Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. Method for controlling an electrical energy storage device that is in service within a vehicle, comprising:providing a present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device;establishing a target life objective for the electrical energy storage device as one of cumulative time and distance that the electrical energy storage device is in service within the vehicle at a predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device;determining a state-of-life gradient as a rate of change in the state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device with respect to the one of cumulative time and distance that the electrical energy storage device is in service within the vehicle which linearly converges the present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device to the target life objective; and,controlling electrical energy storage device power to effect the state-of-life gradient. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device is indicative of the end of life of the electrical energy storage device. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the life target is normalized with respect to the one of cumulative time and distance that the electrical energy storage device is in service within the vehicle upon which the target life objective is based. 4. Method for managing state-of-life of an electrical energy storage device that is in service within a vehicle, comprising:providing a state-of-life gradient based on a present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device and a target life objective comprising at least one of cumulative time and distance that the electrical energy storage device is in service within the vehicle at a predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device; andcontrolling electrical energy storage device power such that electrical energy storage device state-of-life substantially tracks the state-of-life gradient comprising linearly converging the present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device to the target life objective. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein controlling electrical energy storage device power such that electrical energy storage device state-of-life substantially tracks the state-of-life gradient comprises:providing a plurality of predicted effects upon electrical energy storage device state-of-life based on a plurality of potential electrical energy storage device currents; andcontrolling electrical energy storage device current based on the predicted effects and the state-of-life gradient. 6. Method for managing an operating state of an electrical energy storage device, comprising:establishing a target life objective for the electrical energy storage device comprising a predetermined service life for the electrical energy storage device, andcontrolling power transmitted through the electrical energy storage device such that the operating state of the electrical energy storage device is less than a predetermined value when the target life objective is attained comprising linearly converging a present operating state of the electrical energy storage device to the target life objective. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operating state of the electrical energy storage device comprises a state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling power transmitted through the electrical energy storage device such that an operating state of the electrical energy storage device is less than a predetermined value further comprises:determining the operating state of the electrical energy storage device, comprising:monitoring electrical current through the electrical energy storage device;monitoring a state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device;monitoring a temperature of the electrical energy storage device during active and quiescent periods of operation; and,determining a state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device, based upon the electrical energy storage device current, the state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device, and, the temperature of the electrical energy storage device during operation and during quiescent periods of operation. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrical energy storage device is adapted for use in a hybrid vehicular powertrain and controlling power transmitted from the electrical energy storage device such that the state-of-life is less than a predetermined value when the target life objective is attained further comprises:calculating a life factor based upon an accumulated time and an accumulated distance of operation of the powertrain;determining a target state-of-life gradient based upon the life factor, the state-of-life, and the target life objective; and,controlling electrical power between the electrical energy storage device and the powertrain based upon the target state-of-life gradient. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling electrical power between the electrical energy storage device and the powertrain based upon the target state-of-life gradient further comprises:determining potential changes in state-of-life for the electrical energy storage device based upon an array of potential electrical currents through the electrical energy storage device; and,selecting one of the array of potential electrical currents based upon the state-of-life gradient. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling power transmitted through the electrical energy storage device comprises controlling electrical current between the electrical energy storage device and the powertrain. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining potential changes in state-of-life for the electrical energy storage device based upon an array of potential electrical currents through the electrical energy storage device further comprises:selecting the array of potential electrical currents through the electrical energy storage device; and,determining a corresponding array of changes in the state-of-life for the electrical energy storage device determined based upon the array of potential electrical currents through the electrical energy storage device;wherein changes in the state-of-life for the electrical energy storage device are determined based upon: time-based integration of the electrical currents through the electrical energy storage device, depth of discharge of the energy storage device, and, operating temperature of the electrical energy storage device.