Apparatus, Systems, and Methods for Estimating and Reporting Electric Vehicle Range While Towing

• Main Author: Bower, Laura E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.07.2020
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING ORSUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES INGENERAL; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; CHECKING-DEVICES; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MEASURING; MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; NAVIGATION; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; SURVEYING; TESTING; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

A driving range estimator system for a vehicle accounting for a load on the vehicle may include an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. Sensors may be disposed about the vehicle and may be configured to detect information relevant to a range estimate. A towing control unit may be configured to receive the detected information from the sensors, and configured to determine a) an expected range for the vehicle with the load, and b) an expected range for the vehicle without the load. A display may be configured to simultaneously display a) the expected range for the vehicle with the load and b) the expected range for the vehicle without the load.