Patent ID: 8271154

Claim:
A method to control a hybrid drive in a rail vehicle, comprising: predetermining an electronic rail schedule via a train control device as sectionally allocated speeds prior to travel; predictively determining sectionally allocated drive types prior to travel via the electronic rail schedule using a model based on the electronic rail schedule, an elevation profile, and environmental conditions; predictively determining target system parameters of a hybrid drive type prior to travel via the model based on the electronic rail schedule, an elevation profile, and the environmental conditions; calculating a deviation of actual parameters from the target parameters; using a control device, deciding based on the deviation whether to train the model via the actual parameters wherein no interference occurs if the deviation of the actual system parameters in reference to the target system parameters is below a threshold, and in case of a deviation exceeding the threshold, the model is adjusted via the actual system parameters; during operation, determining a deviating position of an actual position from a target position via the electronic rail schedule; calculating a time reserve based upon the deviating position; and using the same or a different control device, deciding whether to maintain or change the drive type based at least partially upon the time reserve, wherein if the time reserve is negative, the drive type is changed to another drive type that consumes more energy, if the time reserve is within a tolerance range, the drive type is maintained and if the time reserve is positive, the drive type is changed to another drive type that consumes less energy.