JP5737073B2 - Cruising range prediction device, cruising range prediction method, and cruising range prediction program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cruising range prediction device, a cruising range prediction method, and a cruising range prediction program, and more particularly, to a cruising range prediction device and a cruising range prediction method for an automobile that uses a mixed fuel such as ethanol mixed fuel. , Relating to a cruising range prediction program.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the alcohol concentration is calculated based on the output of the alcohol concentration sensor, and the fuel remaining amount is calculated based on the output of the fuel remaining amount sensor including the float and the sliding resistance. It has been proposed to calculate the total calorific value of the remaining fuel by calculating the calorific value per unit volume of the remaining fuel from the concentration function and multiplying the remaining fuel amount.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-059423

  However, although the fuel efficiency of an automobile differs depending on the internal combustion engine that uses the fuel, the vehicle type, the vehicle weight, etc., the technique described in Patent Document 1 calculates the total calorific value of the remaining fuel, but is based on the change in alcohol concentration. Since changes in fuel efficiency are not taken into account, there is room for improvement in order to calculate the correct cruising range.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a fuel remaining amount sensor using a float is used. However, in a fuel remaining amount sensor using a float, the sensitivity in a region near a full tank and in the vicinity of the sky is poor (the dead zone is reduced). Therefore, there is a region where the remaining amount detection accuracy is poor. That is, when calculating the fuel consumption and the cruising distance from the remaining fuel, it becomes a factor of a decrease in calculation accuracy.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to accurately calculate the cruising range even if the alcohol concentration changes.

In order to achieve the above object, a cruising range predicting device according to claim 1 is arranged along a vertical direction of a tank, each of which is composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes, and electrostatically according to the liquid level. Alcohol stored in the tank is collected by a capacitive sensor having a liquid level measuring unit whose capacity changes and a reference measuring unit which is arranged at the bottom of the tank and whose capacitance changes according to the alcohol concentration. Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of fuel and the concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel; and correcting a predetermined average fuel efficiency based on the alcohol concentration detected by the detecting means; and correcting the average fuel efficiency and the detecting means A calculation means for calculating a cruising range based on the detected remaining amount of fuel;
It has.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection means detects the remaining amount of the fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and the concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel. The detecting means is composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes, arranged along the vertical direction of the tank, and arranged at the bottom of the tank, and a liquid level measuring unit whose capacitance changes according to the liquid level. the capacitance type sensor with a reference measurement unit whose capacitance changes in accordance with the alcohol concentration Te, detect the remaining amount and the alcohol concentration of the fuel. Thereby, in the float type sensor, the vicinity of the full tank and the vicinity of the sky are dead zones, but by using the capacitance type sensor, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount regardless of the liquid level.

  Further, the calculation means corrects the predetermined average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected by the detection means, and calculates the cruising distance based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected by the detection means. Is done. That is, by calculating a cruising distance by correcting a predetermined average fuel consumption (for example, a predetermined reference average fuel consumption or an average fuel consumption obtained every predetermined period) according to the detected alcohol concentration, It is possible to calculate a cruising range that reflects changes in fuel consumption due to changes in alcohol concentration. Therefore, the cruising distance can be accurately calculated even if the alcohol concentration changes.

The calculating means calculates the fuel efficiency coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration detected by the detecting means based on a predetermined correspondence relationship with the fuel efficiency coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration as in the invention described in claim 2. The cruising distance is calculated based on the correction means for correcting the average fuel consumption by multiplying the average fuel consumption coefficient by the calculated fuel consumption coefficient, the average fuel consumption corrected by the correction means, and the remaining amount of fuel detected by the detection means. And a cruising range calculating means that includes a cruising range. Moreover, you may make it further provide the display means which displays the cruising range calculated by the calculation means like invention of Claim 3 .

The cruising range predicting method according to claim 4 is a liquid level measurement in which a capacitance is changed in accordance with a liquid level, which is arranged along a vertical direction of a tank, each composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes. And a reference measurement unit disposed at the bottom of the tank and having a capacitance that changes according to the alcohol concentration, and a remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank, A detection step of detecting the alcohol concentration contained in the fuel by a sensor, and correcting a predetermined average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step; the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step; And a calculation step of calculating a cruising range based on the above.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , in the detection step, the remaining amount of the fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and the concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel are detected. The detection step is arranged at the bottom of the tank , which is composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes, arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and whose capacitance changes according to the liquid level. the capacitance type sensor with a reference measurement unit whose capacitance changes in accordance with the alcohol concentration Te, detect the remaining amount and the alcohol concentration of the fuel. Thereby , in the float type sensor, the vicinity of the full tank and the vicinity of the sky are dead zones, but by using the capacitance type sensor, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount regardless of the liquid level.

  In the calculation step, the predetermined average fuel consumption is corrected based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step, and the cruising distance is calculated based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step. That is, the alcohol concentration is calculated by correcting a predetermined average fuel consumption (for example, a predetermined reference average fuel consumption or an average fuel consumption obtained every predetermined period) according to the detected alcohol concentration and calculating a cruising range. It is possible to calculate the cruising range reflecting the change in fuel consumption due to the change in the. Therefore, the cruising distance can be accurately calculated even if the alcohol concentration changes.

The calculation step calculates a fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration detected by the detecting means based on a predetermined correspondence relationship with the fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration, as in the fifth aspect of the invention. The cruising distance is calculated based on the correction step of correcting the average fuel consumption by multiplying the calculated fuel consumption coefficient by the average fuel consumption, the average fuel consumption corrected in the correction step, and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step. And a possible distance calculating step. Moreover, you may make it further provide the display step which displays the cruising range calculated by the calculation step on a display part like the invention of Claim 6 .

The cruising range prediction program according to claim 7 , wherein the cruising range prediction program is configured by a pair of comb-like electrodes, and is arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and changes in capacitance according to the liquid level. And a reference measurement unit disposed at the bottom of the tank and having a capacitance that changes according to the alcohol concentration, and a remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank, A detection step of detecting the alcohol concentration contained in the fuel by a sensor, and correcting the average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step, and based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step And causing the computer to execute a process including a calculation step of calculating a cruising range.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the detecting step, the remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and the concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel are detected. The detection step is arranged at the bottom of the tank , which is composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes, arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and whose capacitance changes according to the liquid level. the capacitance type sensor with a reference measurement unit whose capacitance changes in accordance with the alcohol concentration Te, detect the remaining amount and the alcohol concentration of the fuel. Thereby , in the float type sensor, the vicinity of the full tank and the vicinity of the sky are dead zones, but by using the capacitance type sensor, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount regardless of the liquid level.

  In the calculation step, the predetermined average fuel consumption is corrected based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step, and the cruising distance is calculated based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step. That is, the alcohol concentration is calculated by correcting a predetermined average fuel consumption (for example, a predetermined reference average fuel consumption or an average fuel consumption obtained every predetermined period) according to the detected alcohol concentration and calculating a cruising range. It is possible to calculate the cruising range reflecting the change in fuel consumption due to the change in the. Therefore, the cruising distance can be accurately calculated even if the alcohol concentration changes.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately calculate the cruising distance even if the alcohol concentration changes, by calculating the cruising distance by correcting the average fuel consumption according to the detected alcohol concentration. There is an effect that can be.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the fuel tank provided with the liquid state detection sensor applied to the cruising range prediction apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the liquid state detection sensor used with the cruising range prediction apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the cruising range prediction apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of an ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed by performing the cruising range prediction program in the cruising range prediction apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation of the cruising distance in each of the case where there is no ethanol concentration change, and the case where there is a ethanol concentration change, (A) shows the case where there is no ethanol concentration change, (B) is ethanol The case where there is a density change is shown.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel tank provided with a liquid state detection sensor applied to a cruising range predicting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The fuel tank 10 stores liquid fuel used in an automobile or the like that runs on an ethanol mixed fuel such as an FFV (flexible-fuel vehicle) car. The fuel stored in the fuel tank 10 is supplied from an oil supply pipe 12 connected to the fuel tank 10. The fuel stored in the fuel tank 10 is sucked up from a fuel pump 14 provided in the fuel tank 10 and supplied to an internal combustion engine such as an automobile engine.

  The fuel pump 14 is provided with a filter 16, and fuel is sucked up through the filter 16 so that clogging of the fuel pump 14 is suppressed.

  A liquid state detection sensor 18 is provided in the fuel tank 10. In the present embodiment, the liquid state detection sensor 18 detects the remaining amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank 10 and the concentration of alcohol such as ethanol contained in the fuel.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the liquid state detection sensor used in the cruising distance prediction device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows the cruising distance prediction device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of these.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid state detection sensor 18 includes three terminals A to C, and includes two capacitors C1 and C2 for detecting the state of the fuel. Are connected to the sensor drive driver 22.

  Each of the capacitors C1 and C2 is composed of a pair of comb-like electrodes, and charge can be charged and discharged between the pair of electrodes.

  Specifically, the capacitor C1 is provided between the terminals BC, and the capacitor C2 is provided between the terminals AC.

  The capacitors C1 and C2 are provided at positions that do not interfere with the capacitance measurement area. Specifically, the capacitor C1 is a liquid level detection unit that is partially or entirely immersed in the fuel according to the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 10, and the capacitor C2 is located near the bottom of the fuel tank 10 and is alcohol. The fuel reference unit is used to measure the concentration.

  That is, the liquid state detection sensor 18 is provided in the fuel tank 10 by being bent along the dotted line in FIG. 2, and the capacitor C1 is charged with a charge corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel (liquid level), and the capacitor C2 is charged with fuel. The electric charge according to the characteristic (alcohol concentration) is charged.

  In the present embodiment, a description will be given by taking as an example a sensor that includes two capacitors C1 and C2 and detects two states (remaining fuel amount and alcohol concentration) as a fuel state. For example, a sensor having three or more capacitors and capable of further detecting the state of fuel other than the remaining amount of fuel and alcohol concentration may be applied.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor drive driver 22 is connected to the cruising range predicting device 20, and the cruising range predicting device 20 controls the sensor drive driver 22, whereby the liquid state detection sensor 18. The drive is controlled to detect the remaining amount of fuel and the ethanol concentration.

  The cruising range prediction device 20 includes a CPU 20A, a RAM 20B, a ROM 20C, and a microcomputer in which an input / output interface (I / O) is connected to a bus 20E. A sensor drive driver 22 is connected to the I / O 20D. Yes.

  The ROM 20C stores a cruising range prediction program for calculating and displaying a cruising range and stores a predetermined ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map for obtaining a fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the ethanol concentration. Yes. In other words, the cruising range prediction program stored in the ROM 20C is expanded in the RAM 20B and the like, and the CPU 20A executes the program to perform processing relating to calculation and display of the cruising range. Moreover, when performing the said process, the ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map memorize | stored in ROM20C is utilized. In the following description, the fuel efficiency is described as indicating the travel distance per liter (travel distance per unit capacity of fuel), but the amount of fuel required to travel 1 kilometer (per unit distance) The amount of fuel required).

  In addition, a meter driver 24 that drives a meter display unit 26 provided in a combination meter or the like is connected to the I / O 20D. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount of fuel, ethanol concentration, average fuel consumption, cruising distance, and the like are calculated by the CPU 20A and can be displayed on the meter display unit 26. For example, the remaining amount of fuel is calculated by predetermining the relationship between the capacitance of the liquid level detection unit of the liquid state detection sensor 18 and the liquid level (remaining fuel amount), and the ethanol concentration is calculated using the liquid state detection sensor. 18 is calculated by predetermining the relationship between the capacitance of the fuel reference unit 18 and the ethanol concentration. The average fuel consumption is calculated from the travel distance and fuel consumption within a predetermined period. Calculated from quantity and average fuel consumption. The travel distance within a predetermined period when calculating the average fuel efficiency can be obtained from a trip meter or the like, and the fuel consumption is calculated from the difference between the detection results of the liquid state detection sensor 18 before and after the predetermined period. Alternatively, information for operating a trip meter or the like may be used, or the cruising distance may be calculated using a predetermined average fuel consumption.

  By the way, the cruising range predicting device 20 of the present embodiment is applied to an FFV vehicle using a mixed fuel of gasoline and ethanol. Since the calorific value of ethanol is about 70% of gasoline, the ethanol concentration is As a result, the cruising range changes and the fuel consumption changes. For example, if the ethanol concentration changes due to refueling, the fuel efficiency changes before and after refueling, and thus it becomes impossible to obtain an accurate cruising distance that can be traveled with the remaining amount of fuel.

  Therefore, in the cruising range prediction device 20 according to the present embodiment, the liquid state detection sensor 18 detects the remaining amount of fuel, detects the ethanol concentration, corrects the fuel consumption according to the ethanol concentration, and corrects the cruising range. Is calculated.

  Specifically, a map (ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map) for correcting fuel consumption according to the ethanol concentration is determined in advance and stored in the ROM 20C, and when the ethanol concentration changes due to refueling or the like, the map is displayed. The cruising range is calculated by correcting the fuel consumption using. As described above, the map shows that the fuel consumption decreases as the ethanol concentration increases as the ethanol calorific value is lower than that of gasoline. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is determined and stored in the ROM 20C. For example, when the ethanol concentration is 0% as the reference fuel consumption, the map is obtained by calculating the fuel consumption for each alcohol concentration and calculating the fuel consumption coefficient for each concentration. At this time, since the fuel consumption itself changes due to the difference in the type, weight, and type of the internal combustion engine, the map is determined in advance by conducting an experiment for each type of parameter that affects the fuel consumption of the vehicle, the internal combustion engine, etc. Thus, accurate fuel consumption correction is possible. In this embodiment, the ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map is stored in the ROM 20C and used. However, the map is not limited to the map, and a correspondence relationship in which a fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the ethanol concentration using a function or the like is used is used. You may do it.

  Next, a specific process performed by the cruising range prediction apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by executing the cruising range prediction program in the cruising range prediction apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the processing in FIG. 5 starts, for example, by turning on an ignition switch or the like.

  First, in step 100, the capacitance of the liquid level detection unit of the liquid state detection sensor 18 is measured, and the process proceeds to step 102. That is, the electrostatic capacity of the liquid level detection unit of the liquid state detection sensor 18 is measured by the cruising range prediction device 20 controlling the sensor drive driver 22.

  In step 102, the remaining amount of fuel is calculated based on the measured capacitance of the liquid level detection unit of the liquid state detection sensor 18, and the process proceeds to step 104. For example, the remaining amount of fuel can be calculated by predetermining the relationship between the capacitance of the liquid level detector and the liquid level.

  In step 104, it is determined by the cruising range prediction device 20 whether or not there is an increase in fuel exceeding a predetermined threshold. That is, it is determined whether or not the fuel concentration has been changed by determining whether or not the fuel concentration has been changed by performing an increase determination of the fuel. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 106, the capacitance of the fuel reference portion of the liquid state detection sensor 18 is measured, and the process proceeds to step 108. That is, the cruising range prediction device 20 controls the sensor drive driver 22 to measure the capacitance of the fuel reference portion of the liquid state detection sensor 18.

  In step 108, the ethanol concentration is calculated based on the measured capacitance of the fuel reference portion of the liquid state detection sensor 18, and the process proceeds to step 110. In the calculation of the ethanol concentration, for example, the ethanol concentration can be calculated by setting the relationship between the capacitance of the fuel reference portion and the ethanol concentration in advance, as in the calculation of the remaining amount of fuel.

  In step 110, a fuel consumption coefficient is calculated based on the ethanol concentration-fuel consumption map, and the routine proceeds to step 112. That is, the fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the measured ethanol concentration is obtained from the map.

  In step 112, the average fuel consumption after refueling is calculated, and the routine proceeds to step 114. The average fuel efficiency after refueling can be calculated by multiplying the average fuel efficiency before refueling by a fuel efficiency coefficient. It should be noted that the average fuel consumption before refueling is calculated by determining the travel distance and fuel consumption within a predetermined period as needed and stored in the RAM 20B or the like.

  In step 114, the cruising distance after refueling is calculated, and the routine proceeds to step 118. The cruising range after refueling can be calculated by multiplying the remaining amount of fuel by the average fuel consumption calculated in step 112.

  On the other hand, in step 116, since there is no change in ethanol concentration due to refueling, a normal cruising distance is calculated and the routine proceeds to step 118. That is, the cruising distance is calculated by multiplying the fuel remaining amount calculated in step 102 by the average fuel consumption calculated and stored as needed (by default, the predetermined average fuel consumption).

  In step 118, by controlling the meter driver 24, the cruising distance calculated in step 114 or step 116 is displayed on the meter display unit 26, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the engine is stopped. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the determination is affirmed, the series of processing ends.

  By performing processing in this way, even if the ethanol concentration changes due to refueling, the mileage is corrected according to the changed ethanol concentration and the cruising range is calculated. Possible distances can be displayed.

  Here, with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, calculation of the cruising distance in each of the case where there is no change in ethanol concentration and the case where there is a change in ethanol concentration will be described with an example.

  6A and 6B, as an example, a case where the vehicle travels on a flat ground (Trip 1), climbs (Trip 2), travels up and down (Trip 3), and travels on a flat ground (Trip 4) and is refueled in each section. To do.

  When there is no change in ethanol concentration as in a conventional gasoline vehicle, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the fuel property is always E0, and the instantaneous fuel consumption and average fuel consumption are as shown in FIG. 6 (A), respectively. There is no significant change before and after refueling, and it becomes a continuous change in each section (between trips). The cruising range in this case is calculated as a learning fuel consumption (1/3 in FIG. 6) by a certain ratio of the previous average fuel consumption between refueling, and is calculated as A0 × (remaining fuel amount) in Trip1, and in Trip2, {(2/3) A0 + (1/3) A1} × (remaining fuel amount), and in Trip3, {2/3) B + (1/3) A2} × (remaining fuel amount) In Trip4, {(2/3) C + (1/3) A3} × remaining fuel is calculated.

  On the other hand, when there is a change in the ethanol concentration, as shown in FIG. 6B, the fuel consumption (instantaneous fuel consumption and average fuel consumption) greatly changes before and after refueling and does not change continuously. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cruising distance is calculated by correcting the fuel consumption using the fuel consumption coefficient K corresponding to the ethanol concentration. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the learned fuel consumption is calculated as 1/3 as described above, in Trip1, A0 × {K (E0) / K (E0)} × fuel remaining amount. Calculated for Trip2, {(2/3) A0 + (1/3) A1} × {K (E50) / K (E0)} × (remaining fuel amount), and for Trip3, {2/3) B + (1/3) A2} × {K (E30) / K (E50)} × (remaining fuel amount), and in Trip4, {(2/3) C + (1/3) A3} × {K It is calculated by (E20) / K (E30)} × fuel remaining amount.

  In this way, even if the ethanol concentration changes for each refueling, by calculating the cruising distance by correcting the fuel consumption according to the changing ethanol concentration, the accurate cruising distance considering the ethanol concentration is calculated and displayed. can do.

  In this embodiment, since the fuel efficiency coefficient considering the fuel efficiency for each parameter type that affects the fuel efficiency of an automobile, an internal combustion engine or the like is used, it is possible to accurately calculate the cruising range.

  In the above embodiment, the case of a mixed fuel in which ethanol is mixed has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to ethanol, and other alcohols may be applied, and other calorific values are different. You may apply when using the mixed fuel which mixes a fuel.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the presence / absence of refueling is determined by determining an increase over the fuel threshold. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, whether there is a change in alcohol concentration over a predetermined value. This may be determined, or an opening operation of the fuel filler opening may be detected.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the average mileage is corrected and the cruising distance is calculated when the ethanol concentration changes due to refueling. However, the correction of the average mileage is not limited to the time of refueling. The average fuel consumption may be corrected by detecting the ethanol concentration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel tank 18 Liquid state detection sensor 20 Travelable distance prediction apparatus 22 Sensor drive driver 24 Meter driver 26 Meter display part

Claims (7)

A liquid level measuring unit that is arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and that changes in capacitance according to the liquid level, and is arranged at the bottom of the tank to adjust the alcohol concentration. A detection unit that detects a remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and a concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel by a capacitive sensor including a reference measurement unit that changes capacitance according to the
Calculation that corrects a predetermined average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected by the detection means, and calculates a cruising distance based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected by the detection means Means,
A cruising range prediction device equipped with   The calculating means calculates a fuel efficiency coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration detected by the detection means based on a predetermined correspondence relationship with a fuel efficiency coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration, and multiplies the average fuel efficiency by the calculated fuel efficiency coefficient. A correction means for correcting the average fuel consumption, and a cruising distance calculation means for calculating a cruising distance based on the average fuel consumption corrected by the correction means and the remaining amount of fuel detected by the detection means. The cruising range prediction apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The cruising range prediction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising display means for displaying the cruising range calculated by the calculation unit.   A liquid level measuring unit that is arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and that changes in capacitance according to the liquid level, and is arranged at the bottom of the tank to adjust the alcohol concentration. A detection step of detecting, by a sensor, a remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and a concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel by means of a capacitive sensor having a reference measurement unit whose capacitance changes in response. When,
  A calculation step of correcting a predetermined average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step, and calculating a cruising distance based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step;
  A cruising range prediction method including The calculation step calculates a fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step based on a predetermined relationship of the fuel consumption coefficient corresponding to the alcohol concentration, and multiplies the calculated fuel consumption coefficient by the average fuel consumption coefficient. A correction step for correcting the average fuel consumption, and a cruising distance calculation step for calculating a cruising distance based on the average fuel consumption corrected in the correction step and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step. The cruising range prediction method according to claim 4 . The cruising range prediction method according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a display step of displaying the cruising range calculated in the calculation step on a display unit .   A liquid level measuring unit that is arranged along the vertical direction of the tank and that changes in capacitance according to the liquid level, and is arranged at the bottom of the tank to adjust the alcohol concentration. A detection step of detecting, by a sensor, a remaining amount of fuel containing alcohol stored in the tank and a concentration of alcohol contained in the fuel by means of a capacitive sensor having a reference measurement unit whose capacitance changes in response. When,
  A calculation step of correcting the average fuel consumption based on the alcohol concentration detected in the detection step, and calculating a cruising range based on the corrected average fuel consumption and the remaining amount of fuel detected in the detection step;
  A cruising range prediction program for causing a computer to execute a process including:

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