Patent ID: 8937452
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a state-of-charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a battery temperature prediction for the vehicle battery; (b) using the battery temperature prediction to determine a desired SOC range for the vehicle battery that includes an upper SOC limit, a lower SOC limit, or both, when the battery temperature prediction is warmer than a temperature threshold the desired SOC range is determined for optimum fuel efficiency, and when the battery temperature prediction is colder than a temperature threshold the desired SOC range is adjusted to ensure that the vehicle battery has enough charge to start the vehicle in a cold environment, wherein the desired SOC range is at least partially temperature dependent; and (c) controlling the amount of charge on the vehicle battery while the vehicle is being driven so that the SOC of the vehicle battery is substantially maintained within the desired SOC range.