Patent ID: 8204640
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F02D,G01C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A drive power generation control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having a drive shaft, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine as drive power generators for generating drive power for driving the drive shaft, the vehicle further having a charge storage device for supplying electric power to and receiving electric power from the rotary electric machine, the control apparatus being adapted to control the drive power generators, the control apparatus comprising: a proposed travel route information setting section for setting a proposed travel route for the vehicle and a predicted drive power required for traveling along the route; a route dividing section for dividing the set route into a plurality of first sections; an electric power generation cost computing section for computing an electric power generation cost, for each of the first sections, as an index of a fuel increase caused by electric power generation when the vehicle travels in an electric power generation mode; an electric assist cost computing section for computing an electric assist cost, for each of the first sections, as an index of a fuel decrease caused by assistance from the rotary electric machine when the vehicle travels in a drive power assist mode; a reference value setting section for setting, based on the electric power generation cost and the electric assist cost computed for the first sections, an electric power generation cost reference value and an electric assist cost reference value respectively as references for the electric power generation cost and the electric assist cost respectively; an actual demanded drive power setting section for sequentially setting, as actual demanded drive power, the drive power demanded by the drive shaft while the vehicle is traveling; an actual electric power generation cost computing section for computing, as an actual electric power generation cost, the electric power generation cost required when the vehicle travels in the electric power generation mode so that the actual demanded drive power is satisfied; an actual electric assist cost computing section for computing, as an actual electric assist cost, the electric assist cost required when the vehicle travels in the drive power assist mode so that the actual demanded drive power is satisfied; a control section for determining, from the actual electric power generation cost and the electric power generation cost reference value, a cost improvement amount achieved when the vehicle travels in the electric power generation mode, also determining, from the actual electric assist cost and the electric assist cost reference value, a cost improvement amount achieved when the vehicle travels in the drive power assist mode, controlling, based on two cost improvement amounts, the drive power generated by the internal combustion engine, and also controlling rotation of or electric power generation by the rotary electric machine; a planning information storing section for storing, as pieces of planning information, past electric power generation cost reference values and electric assist cost reference values set by the reference value setting section; a performance index computing section for computing a performance index of the fuel consumption amount estimated on an assumption that the vehicle travels along the proposed travel route, with the internal combustion engine and the rotary electric machine controlled based on each of the pieces of planning information stored about the route; and a planning information selecting section for selecting, based on the computed performance index, the piece of planning information including the fuel consumption amount estimated to be lowest, from the pieces of planning information stored about the proposed travel route, wherein the control section is configured to perform control operation thereof by using the electric power generation cost reference value and the electric assist cost reference value as parts of the selected piece of planning information.