Volvo Truck Corporation

Volvo Car Corporation

Mark Hirche

Faisal Altaf

Bassem Farag

Martin Eliasson

Tomas Magnusson

Jenny Johansson

Patrik Blomdahl

Kjell Olsson

Henrik Sturesson

David Green

The present invention relates to a method for improving the availability of an energy storage system in a vehicle. The energy storage system comprises a plurality of battery packs, and the method comprises:

Method for improving the availability of an energy storage system in a vehicle

The method comprises providing preview information comprising at least one of a predicted road condition and a predicted road event; processing the preview information with an estimation model adapted to relate a risk level associated with a power unavailability for each one of the energy consumers to the at least one predicted road condition and/or predicted road event; classifying the energy consumers having a risk level higher than a predetermined risk level threshold value as critical energy consumers, and classifying the energy consumers with a risk level lower than the predetermined risk level threshold value as non-critical energy consumers; estimating a required amount of energy and/or power for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers for the predicted road condition and/or the predicted road event; estimating the available energy and/or power of the EST system; in response to determining that the required amount of energy for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers is higher than the available energy, powering the energy consumers classified as critical, and deactivating at least one of the energy consumers classified as non-critical.

Method for classifying energy consumers in a vehicle

A method for improving the availability of an energy storage or transformation, EST, system of a vehicle. The method comprises providing an EST system model of coupled EST components of the EST system, identifying a fault or error in an EST condition parameter of the EST system, estimating an output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model, identifying a vehicle situation which, in case of an at least temporary lack of operability of the EST system, belong to a predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, and in response to identifying the vehicle situation belonging to the predetermined group of vehicle situations defined as hazardous, operating the EST system despite the fault or error in the EST condition parameter using the estimated output value of the EST condition parameter based on the EST system model.

Method for improving the availability of an energy storage or transformation system of a vehicle

A computer-implemented method performed for alerting the presence of one or more combination vehicles, each comprising a first vehicle unit and one or more second vehicle units and provided with a plurality of alerting units. Each respective first vehicle unit and respective one or more second vehicle units comprises a respective alerting unit out of the plurality of alerting units. The method comprises obtaining movement data indicative of one or both of a current movement or an expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles from at least one data communicating unit comprised in any one of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises determining the current movement and/or the expected movement of the one or more combination vehicles. The method further comprises triggering a sound alert on the plurality of alerting units.

Method and device for alerting the presence of combination vehicles

A steering column arrangement for a vehicle comprises a first portion rotatably supported by a second portion. The steering column arrangement further comprises a first electrical motor that is adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle control system. The steering column is arranged to be moved laterally and/or axially by the first electric motor. The steering column arrangement further comprises locking means arranged to lock the steering column thereby preventing rotation of the steering column. The locking means comprise a first locking member attached to the steering column and a second locking member arranged to be attached to the vehicle chassis, where the first electric motor is arranged to move the steering column to a locked position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to engage, thereby preventing rotation of the steering column.

Growing community of inventors

Hisings Kärra, Sweden

Mark Hirche