대표
청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle; a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; a second AC electric motor; an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power; a first alternating current...
The invention claimed is: 1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle; a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; a second AC electric motor; an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power; a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively; a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC; an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption; wherein a ratio of maximum DC voltage on the DC side of at least said first AC-DC converter coupled to said first electric motor to current supplied from said electrical storage device to at least said first AC-DC converter, when maximum current is so supplied, is at least 2.5. 2. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein both said AC-DC converters are capable of converting DC provided by said electrical storage device to AC, and wherein said maximum current is measured on one or more respective DC sides thereof. 3. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ratio is more than 2.5 during supply of maximum power from said electrical storage device to at least said two wheels by said first electric motor. 4. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said ratio is at least 3. 5. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the maximum DC voltage is at least approximately 500 volts. 6. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein the maximum current is less than approximately 150 amperes. 7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation. 8. The hybrid vehicle of claim 7, wherein said controller is operable to stop said engine when said vehicle load on said engine results in torque lower than 30% of the MTO of the engine. 9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 7, wherein said controller is operable to start and operate said engine when said vehicle load is sufficient to require said engine to produce torque at least equal to a setpoint (SP), and wherein said SP is substantially less than the MTO of said engine. 10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said SP is at least 20% of the MTO of the engine. 11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said SP is at least 30% of the MTO of the engine. 12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said controller is operable to disable engine operation when the vehicle load results in torque below a second setpoint (SP2), wherein said SP2 is less than said SP. 13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said second electric motor is sized so as to be able to accept said engine torque equal to at least said SP. 14. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein said SP varies over said engine speed range. 15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein the controller is operable to start and operate the engine at torque output levels less than SP under abnormal and transient conditions to satisfy drivability and/or safety considerations. 16. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. 17. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16, wherein said threshold value is no more than about 2% per revolution. 18. The hybrid vehicle of claim 16, wherein said controller is operable to vary said threshold value with respect to a state of charge of said electrical storage device. 19. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a maximum torque on at least said two wheels produced by said first electric motor or both electric motors is larger than a maximum torque on at least said two wheels produced by said engine. 20. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a maximum rotational speed of said first electric motor is at least 50% larger than a maximum rotational speed of said engine. 21. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first AC electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and said third AC electric motor coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle. 22. The hybrid vehicle of claim 21, wherein relative amounts of power directed to said first and second pairs of wheels by the first and third electric motors, respectively, is controlled by said controller. 23. The hybrid vehicle of claim 21, wherein a torque range-broadening transmission is interposed between said engine and said at least said two wheels to which said engine is operable to provide power. 24. The hybrid vehicle of claim 21, wherein a maximum torque provided to said first and second pairs of two wheels by said first and third electric motors, or by said first and third electric motors and said second electric motor, is larger than a maximum torque on at least said two wheels produced by said engine. 25. The hybrid vehicle of claim 21, wherein a maximum rotational speed of said first electric motor is at least 50% larger than a maximum rotational speed of said engine. 26. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 27. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said engine is preheated prior to starting. 28. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation, and wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of the vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. 29. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation; wherein said hybrid vehicle further comprises a third AC electric motor; and wherein said first AC electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and said third AC electric motor is is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle. 30. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation; wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 31. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first AC electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and said third AC electric motor is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second and/or third motors to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. 32. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second and/or third motors to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to remaining required torque; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 33. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first alternating current (AC) electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and a said third AC electric motor is provided and is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 34. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first alternating current (AC) electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and a said third AC electric motor is provided and is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; and wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque; and wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when the vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation. 35. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque; wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when the vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 36. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first alternating current (AC) electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and a said third AC electric motor is provided and is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 37. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first alternating current (AC) electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and a said third AC electric motor is provided and is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 38. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a third AC electric motor; wherein said first alternating current (AC) electric motor is coupled to a first pair of wheels to provide power to said first pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle, and a said third AC electric motor is provided and is coupled to a second pair of wheels to provide power to said second pair of wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation; wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of the vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque; and wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said turbocharger is so operated when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 39. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operable to: start and stop said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disable engine operation when road load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enable engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation. 40. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of road load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. 41. A method of control of a hybrid vehicle, said hybrid vehicle comprising: at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle; a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle; a second AC electric motor; an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power; a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively; a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC; an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption; said method comprising the step of controlling flow of DC current such that a ratio of maximum DC voltage on the DC side of at least said first AC-DC converter coupled to said first electric motor to current supplied from said electrical storage device to at least said first AC-DC converter, when maximum current is so supplied, is at least 2.5. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said ratio is more than 2.5 during supply of maximum power from said electrical storage device to at least said two wheels by said first electric motor. 43. The method of claim 41, wherein the maximum DC voltage is at least approximately 500 volts. 44. The method of claim 41, wherein the maximum current is less than approximately 150 amperes. 45. The method of claim 41, wherein said controller performs the following additional steps: starts and stops said engine at any speed of said hybrid vehicle; disables engine operation when vehicle load on said engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of said engine; and enables engine operation at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except said condition of disabling operation. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein said controller stops said engine when said vehicle load on said engine results in torque lower than 30% of the MTO of the engine. 47. The method of claim 45, wherein said controller starts and operates said engine when said vehicle load is sufficient to require said engine to produce torque at least equal to a setpoint (SP), and wherein said SP is substantially less than the MTO of said engine. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein said SP is at least 20% of the MTO of the engine. 49. The method of claim 47, wherein said SP is at least 30% of the MTO of the engine. 50. The method of claim 47, wherein said controller disables engine operation when the vehicle load results in torque below a second setpoint (SP2), wherein said SP2 is less than said SP. 51. The method of claim 47, wherein said SP varies over said engine speed range. 52. The method of claim 47, wherein the controller is operable to start and operate the engine at torque output levels less than SP under abnormal and transient conditions to satisfy drivability and/or safety considerations. 53. The method of claim 41, wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. 54. The method of claim 53, wherein said threshold value is no more than about 2% per revolution. 55. The method of claim 53, wherein said controller is operable to vary said threshold value with respect to a state of charge of said electrical storage device. 56. The method of claim 41, wherein said engine comprises a turbocharger operable to increase the maximum torque output by said engine, and wherein said method comprises the further step of operating said turbocharger when the power required of said engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time. 57. The method of claim 41, comprising the further step of preheating said engine prior to starting. 58. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising: operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising: providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to a DC side of a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter; the first AC-DC converter converting the DC current to AC current; providing the AC current to the first AC electric motor to drive the AC electric motor; and providing power to at least two wheels of the hybrid vehicle; starting and operating an engine comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the vehicle and/or drive a second AC electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to generate electric power, comprising providing power to the at least two wheels and/or the second AC electric motor respectively; converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter; and storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device, wherein the electrical storage device is coupled to a DC side of the second AC-DC converter; wherein a ratio of maximum DC voltage on the DC side of at least said first AC-DC converter coupled to the first electric motor to current supplied from the electrical storage device to at least the first AC-DC converter, when maximum current is so supplied, is at least 2.5. 59. The method of claim 58, further comprising: disabling engine operation when vehicle load on the engine results in torque less than 20% of a maximum torque output (MTO) of the engine; wherein said starting and operating the engine comprises starting and operating the engine at any required combination of its speed and its torque, except when the vehicle load on the engine results in torque less than 20% of the MTO of the engine; wherein said disabling and said starting and operating occurs independently of speed of the hybrid vehicle. 60. The method of claim 58, further comprising: limiting a rate of change of torque output of the engine to a threshold value; and operating the first and/or the second AC electric motors to supply additional power to the at least two wheels to supply remaining required torque when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds the threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine. 61. The method of claim 58, further comprising: operating a third AC electric motor to provide power to the at least two wheels of the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle; wherein said providing power to the at least to wheels comprised in said operating the first AC electric motor comprises providing power to a first pair of wheels of the at least two wheels, and wherein said operating the third AC electric motor comprises providing power to a second pair of wheels of the at least to wheels. 62. The method of claim 58, further comprising: operating a turbocharger comprised by the engine of the hybrid vehicle to increase maximum torque output (MTO) produced by the engine when torque required of the engine exceeds a predetermined value for at least a predetermined period of time.