阅读说明：本技术 混合动力汽车 (Hybrid electric vehicle ) 是由 小川友希 于 2020-08-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供抑制行驶状态在短时间内振荡(反转)的混合动力汽车。混合动力汽车具备：发动机；电动机；蓄电池；空调装置,对乘员室进行空气调节；及控制装置,具有地图信息,设定从当前地到目的地为止的行驶路径,生成向行驶路径的各行驶区间分配了包括CD模式和CS模式的行驶模式中的任一者的行驶支援计划,执行行驶支援控制。行驶支援计划基于考虑了空调装置的消耗电力的蓄电池余量而生成。在执行着行驶支援控制的期间,在基于不考虑空调装置的消耗电力的蓄电池余量的规定条件成立时,使行驶状态继续。(The present disclosure provides a hybrid vehicle that suppresses hunting (reverse rotation) of a running state in a short time. A hybrid vehicle is provided with: an engine; an electric motor; a storage battery; an air conditioning device that air-conditions a passenger compartment; and a control device having map information, setting a travel route from a current location to a destination, generating a travel support plan in which any one of travel patterns including a CD pattern and a CS pattern is assigned to each travel section of the travel route, and executing travel support control. The driving assistance plan is generated based on the remaining battery level in consideration of the power consumption of the air conditioner. While the travel assist control is being executed, the travel state is continued when a predetermined condition based on the remaining battery amount without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is satisfied.)

1. A hybrid vehicle is provided with: an engine; an electric motor; a storage battery; an air conditioning device that air-conditions a passenger compartment; and map information, wherein the hybrid vehicle is provided with a control device that sets a travel route from a current location to a destination, generates a travel assist plan in which any one of travel patterns including a CD pattern and a CS pattern is assigned to each travel section of the travel route, and executes travel assist control for traveling along the travel assist plan,

the control device generates the travel assist plan based on a remaining battery level in consideration of power consumption of the air conditioner, and continues the travel state when a predetermined condition based on the remaining battery level in consideration of power consumption of the air conditioner is satisfied while the travel assist control is being executed.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1,

the satisfaction of the predetermined conditions is all of a condition that the amount of regenerative electric power to the destination is equal to or greater than a predetermined electric power amount, a condition that the distance to the destination is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance, a condition that the remaining amount of the battery without considering the electric power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition that the running mode of the running section in which the vehicle is currently running is the CD mode, and a condition that the hybrid running is temporarily selected.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1,

the satisfaction of the predetermined condition is all of a condition that a remaining amount of the battery without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition that a distance to a destination is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and a condition that electric travel is selected.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1,

the satisfaction of the predetermined condition is the satisfaction of all of a condition of traveling on an expressway, a condition of a remaining battery amount not considering the power consumption of the air conditioner being equal to or more than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition of selecting a mode of automatic shift to electric traveling, and a condition of selecting hybrid traveling.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle that manages application of a plurality of traveling modes of a vehicle.

Background

Conventionally, as such a hybrid vehicle, there has been proposed a hybrid vehicle that executes travel assist control for traveling along a travel plan in which either a motor travel mode (EV travel mode) in which an engine is stopped and the vehicle travels by power from a motor or a hybrid travel mode (HV travel mode) in which the vehicle travels by using power from the engine and power from the motor while operating the engine is assigned to each travel section of a route from a current location to a destination (see, for example, patent document 1). In this hybrid vehicle, the motor running mode and the hybrid running mode are assigned so that the storage ratio (SOC: State of Charge) of the battery at the time of arrival at the destination becomes 0.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-151760

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When the travel support control is performed in the hybrid vehicle, it is preferable to calculate the energy consumption of each travel section of the travel route based on the road traffic information and generate the travel support plan. Here, the road traffic information includes information on current and future traffic, information on predicted values of current average vehicle speed and future average vehicle speed in a section on the travel route, information on traffic control, information on weather, information on road surface conditions, information on a map, and the like, and can be acquired by communication with an external traffic information management center or the like. Since an air conditioner that performs air conditioning of a passenger compartment is often mounted in a vehicle and the power consumption of a battery increases and decreases according to the degree of operation of the air conditioner, it is necessary to generate a travel assistance plan in consideration of the operating state of the air conditioner. On the other hand, considering the power consumption of the air conditioner, the traveling state may be reversed in a short time, such as electric traveling or hybrid traveling.

The main object of the hybrid vehicle of the present invention is to suppress hunting (reverse rotation) of the running state in a short time.

Means for solving the problems

The hybrid vehicle of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above-described main object.

The hybrid vehicle of the present invention includes: an engine; an electric motor; a storage battery; an air conditioning device that air-conditions a passenger compartment; and map information, wherein the hybrid vehicle is provided with a control device that sets a travel route from a current location to a destination, generates a travel assist plan in which any one of travel patterns including a CD pattern and a CS pattern is assigned to each travel section of the travel route, and executes travel assist control for traveling along the travel assist plan,

the control device generates the travel assist plan based on a remaining battery level in consideration of power consumption of the air conditioner, and continues the travel state when a predetermined condition based on the remaining battery level in consideration of power consumption of the air conditioner is satisfied while the travel assist control is being executed.

In the hybrid vehicle of the present invention, a travel route from the current position to the destination is set, a travel assist plan in which one of travel patterns including a CD pattern and a CS pattern is assigned to each travel section of the travel route is generated, and travel assist control for traveling along the travel assist plan is executed. The CD mode (Charge depletion mode) is a mode in which priority is given to motor running so as to reduce the storage ratio of the battery. The CS mode (Charge Sustaining mode) is a mode in which the electric motor running and the hybrid running are combined so as to maintain the storage ratio of the battery. The motor running is running by only power from the motor with the engine stopped. The hybrid travel is a travel by power from the engine and power from the motor in a state where the engine is operated. The control device generates a travel assist plan based on a remaining battery level in consideration of power consumption of the air conditioner. This enables a more appropriate travel support plan to be generated. The control device continues the running state when a predetermined condition based on the remaining battery amount without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is satisfied while the running assistance control is being executed. The running state includes a state of electric running and a state of hybrid running. Thus, when the predetermined condition based on the remaining battery level without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is satisfied, the traveling state can be suppressed from being reversed in a short time, as compared with the case where the traveling state is changed based on the remaining battery level with considering the power consumption of the air conditioner.

In the hybrid vehicle according to the present invention, the satisfaction of the predetermined condition may be all of a condition that the amount of regenerative electric power to the destination is equal to or more than a predetermined electric power amount, a condition that the distance to the destination is equal to or more than a predetermined distance, a condition that the remaining amount of the battery without considering the electric power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition that the running mode of the running section currently running is the CD mode, and a condition that the hybrid running is temporarily selected. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed, but since the hybrid drive mode is temporarily selected, the electric drive mode is changed to the hybrid drive mode in a short time even when the electric drive mode is switched, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (hybrid running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the hybrid running to the electric running and further from the electric running to the hybrid running.

In the hybrid vehicle according to the present invention, the satisfaction of the predetermined condition may be all of a condition that a remaining amount of the battery without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition that a distance to a destination is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and a condition that electric travel is selected. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed to the hybrid drive mode, but the electric drive mode is changed to the hybrid drive mode to reduce the battery remaining amount because the distance to the destination is short, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (electric running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the electric running to the hybrid running and further from the hybrid running to the electric running.

In the hybrid vehicle according to the present invention, the satisfaction of the predetermined condition may be all of a condition of traveling on an expressway, a condition of a remaining battery amount not considering the power consumption of the air conditioner being equal to or more than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition of selecting a mode for automatic shift to electric travel, and a condition of selecting hybrid travel. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed, but since the vehicle is running on an expressway, the hybrid drive mode is changed to the electric drive mode in a short time even when the vehicle is shifted to the electric drive mode, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (hybrid running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the hybrid running to the electric running and further from the electric running to the hybrid running.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a hybrid vehicle 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a hybrid ECU50 as a center.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the travel assist control executed by the hybrid ECU 50.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the anticipation information generating and transmitting process executed by the navigation system 80.

Detailed Description

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to examples. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a hybrid electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as a hybrid ECU)50 as a center. As shown in the drawing, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes an engine EG and a motor MG as power sources. As the running mode, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment switches between a CD mode (Charge depletion mode) in which electric running is prioritized so that the power storage ratio SOC of the battery 40 is reduced, and a CS mode (Charge maintaining mode) in which electric running and hybrid running are used in combination so that the power storage ratio SOC of the battery 40 is maintained at a target ratio, and runs. The electric drive mode is a mode in which the vehicle travels only by the power from the electric motor MG with the operation of the engine EG stopped, and the hybrid drive mode is a mode in which the engine EG is operated and the vehicle travels by the power from the engine EG and the power from the electric motor MG.

The hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes, in addition to a power source, an ignition switch 21, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 22, a vehicle-mounted camera 24, a millimeter-wave radar 26, an acceleration sensor 28, a vehicle speed sensor 30, an accelerator sensor 32, a brake sensor 34, a mode switching switch 36, a battery actuator 38, a battery 40, an air-conditioning electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as an air-conditioning ECU)42, an air-conditioning compressor 44, a hybrid ECU50, an accelerator actuator 60, a brake actuator 62, a brake device 64, a display device 66, a driving state indicator 67, a meter 68, a DCM (Data Communication Module) 70, a navigation System 80, and the like.

The GPS22 is a device that detects the position of a vehicle based on signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites. The in-vehicle camera 24 is a camera that photographs the periphery of the vehicle, and for example, a front camera that photographs the front of the vehicle, a rear camera that photographs the rear of the vehicle, and the like correspond to these cameras. The millimeter wave radar 26 detects the inter-vehicle distance and the relative speed between the host vehicle and the vehicle in front, and detects the inter-vehicle distance and the relative speed between the host vehicle and the vehicle behind.

The acceleration sensor 28 is, for example, a sensor that detects acceleration in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and detects acceleration in the left-right direction (lateral direction) of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 30 detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle based on the wheel speed and the like. The accelerator sensor 32 detects an accelerator opening degree or the like corresponding to a depression amount of an accelerator pedal of the driver. The brake sensor 34 detects a brake position or the like that is a depression amount of a brake pedal of the driver. The mode selector switch 36 is a switch disposed near the steering wheel of the driver's seat and used for switching between the CD mode and the CS mode.

The battery actuator 38 detects the state of the battery 40 (for example, inter-terminal voltage, charge/discharge current, and battery temperature), and manages the battery 40 based on these. The battery actuator 38 calculates a power storage ratio SOC that is a ratio of the remaining power storage capacity to the total power storage capacity based on the charge/discharge current, and calculates an allowable maximum output power (output limit Wout) that can be output from the battery 40 and an allowable maximum input power (input limit Win) that can be input to the battery 40 based on the power storage ratio SOC, the battery temperature, and the like. The battery 40 is configured as a chargeable and dischargeable secondary battery, and for example, a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a lead storage battery, or the like can be used.

Although not shown, the air conditioner ECU42 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU as a center, and includes a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, an input port, an output port, a communication port, and the like in addition to the CPU. The air conditioning ECU42 is incorporated in an air conditioning apparatus that air-conditions a passenger compartment, and drive-controls the air conditioning compressor 44 in the air conditioning apparatus so that the temperature of the passenger compartment becomes a set temperature.

The engine EG is configured as an internal combustion engine, for example. The motor MG is configured as an electric motor that also functions as a generator, such as a synchronous motor generator. Although not shown, the electric motor MG is connected to the battery 40 via an inverter, and is capable of outputting a driving force using electric power supplied from the battery 40 and charging the battery 40 with the electric power generated.

Although not shown, the hybrid ECU50 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU as a center, and includes a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, an input port, an output port, a communication port, and the like in addition to the CPU. The hybrid ECU50 sets a running mode, and sets a target operation point (target rotation speed, target torque) of the engine EG and a torque command of the electric motor MG based on the set running mode, the accelerator opening degree from the accelerator sensor 32, the brake position from the brake sensor 34, the output limit and the input limit from the battery actuator 38.

During the electric drive, the hybrid ECU50 sets the required driving force and the required power based on the accelerator opening degree from the accelerator sensor 32 and the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 30, sets the torque command of the electric motor MG so as to output the required driving force or the required power to the vehicle, and transmits the set torque command to the accelerator actuator 60. The hybrid ECU50 sets the target operation point of the engine EG and the torque command of the electric motor MG so as to output the required driving force or the required power to the vehicle during hybrid running, and transmits the target operation point and the torque command to the accelerator actuator 60. When the brake pedal is depressed, the hybrid ECU50 sets the required braking force based on the brake position from the brake sensor 34 and the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 30, sets the regenerative torque command for regenerative control of the motor MG based on the required braking force and the vehicle speed, sets the target braking force of the brake device, transmits the torque command to the accelerator actuator 60, and transmits the target braking force to the brake actuator 62.

Accelerator actuator 60 controls driving of engine EG and motor MG by a target operating point and a torque command set by hybrid ECU 50. The accelerator actuator 60 performs intake air amount control, fuel injection control, ignition control, intake valve opening/closing timing control, and the like so that the engine EG is operated at a target operating point (target rotational speed, target torque). The accelerator actuator 60 performs switching control of a switching element included in an inverter for driving the electric motor MG so that torque corresponding to a torque command is output from the electric motor MG.

The brake actuator 62 controls the brake device 64 so that the target braking force set by the hybrid ECU50 is applied to the vehicle through the brake device 64. The brake control device 64 is configured as a hydraulically actuated friction brake, for example.

The display device 66 is incorporated in, for example, an instrument panel in front of the driver's seat, and displays various information. Although not shown, the running state indicator 67 includes an EV indicator and an HV indicator, and when the vehicle is running with the motor, the EV indicator is turned on and the HV indicator is turned off, and when the vehicle is running with the hybrid, the EV indicator is turned off and the HV indicator is turned on. The meter 68 is incorporated in, for example, the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat.

The DCM (Data Communication Module) 70 transmits information of the vehicle to the traffic information management center 100, and receives road traffic information from the traffic information management center 100. Examples of the information of the host vehicle include a position, a vehicle speed, a traveling power, and a traveling mode of the host vehicle. Examples of the road traffic information include information on current and future traffic, information on predicted values of current average vehicle speed and future average vehicle speed in a section on a travel route, information on traffic control, information on weather and climate, information on road surface conditions, information on a map, and the like. The DCM70 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 30 seconds, every 1 minute, every 2 minutes, etc.).

The navigation system 80 is a system for guiding the vehicle to a set destination, and includes a display unit 82 and a map information database 84. The navigation system 80 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 via a DCM (Data Communication Module) 70. When the destination is set, the navigation system 80 sets a route based on information of the destination, information of the current location (current position of the vehicle) acquired by the GPS22, and information stored in the map information database 84. The navigation system 80 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 at predetermined time intervals (for example, at intervals of 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and the like) to acquire road traffic information, and performs route guidance based on the road traffic information.

When route guidance is performed, the navigation system 80 generates load information necessary for traveling in each traveling section and the like as forecast information based on information of each traveling section in the traveling route, information related to a traveling load, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, traveling power of the host vehicle, traveling pattern of the host vehicle and the like in the road traffic information acquired from the traffic information management center 100 every time (or every predetermined time) road traffic information is acquired from the traffic information management center 100, and transmits the load information and the like to the hybrid ECU 50. When the travel support control can be executed, the hybrid ECU50 uses the prediction information received from the navigation system 80 to create a travel support plan for assigning either the CD mode or the CS mode to the travel mode of each section of the route and executing the travel support plan.

When the navigation system 80 acquires update information of a map included in the information related to the map from the traffic information management center 100, the item of "map update" is displayed on the display unit 82 and preparation for "update of map information" is completed. Please press the map update button. "etc. When the "map update" item is operated in response to the report of such a map update, the navigation system 80 communicates with the traffic information management center 100 via the DCM70, acquires map information related to the update, and stores the map information in the map information database 84. At the time of this map update, "a part of functions will stop at the time of update of the map information is performed. "etc.

Navigation system 80 counts survival counter Cnb, which is incremented by a value of 1 at predetermined intervals, in order to notify hybrid ECU50 or the like that the system is normally in an activated state. Hybrid ECU50 acquires survival counter Cnb from navigation system 80 at predetermined intervals, and confirms that navigation system 80 is normally activated. In the embodiment, the navigation system 80 does not count the survival counter Cnb as a function of stopping the function during the map update. On the other hand, hybrid ECU50 counts survival counter Chv, which is incremented by a value of 1 at predetermined intervals, in order to notify navigation system 80 or the like that the unit is normally in the activated state. The navigation system 80 acquires the survival counter Chv from the hybrid ECU50 at predetermined intervals, and confirms that the hybrid ECU50 is normally activated.

The operation of the hybrid vehicle 20 configured as described above, particularly, the operation when the travel assist control is executed will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the travel assist control executed by the hybrid ECU 50. This flowchart is executed when a destination is set. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the anticipation information generating and transmitting process executed by the navigation system 80. This flowchart is executed when a destination is set. The following description is made in order.

In the driving assistance control, it is first determined whether or not the driving assistance control can be executed (step S100). As described above, the travel support control is a control in which when a route from the current position to the destination is set by the navigation system 80, either the CD mode or the CS mode is assigned to the travel mode of each section of the route to travel, and therefore the travel support control cannot be executed when no destination is set. In addition, the travel support control cannot be executed even when route guidance cannot be performed satisfactorily, such as when an abnormality occurs in the navigation system 80 or when an abnormality occurs in the GPS 22. When the battery temperature is low, the output limit Wout, which is the allowable maximum output power that can be output from the battery 40, is small, and even when the vehicle is traveling in the CD mode, the engine EG may be frequently started, and the vehicle cannot appropriately travel in the CD mode. In step S100, it is determined whether or not the travel assist control can be executed in accordance with such a situation. If it is determined in step S100 that the travel assist control cannot be executed, the vehicle waits until the travel assist control can be executed.

When it is determined in step S100 that the travel assist control can be executed, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S105). The predetermined conditions will be described later. When it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, it is determined whether or not the update of the anticipation information transmitted and received from the navigation system 80 is performed (step S110). When it is determined that the forecast information is updated, the energy consumption e (n) of each travel section of the travel route from the current position to the control-completed section (destination) and the total energy Esum that is the sum of the energy consumption e (n) and the total energy Esum are calculated (step S120). The energy consumption e (n) of each travel section can be determined based on a criterion such as whether the travel section is urban or suburban or mountain.

Next, the air conditioner consumption energy Eac is calculated (step S130). As the air conditioning consumption energy Eac, a value of 0 is used when the air conditioner is off, and the calculated value is used when the air conditioner is on. For example, it is possible to use an amount of electric power obtained by multiplying predetermined electric power, which is "electric power relatively small as electric power consumed by the air conditioner", by a time required to travel a predetermined distance (for example, 5km, 10km, 15 km), and an amount of electric power obtained by multiplying electric power consumed by the air conditioner at that time by a time required to travel a predetermined distance (for example, 5km, 10km, 15km, etc.). In addition, when the air conditioning power consumption at this time is equal to or greater than the first power consumption, the amount of power obtained by multiplying the first power consumption by the time required to travel the predetermined distance (for example, 5km, 10km, 15km, etc.) may be used, and when the air conditioning power consumption at this time is less than the first power consumption, the amount of power obtained by multiplying the second power consumption, which is smaller than the first power consumption, by the time required to travel the predetermined distance (for example, 5km, 10km, 15km, etc.), may be used. Here, as the first power consumption, relatively large power (for example, power of 3/4 or 4/5 which is the maximum power consumption) can be used as the power consumption of the air conditioner, and as the second power consumption, relatively small power (for example, power of 1/4 or 1/5 which is the maximum power consumption) can be used as the power consumption of the air conditioner.

Next, the corrected battery remaining amount Ebat (corresponding to the battery remaining amount in consideration of the power consumption of the air conditioner) is calculated by subtracting the air-conditioning consumption energy Eac from the battery remaining amount (step S135). The remaining amount of the battery 40 can be calculated by multiplying the total capacity of the battery 40 by the storage ratio SOC. Then, it is determined whether or not the total energy Esum is larger than the corrected battery remaining amount Ebat (step S140). When it is determined that the total energy Esum is equal to or less than the corrected battery remaining amount Ebat, the CD mode is assigned to all the travel zones (step S150). When it is determined that the total energy Esum is greater than the corrected battery remaining amount Ebat, the travel sections are arranged in the order of the travel load (energy consumption En) from low to high (step S160), and the CD mode is assigned and the remaining travel sections are assigned in the CS mode in the order of the travel load from low to high until the total amount of the energy consumption En of the assigned travel sections exceeds the remaining amount of the battery 40 (step S170). That is, the CD mode and the CS mode are assigned to the travel route on the condition that the total energy Esum is greater than the corrected battery remaining amount Ebat. Then, the running mode is controlled along the running support plan of the assigned mode (step S190).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S110 that the update of the anticipation information is not performed, it is determined whether or not the travel assist control is being executed (step S180). If it is determined that the travel assist control is not being executed, the process returns to step S100 to determine whether the travel assist control can be executed. When it is determined that the driving assistance control is being executed, the driving mode is controlled along the immediately preceding driving assistance plan (step S190).

Next, it is determined whether or not the end condition of the driving support control is satisfied (step S200). Examples of the end condition of the travel support control include when the destination is changed, when the destination is reached, when the remaining amount of the battery 40 is changed by charging or the like, and when the operation of ending the travel support control is performed by the driver or the like. If it is determined that the end condition of the travel support control is not satisfied, the process returns to step S100 to determine whether the travel support control can be executed. When it is determined that the termination condition of the travel assist control is satisfied, the travel assist control is terminated (step S210), and the routine is terminated. When the destination is changed or the remaining amount of the battery 40 is changed due to charging or the like, the travel assist control is ended, but when a new travel assist control is started, the routine is executed again.

When it is determined in step S105 that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the running state is continued (step S195), and the process proceeds to a process of determining whether or not an end condition of the running support control is satisfied (step S200). Here, the running state means a state of electric running or a state of hybrid running. The satisfaction of the predetermined conditions includes satisfaction of all of a condition that the amount of regenerative electric power to the destination is equal to or more than a predetermined electric power amount, a condition that the distance to the destination is equal to or more than a predetermined distance, a condition that the remaining battery amount (actual remaining battery amount) without considering the electric power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than a predetermined remaining amount, a condition that the running mode of the running section in the current running is the CD mode, and a condition that the hybrid running is temporarily selected. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed, but since the hybrid drive mode is temporarily selected, the electric drive mode is changed to the hybrid drive mode in a short time even when the electric drive mode is switched, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (hybrid running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the hybrid running to the electric running and further from the electric running to the hybrid running.

The satisfaction of the predetermined condition includes the satisfaction of all of the condition that the remaining battery level (actual remaining battery level) without considering the power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than the predetermined remaining level, the condition that the distance to the destination is equal to or less than the predetermined distance, and the condition that the electric travel is selected. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed to the hybrid drive mode, but the electric drive mode is changed to the hybrid drive mode to reduce the battery remaining amount because the distance to the destination is short, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (electric running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the electric running to the hybrid running and further from the hybrid running to the electric running.

The satisfaction of the predetermined condition includes satisfaction of all of a condition of traveling on an expressway, a condition that a remaining battery level (actual remaining battery level) without considering power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or more than a predetermined level, a condition that a mode for automatically shifting to the electric travel is selected, and a condition that the hybrid travel is selected. When such a condition is satisfied, the electric drive mode is easily changed, but since the vehicle is running on an expressway, the hybrid drive mode is changed to the electric drive mode in a short time even when the vehicle is shifted to the electric drive mode, and hunting (reverse rotation) is easily generated. However, by continuing the running state (hybrid running), hunting (reverse rotation) can be suppressed in which the running state is changed from the hybrid running to the electric running and further from the electric running to the hybrid running.

Next, the prediction information generation and transmission process shown in fig. 3 will be described. The navigation system 80 first determines whether or not route guidance is performed (step S300). Whether or not route guidance is performed can be determined based on whether or not a travel route is set in accordance with an input of a destination and a state in which route guidance is performed. When it is determined that route guidance is not performed, the system waits until route guidance is performed.

If it is determined in step S300 that route guidance is performed, the forecast information up to the destination (final destination) is generated and the counter C for the forecast information is incremented by 1 (step S310). As described above, the forecast information includes information on each travel section in the travel route, information on the travel load, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, the travel power of the host vehicle, load information necessary for traveling in each travel section based on the travel pattern of the host vehicle, and the like, in the road traffic information acquired from the traffic information management center 100. The counter C is set to a value of 0 as an initial value.

The generated prediction information and the counter C are then transmitted to the hybrid ECU50 (step S320), and it is determined whether or not the end condition of the travel assist control is satisfied after a predetermined time elapses (step S330) (step S340). If it is determined that the end condition of the driving support control is not satisfied, the process returns to the process of generating the anticipation information and incrementing the counter C in step S310. Therefore, until the end of the travel support control, the following processing is repeatedly performed: the anticipation information up to the destination is generated and the counter C is incremented each time a prescribed time elapses, and the anticipation information and the counter C are sent to the hybrid ECU 50.

When it is determined in step S340 that the conditions for ending the driving support control are satisfied, the data such as the forecast information is erased (step S350), and the present process ends.

In the above-described travel support control and anticipation information generating and transmitting process, the anticipation information is generated every time a predetermined time elapses, and the travel support plan is generated and executed based on the generated anticipation information. At this time, since the travel assist plan is generated based on the remaining battery level in consideration of the air-conditioning consumption energy Eac, a more appropriate travel assist plan can be generated. When it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the running state is continued. For example, when all of the conditions that the amount of regenerative electric power to the destination is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount of electric power, the distance to the destination is equal to or greater than the predetermined distance, the condition that the remaining amount of the battery (the actual remaining amount of the battery) without taking the power consumption of the air conditioner into consideration is equal to or less than the predetermined remaining amount, the condition that the travel mode of the travel section in the current travel is the CD mode, and the condition that the hybrid travel is temporarily selected are satisfied as the predetermined conditions, the hybrid travel is continued, so that hunting of the travel state can be suppressed, and a change in the travel state indicator 67 in a short time can be suppressed. When all of the conditions that the remaining battery level (actual remaining battery level) without taking into account the power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or less than the predetermined remaining level, the condition that the distance to the destination is equal to or less than the predetermined distance, and the condition that the electric travel is selected are satisfied as the predetermined conditions, the electric travel is continued, whereby hunting of the travel state can be suppressed, and a change of the travel state indicator 67 in a short time can be suppressed. When all of the conditions of traveling on the highway, the condition that the remaining battery level (actual remaining battery level) without taking into account the power consumption of the air conditioner is equal to or greater than the predetermined level, the condition that the mode for automatically shifting to the electric travel is selected, and the condition that the hybrid travel is selected are satisfied as the predetermined conditions, the hybrid travel is continued, whereby hunting of the traveling state can be suppressed, and a change in the traveling state indicator 67 in a short time can be suppressed. As a result, the running state can be suppressed from oscillating (reversing) in a short time, and the running state indicator 67 can be suppressed from changing in a short time.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the navigation system 80 generates the anticipation information, and the hybrid ECU50 generates the driving assistance plan and executes the driving assistance control. However, the navigation system 80 and the hybrid ECU50 may be configured as a single electronic control unit, and the travel support control may be executed while generating the anticipation information and the travel support plan by the single electronic control unit.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the navigation system 80 sets the travel route from the current location to the destination using the map information database 84 based on the information of the current location and the information of the destination, but the travel route from the current location to the destination may be set in cooperation with the traffic information management center 100. That is, the navigation system 80 may set the travel route by transmitting the information of the current location and the information of the destination to the traffic information management center 100 and receiving the travel route set by the traffic information management center 100 based on the information of the current location and the information of the destination from the traffic information management center 100.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the navigation system 80 generates load information and the like necessary for traveling in each traveling section as forecast information based on the road traffic information acquired from the traffic information management center 100 every time the road traffic information is acquired from the traffic information management center 100 (or every predetermined time). However, the navigation system 80 may store road traffic information in advance and generate forecast information based on the stored road traffic information at predetermined time intervals.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the survival counter Cnb is incremented by the navigation system 80, and the hybrid ECU50 confirms the survival counter Cnb by the navigation system 80. However, such confirmation may not be performed.

The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiments and the main elements of the invention described in the section of means for solving the problems will be described. In the embodiment, engine EG corresponds to an "engine", motor MG corresponds to an "electric motor", battery 40 corresponds to a "battery", air conditioner corresponds to an "air conditioner", and hybrid ECU50 and navigation system 80 correspond to a "control device". The navigation system 80 corresponds to a "navigation system", and the hybrid ECU50 corresponds to a "driving support control means".

It should be noted that the embodiment is an example for specifically describing the mode for carrying out the invention described in the section of means for solving the problem, and therefore, the correspondence relationship between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the section of means for solving the problem is not limited to the elements of the invention described in the section of means for solving the problem. That is, the invention described in the section of means for solving the problem is to be explained based on the description in the section, and the embodiments are merely specific examples of the invention described in the section of means for solving the problem.

While the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above using examples, the present invention is not limited to such examples at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be carried out in various ways within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of hybrid vehicles and the like.