A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A vehicle includes: an electrical load; a generator; a battery; and a controller configured to, control the operation of the generator based on the charging rate of the battery, identify a power generation margin representing a ratio of the power that the generator can output to a maximum power based on the duty ratio of the input voltage applied to the generator, and reduce power consumption of the electrical load based on a comparison between the power generation margin and a target margin. The vehicle can prevent or minimize the voltage drop phenomenon of the generator by using the power generation margin of the generator.

A charging/discharging control device includes a route information acquisition unit, a section identification unit that identifies an excessive discharging section and an excessive charging section, and a charging/discharging control unit that controls charging and discharging of a battery. The charging/discharging control unit limits a charge current value in the excessive charging section to a fixed first upper limit value. The state of charge reaches a maximum state of charge at an end point of the excessive charging section when the charge current value is maintained at the first upper limit value. The charging/discharging control unit limits a discharge current value in the excessive discharging section to a fixed second upper limit value. The state of charge reaches a minimum state of charge at an end point of the excessive discharging section when the discharge current value is maintained at the second upper limit value.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A vehicle includes an electric machine, a battery, a cooler, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle. The battery is configured to power the electric machine. The cooler is configured to cool the battery. The controller is programmed to, responsive to the vehicle traveling from first to second locations on a predetermined route, operate the electric machine such that battery charge is depleted from an initial charge at the first location to a minimum battery charge limit upon arrival at the second location. The controller is also programmed to, responsive to the vehicle traveling from first to second locations on a predetermined route, operate the cooler such that battery temperature increases from an initial temperature at the first location to a battery shutdown temperature limit at the second location.

An apparatus for controlling a towing mode of an electric vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first sensor that measures a speed of the electric vehicle and a second sensor that measures a gradient of a road on which the electric vehicle is driven. A controller detects a reference output of the electric vehicle based on the speed and the gradient of the road and detects a towing weight of the electric vehicle based on an excess rate of a current output with respect to the reference output. The towing mode of the electric vehicle is then executed based on the detected towing weight.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A battery control device capable of obtaining an allowable charge/discharge current value can further accurately reflect a polarization state of a battery. A battery controller includes a first allowable current value calculation unit, a battery equivalent circuit model, and a correction amount calculation unit. Assuming a non-polarization state, a current limit value of the battery based on an open circuit voltage and upper and lower limit voltages set in the battery, the first allowable current value calculation unit calculates a first allowable current value Imax1. The battery equivalent circuit model estimates a polarization state of the battery when the current limit value is being calculated. The correction unit calculates an allowable current value correction value based on the estimated polarization state for correcting Imax1. A second allowable current value Imax2 which is the corrected first allowable current value is output as an allowable charge/discharge current value of the battery.

A control system for hybrid vehicles to prevent a reduction in a drive force when an output power of a battery is restricted. A first motor translates an output power of the engine partially into an electric power. A transmission mechanism distributes an output torque of the engine to the first rotary machine side and an output member side. A second motor is operated by one of the electric power translated by the first rotary machine and an electric power accumulated in the battery to generate a power. An operating mode can be selected from a first mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member side at a first ratio, and a second mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member side at a second ratio. The second ratio is smaller than the first ratio. A controller is configured to restrict selection of the first mode when an available output power of the battery to be supplied to the second rotary machine is smaller than a predetermined value.

An automotive battery system that includes a lead-acid battery electrically coupled to a first bus, in which the lead-acid battery supplies electrical power to a starter via the first bus to cold crank an internal combustion engine of a vehicle; a lithium-ion battery electrically coupled to a second bus, in which the lithium-ion battery captures and stores electrical energy generated by a regenerative braking system when the vehicle brakes and supplies electrical power to the second bus using the electrical energy captured from the regenerative braking system such that a first portion of the second electrical power is supplied to an electrical system; and a DC/DC converter electrically coupled between the first bus and the second bus, in which the DC/DC converter controls supply of a second portion of the second electrical power to charge the lead-acid battery.