JP2009051243A - Warning device for hybrid electric car - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a warning device for a hybrid electric car warning of the exchange of a battery for traveling so as to maintain emission characteristics of an engine within a proper range. <P>SOLUTION: This warning device is provided with: a motor 2 for traveling for generating a driving force to be transmitted to a driving wheel 4; a battery 14 for traveling for supplying a power to the motor 2 for traveling; a power generator 8 which is driven by an engine 6 and generates a power to be charged to the battery 14 for traveling; and a controller 22 for calculating the deterioration level SOH of the battery 14 for traveling, and for, when the calculated deterioration level SOH becomes a preset second reference deterioration level A2 or more, issuing a warning to exchange the battery 14 for traveling. A second reference deterioration level A2 is set as a reference value so that the engine 6 satisfies the prescribed emission characteristics. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle, and more particularly to an engine dedicated to driving a generator, storing electric power generated by the generator in a traveling battery and operating with electric power supplied from the traveling battery. The present invention relates to an alarm device for a traveling battery used in a series hybrid electric vehicle configured to drive drive wheels.

Conventionally, the power generated by the generator is stored in the traveling battery by using the engine exclusively for driving the generator, and the power of the traveling battery is supplied to the traveling motor via the inverter. Thus, a so-called series-type hybrid electric vehicle that drives the drive wheels of the vehicle has been developed and put into practical use.
The traveling battery used in such a hybrid electric vehicle is gradually deteriorated by repeated charging and discharging, and cannot initially exhibit the charging / discharging characteristics. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an alarm device that detects the degree of deterioration of a traveling battery and displays a message that prompts the user to replace the traveling battery when the degree of deterioration increases to some extent. .

In the alarm device of Patent Document 1, the degree of deterioration of the traveling battery is detected from the relationship between the voltage of the traveling battery and the charge / discharge current, and the necessity of inspection or replacement of the traveling battery is changed according to the degree of deterioration. A warning display is displayed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-4601

  By the way, in the case of a series type hybrid electric vehicle, since the engine is exclusively used for driving the generator, the work amount of the engine gradually increases as the charging efficiency decreases due to the deterioration of the traveling battery. As the engine work increases, the amount of exhaust gas emitted by the engine also increases, so the amount of air pollutants such as PM (particulate matter) and NOx (nitrogen oxide) contained in the exhaust gas also gradually increases. . The engine has exhaust gas characteristics so that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine does not exceed a reference value set in advance for environmental protection, but the battery for traveling is increasingly deteriorated. In such a case, the exhaust gas characteristics may not be satisfied.

The alarm device of Patent Document 1 also does not consider the deterioration of the exhaust gas characteristics due to the deterioration of the traveling battery as described above, and simply issues an alarm when the degree of deterioration of the traveling battery exceeds a predetermined value. Is going. For this reason, when the deterioration of the battery for traveling progresses, there is a possibility that the engine may not satisfy the exhaust gas characteristics before performing an alarm.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid electric vehicle capable of alarming the replacement time of a traveling battery so that the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine can be maintained within an appropriate range. It is to provide an alarm device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to the present invention includes a traveling motor that generates a driving force for transmission to driving wheels, a traveling battery that supplies electric power to the traveling motor, and an engine. And a generator that generates electric power for charging the traveling battery and a degree of deterioration of the traveling battery, and when the obtained degree of deterioration is equal to or higher than a preset reference deterioration degree And a control means for issuing an alarm prompting replacement of the battery for traveling, wherein the reference deterioration degree is set as a reference value for satisfying a predetermined exhaust gas characteristic of the engine. 1).

  According to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle configured as described above, the engine is used to drive a generator that generates electric power for charging the traveling battery, and the traveling motor is driven by the electric power supplied from the traveling battery. The hybrid electric vehicle travels by transmitting the generated driving force to the driving wheels. The control means is set with a reference deterioration degree as a reference value for satisfying a predetermined exhaust gas characteristic of the engine. When the deterioration degree of the traveling battery becomes equal to or higher than the reference deterioration degree, the control means is driven. A warning is given to replace the battery.

In the hybrid electric vehicle alarm device, the control means disconnects the traveling battery from the traveling motor and the generator when the degradation degree of the traveling battery becomes equal to or higher than the reference degradation level. In this state, electric power is supplied from the generator to the traveling motor (claim 2).
According to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle configured as described above, when the deterioration degree of the traveling battery becomes equal to or higher than the reference deterioration degree, the control unit disconnects the traveling battery from the traveling motor and the generator and is driven by the engine. The power is supplied from the generator to the traveling motor.

In the hybrid electric vehicle alarm device, the control means reduces the reference deterioration level in accordance with an increase in the total operation time of the engine (claim 3).
According to the hybrid electric vehicle alarm device configured as described above, an alarm that prompts the user to replace the traveling battery is performed using the reference deterioration degree that is set to be lowered as the total operation time of the engine increases.

Alternatively, in the hybrid electric vehicle alarm device, the control means reduces the reference deterioration level in accordance with an increase in the number of replacements of the traveling battery.
According to the hybrid electric vehicle alarm device configured as described above, the alarm for prompting the replacement of the traveling battery is performed using the reference deterioration degree which is set to be lowered as the number of replacement of the traveling battery increases.

  According to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle of the present invention, the reference deterioration degree set as a reference value for satisfying a predetermined exhaust gas characteristic by the engine is used, and the deterioration degree of the traveling battery is equal to or higher than the reference deterioration degree. Since the control means issues a warning prompting the replacement of the traveling battery, the amount of air pollutants discharged by the engine increases as the exhaust gas amount of the engine increases as the traveling battery deteriorates. However, the traveling battery can be replaced while the amount of the air pollutant is within the allowable range and the engine satisfies the predetermined exhaust gas characteristics.

  According to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle of claim 2, when the deterioration degree of the traveling battery becomes equal to or higher than the reference deterioration degree, the traveling battery is separated from the traveling motor and the generator, and the power generation driven by the engine is performed. Since the power is supplied from the machine to the traveling motor, the hybrid electric vehicle can be used to replace the traveling battery while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine due to further deterioration of the traveling battery. Can be run.

Incidentally, in addition to the deterioration of the battery for traveling, the operating efficiency of the engine itself that drives the generator also decreases due to secular change. For this reason, the work amount of the engine increases not only due to the deterioration of the battery for traveling but also due to the decrease in the operation efficiency of the engine itself, and the exhaust gas characteristic deteriorates as the total operation time of the engine increases. To do.
Therefore, according to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to the third aspect, the alarm for encouraging the replacement of the traveling battery is performed using the reference deterioration degree that is set to be lowered as the total operation time of the engine increases. In this way, regardless of the total operating time of the engine, it is urged to replace the traveling battery when the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine have deteriorated to almost the same degree due to the aging of the engine and the deterioration of the traveling battery. An alarm can be performed.

  Therefore, when it is time to replace the running battery at a relatively new stage, the running battery must be used until the deterioration level is relatively large while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine within a good range. The traveling battery can be replaced. On the other hand, even when it is time to replace the traveling battery when the engine is relatively old, the traveling battery can be replaced while the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine are within a favorable range.

Further, when considering the replacement of the traveling battery a plurality of times, the exhaust gas characteristic of the engine deteriorates due to the secular change of the engine for the same reason as the number of replacement of the traveling battery increases.
Therefore, according to the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the alarm for prompting the replacement of the traveling battery is performed using the reference deterioration degree which is set to be lowered as the number of replacement of the traveling battery increases. In this way, regardless of the number of times the travel battery has been replaced, the travel battery must be replaced when the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine have deteriorated to approximately the same degree as the engine has changed over time and the travel battery has deteriorated. It is possible to issue an alarm to prompt.

  Therefore, in the case of a traveling battery whose engine is to be replaced at a relatively new stage, the traveling battery must be used until the deterioration level is relatively large while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine within a good range. The traveling battery can be replaced. On the other hand, even in the case of a traveling battery that is to be replaced when the engine is relatively old, it is possible to replace the traveling battery while the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine are within a favorable range.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an alarm device 1 for a hybrid electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a traveling motor 2 is mounted on the hybrid electric vehicle, and the driving force of the traveling motor 2 is transmitted to the left and right drive wheels 4, so that the hybrid electric vehicle travels.

  The engine 6 is used exclusively for driving the generator 8, and the output shaft of the engine 6 is connected to the rotating shaft of the generator 8. The output of the generator 8 is connected to the inverter 10, and the output power of the generator 8 can be supplied to the traveling motor 2 by being adjusted by the inverter 10, and can be supplied to the inverter 10 via the contactor unit 12. The connected traveling battery 14 can be charged.

The electric power stored in the traveling battery 14 is adjusted by the inverter 10 and then supplied to the traveling motor 2. Therefore, power from the traveling battery 14 and the generator 8 can be supplied to the traveling motor 2 via the inverter 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the contactor unit 12 includes a main contactor 16 interposed between one terminal of the traveling battery 14 and the inverter 10, and a pre-connector connected in series so as to bypass the main contactor 16. It consists of a charge contactor 18 and a current reducing resistor 20. The contactor unit 12 has a function of disconnecting the traveling battery 14 from the inverter 10 and a function of suppressing an inrush current flowing from the traveling battery 14 to the inverter 10 when the traveling battery 14 is connected to the inverter 10. is doing.

The controller (control means) 22 includes various sensors for detecting the voltage, charging / discharging current, and temperature of the battery for traveling 14 and the voltage and temperature of each part of the inverter 10 as well as the traveling state of the hybrid electric vehicle. The controller 22 controls the operations of the inverter 10 and the contactor unit 12 based on the information.
That is, the controller 22 appropriately adjusts the power supplied from the generator 8 to the traveling battery 14 and the traveling motor 2 via the inverter 10 and the power supplied from the traveling battery 14 to the traveling motor 2. Therefore, the inverter 10 is controlled based on the above information. At this time, information is exchanged with the engine control unit 24 that controls the operation of the engine 6, and a command is issued to the engine control unit 24 so that the engine 6 is properly operated.

  The controller 22 is connected to a control power source that is turned on when a key switch (not shown) is turned on. The controller 22 starts to control the contactor unit 12 as the control power source is turned on. In the control of the contactor unit 12, first, the precharge contactor 18 is turned on, and the traveling battery 14 is connected to the inverter 10 via the precharge contactor 18 and the current reducing resistor 20. As the precharge contactor 18 is turned on, an inrush current flows from the traveling battery 14 to the inverter 10. This inrush current is reduced by the current reducing resistor 20. As the charging of the inverter 10 progresses, the inrush current decreases, and the voltage applied to the inverter 10 by the traveling battery 14 increases. When the difference between the voltage of the traveling battery 14 and the voltage applied to the inverter 10 becomes a predetermined voltage or less, the controller 22 turns on the main contactor 16 and turns off the precharge contactor 18 to turn off the traveling battery 14. Connection to the inverter 10 is completed.

  In this way, when the traveling battery 14 is directly connected to the inverter 10, the controller 22 starts the operation of the inverter 10 and sends a command to the engine control unit 24. The inverter 10 and the engine 6 are controlled so that the power supplied to the battery 14 and the travel motor 2 and the power supplied from the travel battery 14 to the travel motor 2 are appropriate.

When electric power is supplied from the traveling battery 14 or the generator 8 to the traveling motor 2 in this way, the driving force of the traveling motor 2 is transmitted to the drive wheels 4 and the hybrid electric vehicle travels. Control of the engine 6 and the inverter 10 by the controller 22 at this time is performed according to a known method, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
In parallel with the control of the inverter 10 and the engine 6, the controller 22 monitors the degree of deterioration of the traveling battery 14 and is provided on an instrument panel (not shown) of the hybrid electric vehicle according to the degree of deterioration. Warning control for warning by the warning lamp 26 is executed at a predetermined control cycle.

  In this warning control, the controller 22 obtains the internal resistance of the traveling battery 14 from the voltage of the traveling battery 14 and the charge / discharge current, and the internal resistance at that time when the internal resistance at the time of a new product is taken as 100%. The ratio is obtained for each control cycle as the degree of deterioration SOH. Then, when the deterioration degree SOH is compared with a predetermined first reference deterioration degree A1 and a second reference deterioration degree (reference deterioration degree) A2, and the deterioration degree SOH at that time becomes equal to or higher than the first reference deterioration degree A1. Warns that the time for replacement of the traveling battery 14 is approaching, while if the deterioration degree SOH at that time becomes equal to or higher than the second reference deterioration degree A2, an alarm prompting replacement of the traveling battery 14 is issued. Do.

In order to perform such warning control, the second reference deterioration level A2 is determined even if the work amount of the engine 6 increases due to a decrease in charging efficiency due to deterioration of the traveling battery 14 and the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 deteriorate. 6 is set in correspondence with the upper limit value (for example, 200 to 300%) of the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 so that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the vehicle 6 is within the reference value.
The amount of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 6 changes according to the work amount of the engine 6, but the work amount of the engine 6 is accompanied by a decrease in operating efficiency due to aging of the engine 6 itself and deterioration of the traveling battery 14. Due to a decrease in charging efficiency, the charging time increases with an increase in the accumulated operation time of the engine 6, which is the total operation time after the engine 6 is operated for the first time.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 and the amount of exhaust gas allowed for the traveling battery 14, and increases with an increase in the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 due to secular change of the engine 6 itself. The exhaust gas amount to be performed is indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 with the exhaust gas amount Sb as an initial value. The amount of exhaust gas that increases with the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 is added to the total amount of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 6 at that time. So in FIG. 2 indicates the upper limit value of the exhaust gas amount so that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine 6 is within a predetermined reference value from the viewpoint of environmental protection. The degree A2 is that the amount of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 6 exceeds the upper limit value So after taking into account the amount of exhaust gas that increases as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line due to the decrease in operating efficiency accompanying the secular change of the engine 6 itself. The deterioration degree SOH is set so as not to occur.

In addition, the degree of progress of the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 may vary depending on the characteristics of the individual traveling batteries 14, and the increase in the amount of exhaust gas when the deterioration progresses relatively quickly is indicated by the solid line L1, which is relatively slowly degraded. The increase in the amount of exhaust gas when progressing is shown in FIG. 2 by the solid line L3, and the increase in the amount of exhaust gas when deterioration progresses at an intermediate speed is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So at time t <b> 1, the decrease in operating efficiency due to the secular change of the engine 6 itself is relatively small. The accompanying increase in exhaust gas is allowed up to a relatively large ΔS1. On the other hand, when the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So at time t3, the decrease in operation efficiency accompanying the secular change of the engine 6 itself is relatively large. Only a relatively small ΔS3 is allowed. When the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So at a time t2 between the times t1 and t3, the increase amount of the exhaust gas accompanying the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 is allowed to ΔS2 between ΔS1 and ΔS3. The

  Therefore, the controller 22 changes the value of the second reference deterioration degree A2 in accordance with the accumulated operation time of the engine 6, and sets the second reference deterioration degree A2 to a smaller value as the accumulated operation time increases. . In this way, by changing the second reference deterioration level A2, the traveling battery 14 is continuously used until immediately before the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So, regardless of the progress speed of deterioration of the traveling battery 14. Is possible.

  Accordingly, when the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 is short and the driving battery 14 is to be replaced at a relatively new stage, the deterioration degree SOH is maintained while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 within a good range. It is possible to replace the traveling battery 14 after using the traveling battery 14 until it becomes relatively large. On the other hand, even when the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 is increased and it is time to replace the travel battery 14 when the engine 6 is relatively old, the travel is performed while the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 are within a favorable range. The battery 14 can be replaced.

  It should be noted that when the traveling speed of the battery 14 does not vary so much, for example, when the traveling battery 14 can be used over the same period as the general life or use period of the engine 6, The 2 reference deterioration degree A2 may be a fixed value. In this case, the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 such that the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 does not exceed the upper limit value So based on the increase amount of the exhaust gas due to the secular change of the engine 6 in the standard life of the traveling battery 14. The second reference deterioration level A2 may be set corresponding to the degree SOH.

  Further, the first reference deterioration level A1 is used to warn that the replacement time of the traveling battery 14 is approaching, and therefore, for example, about 50% from the second reference deterioration level A2 at that time. Set to a small value. Therefore, when the second reference deterioration degree A2 is set to change according to the accumulated operation time of the engine 6, the first reference deterioration degree A1 also changes according to the second reference deterioration degree A2.

The warning control as described above is started when the controller 22 is turned on, and is executed at a predetermined control cycle according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Therefore, the specific content of the warning control performed by the controller 22 will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the warning control is started, in step S1, the controller 22 obtains the deterioration level SOH of the traveling battery 14 obtained in the control cycle and the first reference deterioration level A1 set as described above in the control cycle. By comparison, it is determined whether or not the deterioration degree SOH is equal to or higher than the first reference deterioration degree A1.

  When the degree of deterioration SOH is less than the first reference degree of deterioration A1, the battery 14 for traveling is used so that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine 6 exceeds the reference value and the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 do not satisfy the reference. It is determined that the battery 14 is not deteriorated and it is not necessary to replace the traveling battery 14, and the process proceeds to step S2. After the warning by the warning lamp 26 is turned off, the main contactor 16 is turned on in step S3. In step S4, the normal travel mode is selected, and the control cycle ends.

  In this normal travel mode, as described above, the power from the generator 8 and the travel battery 14 driven by the engine 6 is traveled via the inverter 10 with the travel battery 14 connected to the inverter 10. The hybrid electric vehicle is driven by being supplied to the motor 2 and the power of the generator 8 is adjusted by the inverter 10 to charge the battery 14 for traveling.

As long as the deterioration degree SOH is less than the first reference deterioration degree A1, as described above, the processing of steps S1 to S4 is repeated every control cycle, the warning lamp 26 is maintained in the extinguished state, and the main contactor 16 is In the on state, the normal driving mode is selected.
On the other hand, when the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 proceeds and the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 at that time becomes equal to or higher than the first reference deterioration degree A1, the controller 22 advances the process to step S5, and the deterioration obtained in the control cycle. The degree SOH is compared with the second reference deterioration degree A2 set as described above in the control cycle, and it is determined whether or not the deterioration degree SOH is equal to or higher than the second reference deterioration degree A2.

When the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 is less than the second reference deterioration degree A2, the controller 22 advances the process to step S6. In step S6, since it is already determined in step S1 that the degree of deterioration SOH is equal to or higher than the first reference degree of deterioration A1, an orange warning is lit by the warning lamp 26, and the time for replacement of the traveling battery 14 is approaching. Warn you.
Further, the controller 22 advances the process to step S7, maintains the main contactor 16 in the on state, selects the normal travel mode in the next step S8, and ends the control cycle. Even after the next control cycle, as long as the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 is not less than the first reference deterioration degree A1 and less than the second reference deterioration degree A2, the control from step S1 to steps S5 to S8 is performed as described above. Is repeated every control cycle.

  As described above, when the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 is equal to or higher than the first reference deterioration degree A1 and less than the second reference deterioration degree A2, the time for replacement of the traveling battery 14 is approaching, but the traveling battery 14 is currently traveling. Since there is no need to replace the driving battery 14, only the orange warning is given to warn that the time for replacement of the traveling battery 14 is approaching, and then the normal traveling mode using the traveling battery 14 is selected.

  If the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 further proceeds and it is determined in step S5 that the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 is equal to or higher than the second reference deterioration degree A2, the controller 22 determines that the traveling battery 22 is further deteriorated. It is determined that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine 6 exceeds the reference value due to the increase in the amount of work, and the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 deviate from the allowable range. A red warning is lit by 26 to warn that it is time to replace the traveling battery 14.

  Next, when the process proceeds to step S10, the controller 22 turns off the main contactor 16, disconnects the travel battery 14 from the inverter 10, thereby disconnecting the travel battery 14 from the travel motor 2 and the generator 8. The battery 14 is prevented from further deterioration. Then, in the next step S11, the controller selects the emergency travel mode and ends the control cycle.

  In this emergency travel mode, in a state where the travel battery 14 is disconnected from the inverter 10, the power of the generator 8 driven by the engine 6 is adjusted by the inverter 10 and supplied to the travel motor 2, and the hybrid electric vehicle Enables traveling. Therefore, it is possible to drive the hybrid electric vehicle to a maintenance shop or the like in order to replace the traveling battery 14 that has deteriorated.

When the traveling battery 14 is replaced, the deterioration degree SOH of the traveling battery 14 returns to 100%, so that the process proceeds again from step S1 to step S2 in the warning control. As a result, the warning by the warning lamp 26 is not performed, and the normal travel mode is selected.
By performing the warning control as described above, the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 proceeds, the work amount of the engine 6 increases, and the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine 6 exceeds the reference value and the engine 6 It is possible to replace the traveling battery 14 before the exhaust gas characteristics of the vehicle no longer satisfy a predetermined standard. Further, since it is warned that the replacement time is approaching by the orange warning of the warning light 26 before the replacement time of the traveling battery 14 is reached, the user of the hybrid electric vehicle prepares for replacement of the traveling battery 14 in advance. It becomes possible.

  Further, as described above, the second reference deterioration level A2 used to indicate that it is time to replace the traveling battery 14 is set to be smaller as the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 increases. Therefore, it is possible to continue using the traveling battery 14 until immediately before the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So, regardless of the progress speed of the deterioration of the traveling battery 14.

  Accordingly, when the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 is short and the driving battery 14 is to be replaced at a relatively new stage, the deterioration degree SOH is maintained while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 within a good range. It is possible to replace the traveling battery 14 after using the traveling battery 14 until it becomes relatively large. On the other hand, even when the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 is increased and it is time to replace the travel battery 14 when the engine 6 is relatively old, the travel is performed while the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 are within a favorable range. The battery 14 can be replaced.

  In addition, when the degradation level SOH of the traveling battery 14 is equal to or higher than the second reference degradation level A2 and the traveling battery 14 has to be replaced, the traveling battery 14 is disconnected from the inverter 10 so that the traveling battery 14 Since the traveling battery 14 is disconnected from the motor 2 and the generator 8 and power is supplied from the generator 8 driven by the engine 6 to the traveling motor 2, the engine accompanying further deterioration of the traveling battery 14. The hybrid electric vehicle can be driven to a maintenance shop or the like in order to replace the traveling battery 14 while preventing the deterioration of the exhaust gas characteristics of FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, since the exhaust gas amount increases due to the gradual decrease in operating efficiency of the engine 6 itself due to secular change, the second reference deterioration degree A2 increases as the integrated operation time of the engine 6 increases. However, the second reference deterioration degree A2 may be decreased with an increase in the number of replacements of the traveling battery 14 in consideration of the replacement of the traveling battery 14 a plurality of times.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the increase amounts of exhaust gas allowed for each traveling battery 14 in the same manner as FIG. 2 when the replacement accompanying the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 is assumed a plurality of times. The amount of exhaust gas that increases with the increase in the accumulated operation time of the engine 6 due to the increase in the work amount accompanying the secular change of the engine 6 itself is indicated by a one-dot chain line with the exhaust gas amount Sb as an initial value, as in FIG. As described above, the amount of exhaust gas that increases with the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 is added to the total amount of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 6 at that time.

  Similarly to the above embodiment, the So in FIG. 4 indicates the upper limit value of the exhaust gas amount so that the amount of air pollutants discharged from the engine 6 is within a predetermined reference value from the viewpoint of environmental protection. The second reference deterioration level A2 is determined by considering the amount of exhaust gas that increases as indicated by the one-dot chain line due to the secular change of the engine 6 itself, and the amount of exhaust gas discharged from the engine 6 is the upper limit value So. The deterioration degree SOH is set so as not to exceed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the first traveling battery 14, if the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 increases as indicated by the solid line L1 ′ as the deterioration progresses, the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit at time t1 ′. In order to reach So, the traveling battery 14 is replaced at this point. In this case, since the increase amount of the exhaust gas amount from the initial value Sb due to the secular change of the engine 6 is relatively small, the increase amount of the exhaust gas amount due to the deterioration of the traveling battery 14 is allowed to ΔS1 ′. It will be.

  Similarly, regarding the second and third traveling batteries 14, if the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 increases as indicated by solid lines L2 ′ and L3 ′, the traveling battery 14 is replaced at times t2 ′ and t3 ′, respectively. It will be. The increase in the exhaust gas amount from the initial value Sb due to the secular change of the engine 6 is larger at time t2 'than at time t1', and larger at time t3 'than time t2'. For this reason, the increase amount of the exhaust gas accompanying the deterioration of the second traveling battery 14 is allowed up to ΔS2 ′ which is smaller than the increase amount ΔS1 ′ of the first traveling battery 14, and the third traveling battery 14 is deteriorated. The accompanying increase amount of exhaust gas is allowed to ΔS3 ′ which is smaller than the increase amount ΔS2 ′ of the second traveling battery 14. That is, as the number of replacements of the traveling battery 14 increases, the allowable increase amount of exhaust gas decreases.

Therefore, when considering the replacement of the traveling battery 14 a plurality of times, the second reference deterioration degree A2 is set to be smaller as the number of replacements of the traveling battery 14 is increased. It becomes possible to continue using the traveling battery 14 until immediately before the exhaust gas amount of the engine 6 reaches the upper limit value So.
Therefore, in the case of the traveling battery 14 in which the engine 6 is replaced at a relatively new stage, the traveling battery 14 is maintained until the deterioration degree SOH becomes relatively large while maintaining the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 within a good range. It is possible to replace the traveling battery 14 after the use of 14. On the other hand, even in the case of the traveling battery 14 that is to be replaced when the engine 6 becomes relatively old, it is possible to replace the traveling battery 14 while the exhaust gas characteristics of the engine 6 are within a favorable range. It becomes.

Although the description of the alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is finished above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the warning lamp 26 is used to warn of the time for replacement of the traveling battery 14 by an orange warning and to warn by the red warning that it is time to replace the traveling battery 14. However, the warning means and format are not limited to this, and for example, a warning by voice or text may be used, or these may be combined with a warning lamp. Moreover, you may make it warn only that it is the replacement time of the battery 14 for driving | running | working.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between the integration driving | operation time of an engine, and the increase amount of the waste gas permitted at the time of deterioration of the battery for driving | running | working. It is a flowchart of the warning control performed with the alarm device of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship of the exhaust gas increase amount accept | permitted at the time of deterioration of each battery for driving | running | working when the replacement | exchange accompanying deterioration of a battery for driving is assumed in multiple times.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Alarm device 2 Traveling motor 4 Drive wheel 6 Engine 8 Generator 14 Traveling battery 22 Controller (control means)

Claims (4)

A traveling motor that generates a driving force to be transmitted to the driving wheels;
A traveling battery for supplying power to the traveling motor;
A generator that is driven by an engine and generates electric power for charging the traveling battery;
Control means for obtaining a warning for prompting replacement of the traveling battery when the degree of deterioration of the traveling battery is obtained and when the obtained degree of deterioration is equal to or higher than a preset reference deterioration degree;
The alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle, wherein the reference deterioration degree is set as a reference value for satisfying a predetermined exhaust gas characteristic of the engine.   When the deterioration degree of the traveling battery is equal to or higher than the reference deterioration degree, the control means is configured to disconnect the traveling battery from the traveling motor and the generator and from the generator to the traveling motor. The hybrid electric vehicle alarm device according to claim 1, wherein electric power is supplied to the vehicle.   2. The alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means reduces the reference deterioration degree in accordance with an increase in a total operation time of the engine.   2. The alarm device for a hybrid electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control means decreases the reference deterioration degree in accordance with an increase in the number of replacements of the traveling battery.

Images