Abstract:
A vehicle operational cost display system includes a user interface adapted for entry of cost of fuel for operation of a vehicle; a central processing unit interfacing with the user interface, the central processing unit having a calculator function adapted to calculate total operational cost of the vehicle based on the cost of fuel for operation of the vehicle and distance traveled; and a display interfacing with the central processing unit, the display adapted to display the total operational cost of the vehicle. A vehicle operational cost display method is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for determining operational costs of vehicles. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to a vehicle operational cost display system and method which calculates the operational cost of a vehicle based on fuel cost input and displays the calculate operational cost to an operator of the vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Plug-in HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) provide a vehicle operator with an MPGE (Distance Per Gallon Electric or Equivalent) calculation. MPGE is the industry standard but does not take into account the cost of electricity needed to charge the high capacity battery of the vehicle. The total operational cost of a PHEV (plug in hybrid electric vehicle) or extended range vehicle is not available to the vehicle operator. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, a vehicle operational cost display system and method which calculates the operational cost of a vehicle based on fuel cost input and displays the calculate operational cost to an operator of the vehicle is needed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a vehicle operational cost display system which calculates the operational cost of a vehicle based on fuel cost input and displays the calculate operational cost to an operator of the vehicle. An illustrative embodiment of the system includes a user interface adapted for entry of cost of fuel for operation of a vehicle; a central processing unit interfacing with the user interface, the central processing unit having a calculator function adapted to calculate total operational cost of the vehicle based on the cost of fuel for operation of the vehicle and distance traveled; and a display interfacing with the central processing unit, the display adapted to display the total operational cost of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are further generally directed to a vehicle operational cost display method. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes entering a fuel cost for a vehicle and calculating and displaying a total operational cost of the vehicle based on the fuel cost, distance per unit volume of fuel consumed and distance traveled by the vehicle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display system suitable for an HEV; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display method suitable for an HEV; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display system suitable for a conventional vehicle; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display method suitable for a conventional vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable users skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0012]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . The system  100  is adapted to calculate the operational cost of a vehicle based on fuel cost (gasoline, diesel and/or electricity cost) input and display the calculated vehicle operational cost to an operator of the vehicle. The system  100  may be applicable to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) such as PHEVs (plug in hybrid electric vehicles), for example and without limitation. 
         [0013]    The system  100  may include a CPU (central processing unit)  102 . The CPU  102  may have a calculator function  104 . A user interface  106  may interface with the CPU  102 . The user interface  106  may permit an operator to input the fuel cost (gasoline or diesel cost  110  and/or electricity cost  112 ) of the vehicle at the time of vehicle fueling such as at the beginning of a trip, for example and without limitation. 
         [0014]    A display  114  may interface with the CPU  102 . The display  114  may be adapted to indicate the battery charge cost  116 , or the cost which is incurred to charge the vehicle battery such as at the beginning of and during the trip. The display  114  may also be adapted to display the distance per unit volume (such as miles per gallon, MPG  118 , for example and without limitation) which has been achieved by the vehicle since the start of the trip. The display  114  may be adapted to display a total cost calculation  120 , which is the total operational cost of the vehicle which accrues on the trip. 
         [0015]    The CPU  102  may be adapted to calculate the battery charge cost  116  by multiplying the quantity of electrical power which is charged into the vehicle battery by the electricity cost  112  (cost of electricity per unit) which is input into the user interface  106  by the vehicle operator: 
         [0000]      Battery charge cost=quantity of electrical power charged*electricity cost 
         [0016]    The battery charge cost  116  may include the cumulative cost of charging the vehicle battery at all points throughout the trip. The CPU  102  may be adapted to calculate an MPG cost by dividing the distance traveled since the start of the trip by the distance per unit volume of fuel consumed (e.g., miles per gallon) which have been achieved by the vehicle since the start of the trip (trip MPG) and multiplying the resulting quotient by the gas cost per unit volume: 
         [0000]      MPG cost=[Distance traveled/trip MPG]*gas cost/unit volume 
         [0017]    The CPU  102  may be adapted to calculate the total trip cost by adding the MPG cost to the battery charge cost: 
         [0000]      Total trip cost=MPG cost+Battery charge cost 
         [0018]    In exemplary application of the system  100 , a vehicle operator (not shown) enters the fuel cost (including the gas cost  110 , such as dollars per unit volume of gasoline and the electricity cost  112 , such as the cost of electricity per unit) in the user interface  106  at the beginning of a trip which is to be taken in an HEV. The CPU  102 , via the calculator function  104 , calculates the total cost calculation  120  such as by calculating the MPG cost, the battery charge cost and the total trip cost based on the MPG cost and the battery charge cost  120  as was set forth above. The CPU  102  displays the battery charge cost  116 , the trip MPG  118  and the total cost calculation  120  on the display  114 . 
         [0019]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram  200  of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display method is shown. In block  202 , the fuel cost (gas and electricity cost) for a vehicle are entered into a user interface. In block  204 , the battery charge cost which accrues to charge the battery for the time the vehicle is plugged in and charging before and during a trip is calculated and displayed. In block  206 , the distance per unit volume of fuel consumed (MPG) for the trip may be calculated and displayed based on the gasoline which has been consumed since the beginning of the trip. In block  208 , the total cost calculation based on the MPG cost and the electrical cost may be combined and displayed. 
         [0020]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram  300  of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display system suitable for a conventional vehicle is shown. The system  300  is adapted to calculate the operational cost of a vehicle based on gasoline or diesel fuel cost input and display the calculated vehicle operational cost to an operator of the vehicle. The system  300  may be applicable to conventional non-electric or internal combustion (IC) vehicles. 
         [0021]    The system  300  may include a CPU (central processing unit)  302  having a calculator function  304  and a user interface  306 . The user interface  306  may permit an operator to input the gas cost  310  of the vehicle at the time of vehicle fueling such as at the beginning of and/or during a trip, for example and without limitation. 
         [0022]    A display  314  may interface with the CPU  302 . The display  314  may be adapted to display the trip MPG (distance per unit volume such as miles per gallon of gasoline consumed)  318  which has been achieved by the vehicle since the start of the trip. The display  314  may be adapted to display a total cost calculation  320 , which is the total operational cost of the vehicle which accrues on the trip. 
         [0023]    The CPU  102  may be adapted to calculate an MPG cost by dividing the distance traveled since the start of the trip by the distance per unit volume of gasoline consumed which has been achieved by the vehicle since the start of the trip (trip MPG) and multiplying the resulting quotient by the gas cost per unit volume: 
         [0000]      MPG cost=[Distance traveled/trip MPG]*gas cost/unit volume 
         [0024]    The total trip cost  320  may correspond to the MPG cost. 
         [0025]    In exemplary application of the system  300 , a vehicle operator (not shown) enters the gas cost  310  (such as dollars per gallon or other unit volume) in the user interface  306  at the beginning of a trip which is to be taken in a conventional internal-combustion engine vehicle. The CPU  302 , via the calculator function  304 , calculates the total cost calculation  320  such as by calculating the MPG cost as was set forth above. The CPU  302  displays trip MPG  318  and the total cost calculation  320  on the display  314 . 
         [0026]    Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram  400  of an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle operational cost display method suitable for a conventional vehicle is shown. In block  402 , the gas cost of a vehicle, such as in dollars per gallon or other unit volume, is entered into a user interface. In block  404 , the MPG for the trip is calculated and displayed. In block  406 , the total cost calculation based on the MPG cost is calculated and displayed. 
         [0027]    Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, as other variations will occur to those of skill in the art.