Hyliion Inc.

Morgan Culbertson

Roger Richter

Jamie Noland

Thomas Joseph Healy

Eric Randell Schmidt

Wilson Sa

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or an adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. BSFC-type data particular to the paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to adapt to efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration.

Supplemental electric drive with primary engine recognition for electric drive controller adaptation

A method for managing a state of charge (SOC) of an energy store of a vehicle comprising storing an encoding of a dynamic weight value, computationally determining an estimated travel time to a stopover location, using the estimated travel time to modify the dynamic weight value to provide an updated dynamic weight value, and responsive to providing the updated dynamic weight value, increasing the SOC of the energy store while the vehicle travels over a roadway to provide a target SoC of the energy store when the vehicle arrives at the stopover location.

Regenerative electrical power system with state of charge management in view of predicted and/or scheduled stopover auxiliary power requirements

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or an adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. BSFC type data particular to the paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to adapt to efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration.

A vehicle with a hybrid drivetrain including a fuel-fed engine coupled to a first drive axle, an electric motor coupled to a second drive axle and an APU for providing electrical power at stopover locations, and further including a controller for determining a location of the vehicle, a location of a stopover location, determining a target SOC of a battery for operating the APU at the stopover location and operating a hybrid control system to provide the target SOC for the vehicle at the stopover location.

Regenerative electrical power system with state of charge management in view of predicted and-or scheduled stopover auxiliary power requirements

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

Vehicle energy management system and related methods

Systems and methods to control recapture and use of energy to provide an APU include a vehicle having an electrically powered drive axle to provide supplemental torque to the vehicle to supplement primary motive forces applied through a separate drivetrain powered by a fuel-fed engine of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes an energy store to supply the electrically powered drive axle with electrical power or receive energy recovered using the electrically powered drive axle. The vehicle also includes the APU coupled to receive electrical power from the energy store for stopover operation and without idling of the fuel-fed engine. Further, the vehicle includes a hybrid control system for managing, based on an estimated travel time to a stopover location, an SoC of the energy store while the vehicle travels over a roadway to provide a target SoC of the energy store when the vehicle arrives at the stopover location.

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. Crowdsourced distributions of adaptations and/or selections of BSFC type data allow ECMS implementations (or other similar control strategies) employ efficiency curves for a particular paired-with fuel-fed engine and/or operating conditions and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration. In some cases, signatures are used to identify appropriate BSFC type data for crowdsourced dissemination.

On-vehicle characterization of primary engine with communication interface for crowdsourced adaptation of electric drive controllers

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. On vehicle adaptation of BSFC type data for paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to refine efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and/or operating conditions in a manner that can improve overall efficiencies of a TTR hybrid configuration.

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Shadyside, PA, United States of America

Morgan Culbertson