Predictive energy management of hybrid vehicle

Hybrid vehicles use two energy sources for their propelling. Usually an internal combustion engine (ICE) is used with one or more electric machine(s) (EM). The problem is then to split the driver power demand between the ICE and the EM in order to minimize a criterion, usually the fuel consumption. A global optimization algorithm based on optimal control theory is recalled. The obtained results are optimal but can only be obtained in simulation. For real time control purpose, this optimization algorithm is applied on a receding horizon. The main problem is then to choose the variables to be predicted on this horizon. By analyzing the optimization algorithm, it is shown that the prediction of the future driving conditions (vehicle speed and driver torque demand) is not necessary. Therefore, under some assumptions, a real time control is possible.