Anybody posted this one yet?
Cool article about how "smart" hybrids could use GPS & other data (eg road conditions) to manage their power usage optimally.
Imagine if your car knew how close to your destination you were. It could ensure it used up your onboard rechargeable electrical power just before you arrived at your plug-in.
If you drove the same commute daily, the car could quickly learn how to manage the ICE/electric blend for best results.
Even a conventional (non plug-in) hybrid would benefit from knowing about hills on your route.
Quote:
Li has developed control algorithms that use route and traffic data to allow hybrid vehicles to plan how and when to use stored battery power so as to burn as little gasoline as possible. He hopes to enhance the plug-in hybrid vehicles already in development at major automakers, such as a grid-chargeable Prius that Toyota plans to lease starting later this year, or the Chevy Volt that General Motors promises for late 2010.
The idea has merit, according to Tom Robinson, senior manager, control and electronics, at automotive-systems supplier Ricardo, in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. “If you know what’s forthcoming, you can inform vehicle systems to operate more effectively,” says Robinson, whose company has worked on similar algorithms for conventional hybrids.
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Source:
IEEE Spectrum: Software Looks at the Road Ahead to Boost Hybrid-Car Efficiency
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