Patent ID: 8694233

Claim:
A method for managing fuel consumption of a hybrid vehicle on a given trip, the vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, electric energy storage means and at least an electric machine configured to work as a generator or as a motor, this method comprising: determining a target value of a parameter representative of fuel savings resulting from the use of the electric machine, wherein the parameter is a comparison of the energy needs of the vehicle for the trip corresponding to the energy savings resulting from the use of the storage means and the electric machine; determining an actual value of the parameter when the vehicle is running on the trip; comparing the target value and the actual value; and informing a user of a result of the comparison of the target value and the actual value at least at the end of the trip, wherein the result of the comparison of the target value and the actual value is a numerical value representing an influence of a driver's behavior in terms of fuel consumption, wherein determining the target value comprises: computation of a first energy needs reference value of the vehicle to travel the trip when only the internal combustion engine is used; computation of an optimal second energy needs reference value of the vehicle to travel the trip when the internal combustion engine, the storage means and the electric machine are used; and computation of the target value of the parameter, on the basis of the first and second energy needs reference values, and wherein determining the actual value comprises: computation of a third energy value of the vehicle corresponding to an actual need of the internal combustion engine when the driver is driving the vehicle on the trip; and computation of the actual value of the parameter, on the basis of the first energy needs reference value and the third energy value.