Patent ID: 8972085
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting an operating mode for a vehicle having an electrically variable transmission, the operating mode being one of a plurality of electric vehicle modes and engine-on modes, said method comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: determining a battery discharge penalty; determining, based at least partially on the battery discharge penalty, a cost associated with operating an electrical portion of the transmission in each of the plurality of electric vehicle modes and engine-on modes; determining, based at least partially on the battery discharge penalty, a cost associated with operating a mechanical portion of the transmission in each of the plurality of electric vehicle modes and engine-on modes; calculating respective total costs for operating the vehicle in each of the plurality of electric vehicle modes and engine-on modes based on the battery discharge penalty and the determined costs associated with operating the electrical and mechanical portions of the transmission in each of the plurality of electric vehicle modes and engine-on modes; selecting the operating mode for the vehicle as the one electric vehicle mode or engine-on mode having the lowest calculated total cost for operating the vehicle; after selecting the operating mode, evaluating a drivability impact of changing the operating mode of the vehicle to the selected operating mode; and commanding a control system of the vehicle to change the operating mode of the vehicle to the selected operating mode based on the drivability impact.