METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE HAVING AN ELECTRIC DRIVE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver of a vehicle (1) having an electric drive, in which a list of predefined influencing variables for the consumption of electrical energy by the vehicle (1) is drawn up and output by an output device (14), with the influencing variables relating to factors which can be influenced by the driver of the vehicle (1), the method comprising the following steps: a) calling up characteristic maps which specify a relationship between energy consumption and the various influencing variables, b) determining possible optimizations of the energy consumption by modifying a particular influencing variable, c) computing possible energy savings on implementation of the possible optimizations of the particular influencing variable using the characteristic maps retrieved, d) sorting the influencing variables in the list.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle (1) having an electric drive, in which a list of predefined influencing variables for the consumption of electrical energy by the vehicle (1) is created and output by an output device (14), wherein the influencing variables relate to factors, which are influenceable by the driver of the vehicle (1), wherein the method includes the following steps: a) retrieving characteristic maps, which indicate a relationship between energy consumption and at least one of the influencing variables, b) determining possible optimizations of the energy consumption by modifying the at least one of the influencing variables, c) calculating possible energy savings by implementing the possible optimizations of the at least one of the influencing variables by utilizing the retrieved characteristic maps, d) sorting the influencing variables in the list.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on the basis of the possible energy savings for each influencing variable, it is determined how much range can be obtained by carrying out an optimization of the influencing variable and the determined obtainable range is output together with the list.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein destination is predefined and it is specified that the distance to the destination must be covered by the vehicle (1) without recharging an energy store of the vehicle (1), wherein, under consideration of the influencing variables and the characteristic maps, a speed specification is determined which enables the destination to be reached without recharging, and this speed specification is output together with the list in each case.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, on the basis of the possible energy savings for each influencing variable, it is determined, by what extent the speed specification can be increased by carrying out an optimization of the influencing variable and the determined increase is output together with the list in each case.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a speed specification is transmitted to a vehicle-speed controller of the vehicle (1).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influencing variables are selected from parameters influencing the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle (1), parameters influencing the rolling resistance of the vehicle (1), the speed of the vehicle (1), the driving style of the driver, parameters related to the air conditioning and/or the heating of the vehicle (1), parameters related to the condition of further electrical consumers in the vehicle (1), and combinations of several of these parameters.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the parameters influencing the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle (1) are selected from the opening condition of vehicle windows, the opening condition of a sun roof, the presence of a roof rack and/or a rear-mounted luggage rack, and combinations of several of these parameters.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein parameters influencing the rolling resistance of the vehicle (1) are selected from the type of tires and/or the air pressure of the tires of the vehicle (1).

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the parameters related to the air conditioning and/or the heating of the vehicle (1) are selected from the set setpoint temperature for heating and/or air conditioning, the operating condition of a seat heating, the operating condition of a window heating, and combinations of several of these parameters.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristic maps are retrieved from a vehicle-external unit (100) or from a memory of a control unit (12) assigned to the vehicle (1).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein, after the implementation of an optimization for an influencing variable, the actual energy savings are determined and transmitted to the vehicle-external unit (100) or stored in the control unit (12), and an updating of the characteristic maps is carried out for this influencing variable according to the actual energy savings.

12. A driver assistance system (10) for assisting a driver of a vehicle (1) having an electric drive, including an output device (14) for outputting a list of influencing variables for the consumption of electrical energy of the vehicle (1), and a control unit (12), which is configured for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail with reference to the drawing and the following description.

[0054] The sole FIGURE shows a vehicle having a driver assistance system.

[0055] The FIGURE schematically represents the subject matter of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 with a driver assistance system 10 for assisting a driver of a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 includes an electric drive and, thereby, is designed, for example, as an electric vehicle or as a hybrid vehicle.

[0057] The driver assistance system 10 includes a control unit 12 and an output device 14.

[0058] By means of the driver assistance system 10, characteristic maps, which indicate a relationship between energy consumption and the particular influencing variable, are retrieved for various influencing variables, which are influenceable by the driver and each influence the consumption of electrical energy by the vehicle 1. These characteristic maps can be stored in a memory of the control unit 12. Alternatively or additionally, means for communication 16 can be provided, via which the driver assistance system 10 can communicate with a vehicle-external unit 100. The vehicle-external unit 100 is configured, for example, as a cloud server and, in this embodiment, provides the characteristic maps to the driver assistance system 10. Thereafter, the control unit 12 of the driver assistance system 10 determines possible optimizations of the energy consumption by modifying the particular influencing variable. Thereafter, a calculation is carried out to determine which possible energy savings can be achieved when the possible optimizations of the particular influencing variable are implemented. The control unit 12 utilizes the retrieved characteristic maps for this purpose. After the possible energy savings are calculated, the influencing variables are sorted and output in the form of a list. The output device 14 is utilized for this purpose. This is designed, for example, as a screen.

[0059] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here and to the aspects emphasized therein. A multitude of modifications which are within the capabilities of those skilled in the art may rather be possible within the scope described by the claims.