Daimler Chrysler Ag

Mercedes-benz Aktiengesellschaft

Bernd Falkenmayer

Wolf Boll

Peter Antony

Matthias Schorpp

In a method for detecting the charge balance of a storage battery for an electric drive vehicle by measuring and summing the charge and discharge currents over time, a plurality of current measuring arrangements are provided. Individual electrical power consumers are each assigned to one of these current measuring arrangements, and the currents detected by the current measuring arrangements are added over time. The consumers are assigned mainly on the basis of their power draws. It is also possible to replace one or more current measuring arrangements by a pulse generator. The power draw of the corresponding consumer is then multiplied by its operating time, determined with a given factor. The current draw of the electric drive is measured in any case.

Method and apparatus for determining the charge balance of a storage battery for an operating system having a plurality of electrical consumers

The hybrid drive arrangement according to the invention has a thermal engine that can be operated on a fuel containing hydrocarbons and capable of generating hydrogen. A storage device is provided for the fuel, with an energy storage device for the energy generated by the thermal engine. A drive motor is supplied, depending on the operating state, by the energy from the thermal engine and/or the energy storage device, as well as a method for operation thereof. A hydrogen-generating unit connected to receive fuel from the fuel storage and generates hydrogen from the fuel. The thermal engine is designed for optional operation on the fuel that can be supplied from the storage device or on the hydrogen that is generated. According to the method, the thermal engine is operated in a higher driving load range on the fuel containing the hydrocarbons and on the hydrogen in a lower driving load range, as well as during starting and warmup, at a stationary emission-minimizing operating point, with any remaining power requirement being covered by the energy storage device.

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Schwieberdingen, Germany

Bernd Falkenmayer