WO2014154174A1

WO2014154174A1 - Energy-saving method and sysytem for vehicle and vehicle comprising system

Info

Publication number: WO2014154174A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/074307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Song Li; Yanjun Chen; Lin Ren
Original assignee: Shenzhen Byd Auto R&D Company Limited; Byd Company Limited
Priority date: 2013-03-28
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2014-10-02
Also published as: CN104071148B; CN104071148A

Abstract

An energy-saving method and system (402) are provided. The energy-saving method includes: detecting a working condition of a motor (301) in the vehicle (401); detecting a fuel injection quantity of the motor (301), a generating current of a generator (302) in the vehicle (401) and an electric quantity of a battery (305) in the vehicle (401) when the motor (301) is working; determining whether the generating current of the generator (302) is less than a first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity is zero; determining whether the electric quantity is less than a first electric quantity threshold when the generating current is less than the first current threshold; controlling the generator (302) to charge the battery (305) when the electric quantity of the battery (305) is less than the first electric quantity threshold; and controlling the generator (302) to reduce the generating current when the electric quantity of the battery (305) is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold.

Description

ENERGY-SAVING METHOD AND SYSYTEM FOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE

COMPRISING SYSTEM

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority and benefits of Chinese Patent Application No.

201310105898.4, filed with State Intellectual Property Office, P. R. C. on March 28, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a vehicle, more particularly, to an energy-saving method for a vehicle, an energy-saving system for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising the energy-saving system.

BACKGROUND

Currently, conventional energy-saving technologies for a vehicle mainly include turbo charging, gasoline direct injection, hybrid technology and reducing a wind resistance and a rolling resistance. These technologies can save energy and reduce consumption, but have a high cost and a long development cycle. In addition, with enhanced requirements for safety and comfort, more and more electronic control units and power consumption devices are used in the vehicle, such that larger amount of fuel is required by a motor, thus causing a conflict with the requirement of reducing fuel consumption.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the prior art to at least some extent.

Accordingly, a first objective of the present disclosure provides an energy-saving method for a vehicle, which can ensure an electronic energy supply for the vehicle and reduce a fuel consumption.

A second objective of the present disclosure provides an energy-saving system for a vehicle. A third objective of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising the energy-saving system. According to embodiments of a first broad aspect of the present disclosure, an energy-saving method for a vehicle is provided. The method includes: detecting a working condition of a motor in the vehicle; detecting a fuel injection quantity of the motor, a generating current of a generator in the vehicle and an electric quantity of a battery in the vehicle when the motor is working; determining whether the generating current of the generator is less than a first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity is zero; determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is less than a first electric quantity threshold when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold; controlling the generator to charge the battery when the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold; and controlling the generator to reduce the generating current when the electric quantity of the battery is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold.

With the energy-saving method according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by detecting the working condition of the motor, by detecting the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle and comparing them with respective predetermined threshold , the motor, the battery and the power consumption devices in the vehicle can be intelligently controlled, thus reducing a generating load of the motor, reducing the fuel consumption and saving energy. Furthermore, generation and utility efficiencies of electric energy can be improved, a reliability of electric energy supply can also be improved, and a voltage stability of a vehicle electrical system is ensured.

In some embodiments, the method further includes determining whether a speed of the vehicle is zero, wherein when the speed of the vehicle is zero, the working condition of the motor in the vehicle is detected.

In some embodiments, the method further includes controlling the generator to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is greater than or equal to the first current threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining whether the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is greater than a predetermined threshold; determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold when the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold, wherein the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold; controlling the battery to supply power to power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes controlling auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices to turn off when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes controlling the generator to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than or equal to the first current threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes detecting a discharging current of the battery when the motor is turned off; and controlling auxiliary devices of power consumption devices in the vehicle to turn off when the discharging current of the battery is greater than a second current threshold, wherein the first current threshold is greater than the second current threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold when the discharging current of the battery is less than or equal to the second current threshold, wherein the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold; and controlling the battery to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further includes starting the motor so as to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

According to embodiments of a second broad aspect of the present disclosure, an energy-saving system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes: a generator, configured to generate a generating current; a motor, connected with the generator; a motor controller, configured to detect a working condition and a fuel injection quantity of the motor; a battery; a battery manager, connected with the battery and configured to detect an electric quantity of the battery; a generator controller, connected with the generator and configured to control the generator and to detect the generating current of the generator; a control module, connected with the motor controller, the battery manager and the generator controller respectively, and configured to determine whether the generating current of the generator is less than a first current threshold when the motor is working and the fuel injection quantity is zero, to control the generator to charge the battery when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is less than a first electric quantity threshold, and to control the generator to reduce the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold.

With the energy-saving system according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control module obtains the working condition of the motor, and detects the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle and compares them with respective predetermined threshold, such that the motor, the battery and the power consumption devices in the vehicle can be intelligently controlled, thus reducing the fuel consumption and saving energy. Accordingly, a reliability of electric energy supply can also be improved. Furthermore, the energy-saving system has a low cost and a short development cycle.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to control the generator controller to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is greater than or equal to the first current threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to determine whether the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is greater than a predetermined threshold, and to control the battery to supply power to power consumption devices in the vehicle when the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold, in which the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to control auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices to turn off when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to control the generator controller to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than or equal to the first current threshold. In some embodiments, the battery manager is further configured to detect a discharging current of the battery when the motor is turned off, and the control module is further configured to control the auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices in the vehicle to turn off when the discharging current of the battery is greater than a second current threshold, in which the first current threshold is greater than the second current threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to control the battery to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the discharging current of the battery is less than or equal to the second current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is less than a second electric quantity threshold, in which the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to control the motor controller to start the motor so as to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

In some embodiments, the control module communicates with the motor controller, the generator controller and the battery manager via a CAN network.

According to embodiments of a third broad aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes the energy-saving system according embodiments of the second broad aspect of the present disclosure.

Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and greater readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of an energy- saving method for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of an energy-saving method for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an energy-saving system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

The following description provides a plurality of embodiments or examples configured to achieve different structures of the present disclosure. In order to simplify the disclosure of the present disclosure, components and dispositions of the particular embodiment are described in the following, which are only explanatory and not construed to limit the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat the reference number and/or letter in different embodiments for the purpose of simplicity and clarity, and the repeat does not indicate the relationship of the plurality of embodiments and/or dispositions. Moreover, in description of the embodiments, the structure of the second characteristic "above" the first characteristic may include an embodiment formed by the first and second characteristic contacted directly, and also may include another embodiment formed between the first and the second characteristic, in which the first characteristic and the second characteristic may not contact directly.

In the description of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, it should be noted that, terms "mounted," "connected" and "coupled" may be understood broadly, such as electronic connection or mechanical connection, inner communication between two elements, direct connection or indirect connection via intermediary. These having ordinary skills in the art should understand the specific meanings in the present disclosure with reference to specific situations.

With reference to the following descriptions and drawings, these and other aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure will be distinct. In the descriptions and drawings, some particular embodiments are described in order to shown means of the principles of embodiments according to the present disclosure, however, it should be appreciated that the scope of embodiments according to the present disclosure is not limited. On the contrary, embodiments of the present disclosure include all the changes, alternatives, and modifications falling into the scope of the spirit and principles of the attached claims.

An energy-saving method for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of an energy- saving method for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the energy-saving method for the vehicle includes the following steps.

At step 101, a working condition of a motor in the vehicle is detected.

In some embodiments, detecting the working condition of the motor includes detecting whether the motor is working or not, i.e., detecting a rotating speed of the motor. When the rotating speed of the motor is not zero, it is determined that the motor is working, and execute step 102.

At step 102, a fuel injection quantity of the motor, a generating current of a generator in the vehicle and an electric quantity of a battery in the vehicle are detected.

When the motor is working, the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle are detected. When it is determined that the fuel injection quantity of the motor is zero, execute step 103.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery in the vehicle may be a lithium iron phosphate battery.

At step 103, it is determined whether the generating current of the generator is less than a first current threshold.

When it is detected that the fuel injection quantity of the motor is zero at step 102, the generating current of the generator is compared with the first current threshold to determine whether the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold, in which the first current threshold may be understood as an average current of power consumption devices in the vehicle when the motor is working. When the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold, execute step 104.

At step 104, it is determined whether the electric quantity of the battery is less than a first electric quantity threshold.

When it is determined that the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold at step 103, the electric quantity of the battery detected at step 102 is compared with the first electric quantity threshold to determine whether the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold, in which the first electric quantity threshold may be understood as a rated maximum capacity of the battery, such as the lithium iron phosphate battery. When the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold, execute step 105, otherwise, execute step 106.

At step 105, the generator is controlled to charge the battery.

When it is determined that the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold at step 104, the generator in the vehicle is controlled to charge the battery to store electric energy in the battery, such that a probability of a fuel injection generation in the generator is reduced, thus reducing a fuel supply.

At step 106, the generator is controlled to reduce the generating current.

When it is determined that the electric quantity of the battery is more than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold at step 104, the generator is controlled to reduce the generating current, such that a kinetic energy consumption of the vehicle is reduced, thus reducing the fuel supply.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of an energy-saving method for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 2, the method includes the following steps.

At step 201, it is determined whether a speed of the vehicle is zero.

In this embodiment, before detecting the working condition of the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle is detected. When the speed of the vehicle is zero, execute step 202; otherwise, execute step 203.

At step 202, it is detected whether a rotating speed of the motor is zero, if yes, execute step 214, and if no, execute step 203.

At step 203, the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle are detected.

At step 204, it is determined whether the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is zero, if yes, execute step 205, and if no, execute step 208.

At step 205, it is determined whether the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold, if yes, execute step 206, and if no, execute step 207. At step 206, the generator is controlled to charge the battery.

At step 207, the generator is controlled to reduce the generating current.

At step 208, the generator is controlled to keep the generating current.

In this embodiment, when it is determined the generating current of the generator is more than or equal to the first current threshold, the generator is further controlled to keep the generating current.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. 2, when it is determined that the fuel injection quantity of the motor is not zero, the method further includes the following steps.

At step 209, it is determined whether the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold when the injection quantity of the motor is greater than a predetermined threshold, if yes, execute step 210, and if no, execute step 211.

When the fuel injection quantity of the motor detected at step 203 is not zero, for example, when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is greater than the predetermined threshold, the generating current of the generator is compared with the first current threshold to determine whether the generating current of the motor is greater than the first current threshold. When the generating current of the motor is greater than the first current threshold, execute step 210; and if no, execute step 211. The predetermined threshold may be understood as an average instantaneous fuel injection quantity when the vehicle is working normally at the current speed.

At step 210, it is determined whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold, if yes, execute step 212, and if no, execute step 213.

When it is determined the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold at step 209, the electric quantity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery) is compared with the second electric quantity threshold to determine whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold. When the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold, execute step 212; and if no, execute step 213. The second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold, and the second electric quantity threshold may be understood as a rated minimum capacity of the battery, such as the lithium iron phosphate battery.

At step 211, the generator in the vehicle is controlled to keep the generating current.

When it is determined that the generating current of the generator is less than or equal to first current threshold at step 209, the generator in the vehicle is controlled to keep the generating current.

At step 212, the battery in the vehicle is controlled to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle.

When it is determined that the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold at step 210, the battery in the vehicle is controlled to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle, thus reducing a generating load of the motor and reducing the power consumption.

At step 213, auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices are controlled to turn off. When it is determined the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold, i.e., when the electric quantity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery) is less than or equal to the rated minimum capacity of the battery, the auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices are controlled to turn off, for example, entertaining power consumption devices (such as a radio, a DVD) are turned off, thus reducing the generating load of the motor and reducing the fuel consumption.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. 2, when the rotating speed of the motor is zero, i.e., when the motor is turned off, the method further includes the following steps.

At step 214, a discharging current of the battery is detected, and it is determined whether the discharging current is greater than a second current threshold.

When it is determined that the discharging current of the battery is greater than the second current threshold, execute step 215; and if no, execute step 216. The second current threshold may be understood as an average current of the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the motor is turned off, and the second current threshold is less than the first current threshold.

At step 215, the auxiliary devices of power consumption devices in the vehicle are controlled to turn off.

When it is determined the motor in the vehicle is turned off, the discharging current of the battery is detected, and the discharging current of the battery is compared with the second current threshold. When the discharging current of the battery is greater than the second current threshold, the auxiliary devices (such as the entertaining devices) of power consumption devices in the vehicle are controlled to turn off, thus reducing the power consumption. At step 216, it is determined whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold.

When it is determined that the motor in the vehicle is turned off and the discharging current of the battery is less than or equal to the second current threshold, the electric quantity of the battery is compared with the second electric quantity threshold, i.e., it is determined whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold. When it is determined the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold, execute step 217; and if no, execute step 218. The second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold. The first electric quantity threshold may be understood as the rated maximum capacity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery), and the second electric quantity threshold may be understood as the rated minimum capacity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery).

At step 217, the battery is controlled to keep supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle.

At step 218, the battery is controlled to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle.

When it is determined the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold, i.e., the current electric quantity of the battery is less than the rated minimum capacity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery), the battery is controlled to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle. Further, if the power consumption devices need to work at this time, execute step 219.

At step 219, the motor is started to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle.

When the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold and the power consumption devices need to work at this time, the motor is started to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle, and to charge the battery simultaneously, such that an energy loss caused in electric energy generation and usage procedure can be reduced, thus reducing the fuel consumption.

In conclusion, with the energy-saving method according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by detecting the working condition of the motor, by detecting the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle and comparing them with respective predetermined threshold, the motor, the battery and the power consumption devices in the vehicle can be intelligently controlled, thus reducing the generating load of the motor, reducing the fuel consumption, and saving energy. Furthermore, generation and utility efficiencies of electric energy can be improved, a reliability of electric energy supply can also be enhanced, and a voltage stability of a vehicle electrical system is ensured.

An energy-saving system for a vehicle will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 3, the energy-saving system for the vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a motor 301, a generator 302, a generator controller 303, a motor controller 304, a battery 305, a battery manager 306 and a control module 307. The motor 301 is connected with the generator 302 via a belt 309. The motor controller 304 is configured to detect a working condition and a fuel injection quantity of the motor 301. The battery manager 306 is connected with the battery 305 and configured to detect an electric quantity of the battery 305. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery 305 may be a lithium iron phosphate battery. The generator controller 303 is connected with the generator 302 and configured to control the generator 302 and to detect a generating current of the generator 302. The control module 307 is connected with the motor controller 304, the battery manager 306 and the generator controller 303 respectively, and configured to determine whether the generating current of the generator 302 is less than a first current threshold when the motor 301 is working and the fuel injection quantity is zero, to control the generator 302 to charge the battery 305 when the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than a first electric quantity threshold, and to control the generator 302 to reduce the generating current when the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold. The first current threshold may be understood as an average current of power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle when the motor 301 is working, and the first electric quantity threshold may be understood as a rated maximum capacity of the battery, such as the lithium iron phosphate battery.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the motor controller 304 detects the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 in real time. The battery manager 306 detects the current electric quantity of the battery 305. Further, the control module 307 communicates with the motor controller 304, the generator controller 303 and the battery manager 306 via a CAN network.

Specifically, when the motor controller 304 detects that the motor 301 is working and the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is zero, a corresponding message is transmitted to the control module 307 by the motor controller 304. Meanwhile, the control module 307 receives the generating current of the generator 302 detected by the generator controller 303 and the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306, and determines whether the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the first current threshold and whether the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than the first electric quantity threshold, for example, the control module 307 determines whether the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the average current of the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle when the motor 301 is working and whether the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than the rated maximum capacity of the battery 305. When the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than the first electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 sends charging permission information to the battery manager 306, i.e., the control module 307 controls the generator 302 to charge the battery 305, and the battery 305 is charged under the control of the battery manager 306, such that kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted into electric energy and stored in the battery 305. When the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is zero, by converting the kinetic energy of the vehicle into the electric energy and storing the electric energy in the battery 305 in the condition of satisfying the power demand of the vehicle, a probability of a fuel injection generation in the generator is reduced, thus reducing a fuel consumption.

In addition, when the control module 307 determines the generating current of the generator 302 is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 controls the motor 301 to reduce the generating current. In other words, when the electric quantity of the battery 305 is greater than or equal to the rated maximum capacity of the battery (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery), the control module 307 sends a current reducing request to the generator controller 303, and then the generator controller 303 controls the generator 302 to reduce the generating current. When the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is zero, the kinetic energy of the whole vehicle is consumed by the generator 302 to generate the generating current. Consequently, by controlling the generator 302 to reduce the generating current, the kinetic energy consumption of the whole vehicle can be reduced, thus reducing the fuel supply and extending a driving distance of the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control module 307 is further configured to control the generator controller 303 to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator 302 is less than or equal to the first current threshold. Specifically, when the motor

301 is working, the generator 302 is driven by the motor 301 to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle. When the motor controller 304 detects the motor 301 is working and the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is zero, after receiving the generating current of the generator 302 detected by the generator controller 303 and determining that the generating current of the generator 302 is greater than or equal to the first current threshold (i.e., the generator 302 is working in a high power load state), the control module 307 sends a current generating request to the generator controller 303, and the generator controller 303 controls the generator 302 to keep the generating current after receiving the current generating request, thus supplying power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, when the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is greater than a predetermined threshold, the control module 307 determines whether the generating current is greater than the first current threshold. The predetermined threshold of the fuel injection quantity may be understood as an average instantaneous fuel injection quantity when the vehicle is working normally at the current speed. When the generating current of the generator

302 is greater than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 is greater than a second electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 controls the battery 305 to supply power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle. The second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold, and the second electric quantity threshold may be understood as a rated minimum capacity of the battery 305 (such as the lithium iron phosphate battery). Specifically, the motor controller 304 detects the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 in real time and transmits the fuel injection quantity information to the control module 307. Meanwhile, the control module 307 receives the generating current of the generator 302 detected by the generator controller 303 and the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306. When the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is greater than the predetermined threshold and the control module 307 determines that the generating current of the generator 302 is greater than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 is greater than the second electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 sends a discharging request to the battery manager 306, and then the battery 305 is controlled by the battery manager 306 to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle, such that the load of the motor 301 for driving the generator 302 to generate current can be reduced, thus reducing the fuel consumption.

In addition, when the battery manager 306 detects the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 controls the auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices 310 to turn off. Specifically, when the control module 307 receives the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 and determines the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold, for example, the electric quantity of the lithium iron phosphate battery is less than or equal to the rated minimum capacity of the lithium iron phosphate battery, the control module 307 sends a high power consumption alarm to the auxiliary devices (such as entertaining power consumption devices) of the power consumption devices 310. After receiving the high power consumption alarm, the entertaining power consumption devices perform a power reset by an internal chip and stop consuming power, thus reducing the generating load of the motor and reducing the fuel consumption.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control module 307 is further configured to control the generator controller 303 to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator 302 is less than or equal to the first current threshold. Specifically, when the fuel injection quantity of the motor 301 is greater than the predetermined threshold, after receiving the generating current of the generator 302 detected by the generator controller 303 and determining the generating current is less than or equal to the first current threshold (i.e., the generator 302 works in a low power load state), the control module 307 sends the current generating request to the generator controller 303, and the generator controller 303 controls the generator 302 to keep the generating current after receiving the current generating request.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery manager 306 is further configured to detect a discharging current of the battery 305 when the motor 301 is turned off. The control module 307 is further configured to control the auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices 310 to turn off when the discharging current of the battery 305 is greater than the second current threshold. The second current threshold may be understood as an average current of the power consumption devices 310 when the vehicle is turned off. Specifically, when the motor controller 304 detects the motor 301 is turned off, the battery manager 306 detects the discharging current of the battery 305 and transmits the discharging current to the control module 307, then the control module 307 determines whether the discharging current of the battery 305 is greater than the second current threshold (i.e., whether the discharging current of the battery 305 is greater than the average current of the power consumption devices 310 when the vehicle is turned off) and sends the high power consumption alarm to the auxiliary devices (such as entertainment power consumption devices) of the power consumption devices 310 when the discharging current of the battery 305 is greater than the second current threshold. After receiving the high power consumption alarm, the entertainment power consumption devices perform the power reset by the internal chip and stop consuming power. In addition, the control module 307 is further configured to control the battery 305 to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle when the discharging current of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold. The second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold. Specifically, when the generator controller 304 detects that the motor 301 is turned off, the control module 307 receives the discharging current of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 and determines whether the discharging current of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second current threshold (i.e., whether the discharging current of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the average current of the power consumption devices 310 when the vehicle is turned off). Meanwhile, the control module 307 receives the electric quantity of the battery 305 detected by the battery manager 306 and determines whether the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold (i.e., whether the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the rated minimum capacity of the battery 305). When the discharging current of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold, the control module 307 sends a power supply stopping request to the battery manager 306 and the battery manager 306 controls the battery 305 to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control module 307 is further configured to control the motor controller 304 to start the motor 301 so as to control the generator 302 to supply power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold. Specifically, the battery manager 306 detects the electric quantity of the battery 305 and transmits the electric quantity of the battery 305 to the control module 307, when the control module 307 determines the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than the second electric quantity threshold, i.e., when the electric quantity of the battery 305 is less than or equal to the rated minimum capacity of the battery 305, the control module 307 sends a motor starting request to the motor controller 304, and then the motor 301 is started under the control of the motor controller 304 so as to supply power to the power consumption devices 310 in the vehicle and to charge the battery 305 simultaneously, thus reducing an energy loss caused in electric energy usage procedure and reducing the fuel consumption.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a voltage of an electrical system of the vehicle can be enhanced, for example from 12V to 48V. Thus, a current in a circuit of the vehicle can be weakened and a heat loss can be reduced, furthermore the power supply can be decreased, a probability of driving the generator 302 by the motor 301 to generate the generating current is reduced, and thus the fuel consumption is reduced.

In conclusion, with the energy-saving system according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control module obtains the working condition of the motor, and detects the fuel injection quantity of the motor, the generating current of the generator in the vehicle and the electric quantity of the battery in the vehicle and compares them with respective predetermined threshold, such that the motor, the battery and the power consumption devices in the vehicle can be intelligently controlled, thus reducing the fuel consumption and saving energy. Accordingly, a reliability of electric energy supply can also be improved. Further, by adopting an iron battery without lead, the system is more environment-friendly. Furthermore, the energy-saving system has a low cost and a short development cycle.

A vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to drawings.

As shown in Fig. 4, the vehicle 401 according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes the energy-saving system 402 described above. With the vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by adopting the energy-saving system, the fuel consumption can be reduced, and the vehicle is more intelligential and more environment-friendly.

Any procedure or method described in the flow charts or described in any other way herein may be understood to comprise one or more modules, portions or parts for storing executable codes that realize particular logic functions or procedures. Moreover, advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure comprises other implementations in which the order of execution is different from that which is depicted or discussed, including executing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in an opposite order according to the related functions. This should be understood by those skilled in the art which embodiments of the present disclosure belong to.

The logic and/or step described in other manners herein or shown in the flow chart, for example, a particular sequence table of executable instructions for realizing the logical function, may be specifically achieved in any computer readable medium to be used by the instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as the system based on computers, the system comprising processors or other systems capable of obtaining the instruction from the instruction execution system, device and equipment and executing the instruction), or to be used in combination with the instruction execution system, device and equipment. As to the specification, 'the computer readable medium' may be any device adaptive for including, storing, communicating, propagating or transferring programs to be used by or in combination with the instruction execution system, device or equipment. More specific examples of the computer readable medium comprise but are not limited to: an electronic connection (an electronic device) with one or more wires, a portable computer enclosure (a magnetic device), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or a flash memory), an optical fiber device and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CDROM). In addition, the computer readable medium may even be a paper or other appropriate medium capable of printing programs thereon, this is because, for example, the paper or other appropriate medium may be optically scanned and then edited, decrypted or processed with other appropriate methods when necessary to obtain the programs in a electric manner, and then the programs may be stored in the computer memories.

It is understood that each part of the present disclosure may be realized by the hardware, software, firmware or their combination. In the above embodiments, a plurality of steps or methods may be realized by the software or firmware stored in the memory and executed by the appropriate instruction execution system. For example, if it is realized by the hardware, likewise in another embodiment, the steps or methods may be realized by one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for realizing a logic function of a data signal, an application-specific integrated circuit having an appropriate combination logic gate circuit, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

Those skilled in the art shall understand that all or parts of the steps in the above exemplifying method of the present disclosure may be achieved by commanding the related hardware with programs. The programs may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and the programs comprise one or a combination of the steps in the method embodiments of the present disclosure when run on a computer.

In addition, each function cell of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated in a processing module, or these cells may be separate physical existence, or two or more cells are integrated in a processing module. The integrated module may be realized in a form of hardware or in a form of software function modules. When the integrated module is realized in a form of software function module and is sold or used as a standalone product, the integrated module may be stored in a computer readable storage medium.

The storage medium mentioned above may be read-only memories, magnetic disks or CD, etc.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrases throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An energy-saving method for a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a working condition of a motor in the vehicle;

detecting a fuel injection quantity of the motor, a generating current of a generator in the vehicle and an electric quantity of a battery in the vehicle when the motor is working;

determining whether the generating current of the generator is less than a first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity is zero;

determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is less than a first electric quantity threshold when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold;

controlling the generator to charge the battery when the electric quantity of the battery is less than the first electric quantity threshold; and

controlling the generator to reduce the generating current when the electric quantity of the battery is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold.

2. The energy-saving method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a speed of the vehicle is zero, wherein when the speed of the vehicle is zero, the working condition of the motor in the vehicle is detected.

3. The energy-saving method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

controlling the generator to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is greater than or equal to the first current threshold.

4. The energy- saving method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

determining whether the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is greater than a predetermined threshold; determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold when the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold, wherein the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold;

controlling the battery to supply power to power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is greater than the second electric quantity threshold.

5. The energy-saving method according to claim 4, further comprising:

controlling auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices to turn off when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

6. The energy-saving method according to claim 4, further comprising:

controlling the generator to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than or equal to the first current threshold.

7. The energy- saving method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

detecting a discharging current of the battery when the motor is turned off; and

controlling auxiliary devices of power consumption devices in the vehicle to turn off when the discharging current of the battery is greater than a second current threshold, wherein the first current threshold is greater than the second current threshold.

8. The energy- saving method according to claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold when the discharging current of the battery is less than or equal to the second current threshold, wherein the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold; and

controlling the battery to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

9. The energy- saving method according to claim 8, further comprising:

starting the motor so as to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

10. An energy-saving control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a generator, configured to generate a generating current;

a motor, connected with the generator;

a motor controller, configured to detect a working condition and a fuel injection quantity of the motor;

a battery;

a battery manager, connected with the battery and configured to detect an electric quantity of the battery;

a generator controller, connected with the generator and configured to control the generator and to detect the generating current of the generator;

a control module, connected with the motor controller, the battery manager and the generator controller respectively, and configured to determine whether the generating current of the generator is less than a first current threshold when the motor is working and the fuel injection quantity is zero, to control the generator to charge the battery when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is less than a first electric quantity threshold, and to control the generator to reduce the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is greater than or equal to the first electric quantity threshold.

11. The energy-saving system according to claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to control the generator controller to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is greater than or equal to the first current threshold.

12. The energy-saving system according to claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to determine whether the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold when the fuel injection quantity of the motor is greater than a predetermined threshold, and to control the battery to supply power to power consumption devices in the vehicle when the generating current of the generator is greater than the first current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is greater than a second electric quantity threshold, in which the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold.

13. The energy-saving system according to claim 12, wherein the control module is further configured to control auxiliary devices of the power consumption devices to turn off when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

14. The energy-saving system according to claim 12, wherein the control module is further configured to control the generator controller to keep the generating current when the generating current of the generator is less than or equal to the first current threshold.

15. The energy-saving system according to claim 10, wherein the battery manager is further configured to detect a discharging current of the battery when the motor is turned off, and the control module is further configured to control auxiliary devices of power consumption devices in the vehicle to turn off when the discharging current of the battery is greater than a second current threshold, in which the first current threshold is greater than the second current threshold.

16. The energy-saving system according to claim 15, wherein the control module is further configured to control the battery to stop supplying power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the discharging current of the battery is less than or equal to the second current threshold and the electric quantity of the battery is less than a second electric quantity threshold, in which the second electric quantity threshold is less than the first electric quantity threshold.

17. The energy-saving system according to claim 16, wherein the control module is further configured to control the motor controller to start the motor so as to control the generator to supply power to the power consumption devices in the vehicle when the electric quantity of the battery is less than or equal to the second electric quantity threshold.

18. The energy-saving system according to any of claims 10-17, wherein the control module communicates with the motor controller, the generator controller and the battery manager via a CAN network.

19. A vehicle, comprising the energy-saving system according to any of claims 10-18.