Patent ID: 8401779

Claim:
A controller for managing distribution of electrical energy within a vehicle having a solar energy source operable to generate electric energy from solar energy, a byproduct energy source operable to generate electric energy from “free” energy created by operation of the vehicle, an alternator operable to generate electric energy from operation of a fuel-driven engine, and at least one passive energy source operable to store electrical energy and output previously stored electrical energy, the controller being operable to: determine an amount of current available from each of the solar energy source, the byproduct energy source, the alternator, and the passive energy source based on current vehicle operating conditions, including vehicle speed; determine a cost to provide the amount of current from each of the solar energy source, the byproduct energy source, the alternator, and the passive energy source for the current vehicle operating conditions, the cost for at least one or more of the solar energy source, the byproduct energy source, the alternator, and the passive energy source being determined to be greater when the vehicle speed is a first vehicle speed than when the vehicle speed is a second vehicle speed; determine a current demand of one or more current consuming vehicle systems for the current vehicle operating conditions; identify at least two schedules for meeting the current demand, each schedule including a different combination of at least one of the solar energy source, the byproduct energy source, the alternator, and the passive energy source providing at least a portion of the amount of current available therefrom; and manage distribution of current according to the one of the at least two schedules having a lowest cost based on the cost to provide current determined for each of the solar energy source, the byproduct energy source, the alternator, and the passive energy source.