle; and (iii) potential energy of the energy storage unit.