Abstract: In response to detection of connection between a power supply outside a vehicle and a charge plug, control device invalidates key verification performed for determining whether a key of a user is regular or not, when a shift position is parking and a parking brake is active. This satisfies system start conditions, and the control device turns on respective relays to start a system, and executes charge control for charging a power storage device from the power supply outside the vehicle.

Abstract: A power controller alleviating change of braking feeling caused by reduced regenerative braking force is provided. Energy generated by regenerative braking is used for charging a capacitor. The charging power P(C) is calculated and whether P(C) has reached a maximum value WMAX of predetermined limit control value WIN(C) or not is determined. If P(C) is determined to have reached WMAX, WIN(C) is regulated to be smaller from that time point.

Abstract: A maximum current Imax is calculated on the basis of an open-circuit voltage Voc, a lower limit voltage Vcapmin, and an internal resistance Rcap of a capacitor and a first maximum output Wcouttmp1 is calculated on the basis of the maximum current Imax and the lower limit voltage Vcapmin. A second maximum output Wcouttmp2 is calculated on the basis of the open-circuit voltage Voc and an open-circuit lower limit voltage Vocmin. A third maximum output Wcouttmp3 is calculated on the basis of a capacitor voltage Vcap and the lower limit voltage Vcapmin. A smallest value among the calculated three maximum outputs is set as an execution maximum output Wcout of the capacitor. A motor is controlled to be driven in a range of this execution maximum output Wcout.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress reverse of a vehicle on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver. A drive device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: an estimator for estimating whether or not reverse of the vehicle occurs on an up-hill road; a rotating electric machine for generating electric power by rotation of a drive wheel in the vehicle when the vehicle reverses; a capacitor for electrically charging the electric power generated by the rotating electric machine; and a battery connected in parallel to the capacitor, wherein the estimator estimates that the reverse of the vehicle occurs when a current traveling road is an up-hill road and a vehicular speed is smaller than a threshold whereas the electric power of the capacitor is electrically discharged to the battery when the reverse of the vehicle is estimated and the amount of electric energy of the capacitor is greater than a certain threshold.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating regenerative power value P based on a brake pressure; calculating limit charging power WIN(B) to a battery; calculating limit charging power WIN(C) to a capacitor; when it is determined that regenerative power value P is larger than the sum of WIN(B) and WIN(C), estimating that a large regenerative energy sufficient to fully charge the capacitor even if the battery is charged with priority would be generated; and transmitting a control signal to set output voltage of a boost converter to be not higher than the voltage of the capacitor so as to charge the battery with priority.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling fan placed in a power storage device, an exhaust port placed in a battery, and a cooling wind flow path for allowing cooling wind taken in from the cooling fan to flow therethrough. In the power storage device and the battery, communication between a gap inside a casing a gap inside a casing can be established via an opening. The cooling wind supplied from the wind blowing fan (F10) flows through the gap formed inside the casing for the power storage device to cool capacitor cells. Subsequently, the cooling wind that has passed through the power storage device is introduced into the inside of the casing for the battery via the opening, and flows through a gap between the upper surface of battery cells and the casing and a gap between the battery cells to cool the battery cells. Thereafter, the cooling wind is emitted to the outside of the casing via the exhaust port.

Abstract: A power storage device is in parallel to a battery, and is connected to a power supply line and a ground line. A service plug internally includes a resistance and is attached to the power storage device for connecting the resistance between contacts of a relay circuit. The service plug is a member independent of an ordinary service plug arranged at the power storage device. When residual charges in the power storage device are substantially zero, an operator appropriately attaches the service plug to the power storage device in place of the ordinary service plug. Accordingly, when the power storage device enters an overdischarged state due to a maintenance or the like of the power storage device, a vehicle system to which the service plug internally having a current limiting device is attached is started so that occurrence of a rush current can be prevented.

Abstract: A power supply system for driving a vehicle includes a battery, a boost converter boosting the voltage of the battery, a capacitor to which the voltage boosted by the boost converter is applied across the electrodes, system main relays provided between the capacitor and the output of the boost converter for connection and disconnection between the capacitor and the boost converter, and a control device controlling the boost converter and the system main relays. The control device, after giving an instruction for disconnection to the system main relays, causes the boost converter to change the voltage of the output to determine whether the system main relays are normally disconnected.

Abstract: In response to detection of connection between a power supply outside a vehicle and a charge plug, control device invalidates key verification performed for determining whether a key of a user is regular or not, when a shift position is parking and a parking brake is active. This satisfies system start conditions, and the control device turns on respective relays to start a system, and executes charge control for charging a power storage device from the power supply outside the vehicle.

Abstract: If a voltage of each of a plurality of capacitor cells forming a capacitor is lower than a system malfunction voltage V(1), and if the voltage of any one of the capacitor cells is higher than a cell charge inhibition voltage V(2) lower than the system malfunction voltage V(1), an ECU executes a program including a step of setting a limit value WIN(C) of electric power to be stored in the capacitor to be “0”.

Abstract: Provided is a plug wherein a plurality of points in an electric circuit can be easily put into a conductive state or a nonconductive state. A system wherein such a plug is applied is also provided. The composite plug is provided with a plurality of plugs, each of which is provided with two conductive pieces connected by a conductive member. A current is carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are brought into contact with two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. A current is not carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are separated from the two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. The plugs are attached to a common case body.

Abstract: A power supply device mounted to a hybrid vehicle includes: a capacitor that is chargeable/dischargeable; an electric power input/output unit for inputting/outputting electric power between the capacitor and a charge/discharge device installed external to the hybrid vehicle; a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the capacitor; and a control device increasing the temperature of the capacitor by performing at least one of charging from the charge/discharge device to the capacitor and discharging from the capacitor to the charge/discharge device when the control device determines based on a detection result of the temperature sensor that the temperature of the capacitor is required to be increased. Thereby, the temperature of the capacitor can be increased without causing a load such as an inverter to consume electric power.

Abstract: A controller obtains a planned travel distance from a current position of a vehicle to a preset charging point from a car navigation system, and based on the obtained planned travel distance, sets upper and lower limit values for controlling SOC of an electric storage lower as it comes closer to the charging point. The controller controls the SOC of the electric storage such that the SOC is within the set upper and lower limits of SOC control.

Abstract: A maximum current Imax is calculated on the basis of an open-circuit voltage Voc, a lower limit voltage Vcapmin, and an internal resistance Rcap of a capacitor and a first maximum output Wcouttmp1 is calculated on the basis of the maximum current Imax and the lower limit voltage Vcapmin. A second maximum output Wcouttmp2 is calculated on the basis of the open-circuit voltage Voc and an open-circuit lower limit voltage Vocmin. A third maximum output Wcouttmp3 is calculated on the basis of a capacitor voltage Vcap and the lower limit voltage Vcapmin. A smallest value among the calculated three maximum outputs is set as an execution maximum output Wcout of the capacitor. A motor is controlled to be driven in a range of this execution maximum output Wcout.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress reverse of a vehicle on an up-hill road against an intention of a driver. A drive device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: an estimator for estimating whether or not reverse of the vehicle occurs on an up-hill road; a rotating electric machine for generating electric power by rotation of a drive wheel in the vehicle when the vehicle reverses; a capacitor for electrically charging the electric power generated by the rotating electric machine; and a battery connected in parallel to the capacitor, wherein the estimator estimates that the reverse of the vehicle occurs when a current traveling road is an up-hill road and a vehicular speed is smaller than a threshold whereas the electric power of the capacitor is electrically discharged to the battery when the reverse of the vehicle is estimated and the amount of electric energy of the capacitor is greater than a certain threshold.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating regenerative power value P based on a brake pressure (S100); calculating limit charging power WIN(B) to a battery (S102); calculating limit charging power WIN(C) to a capacitor (S104); when it is determined that regenerative power value P is larger than the sum of WIN(B) and WIN(C) (YES at S106), estimating (S108) that a large regenerative energy sufficient to fully charge the capacitor even if the battery is charged with priority would be generated; and transmitting a control signal (S110) to set output voltage of a boost converter to be not higher than the voltage of the capacitor so as to charge the battery with priority.

Abstract: A power controller alleviating change of braking feeling caused by reduced regenerative braking force is provided. Energy generated by regenerative braking is used for charging a capacitor. The charging power P(C) is calculated and whether P(C) has reached a maximum value WMAX of predetermined limit control value WIN(C) or not is determined. If P(C) is determined to have reached WMAX WIN(C) is regulated to be smaller from that time point.

Abstract: A power supply system for driving a vehicle includes a battery, a boost converter boosting the voltage of the battery, a capacitor to which the voltage boosted by the boost converter is applied across the electrodes, system main relays provided between the capacitor and the output of the boost converter for connection and disconnection between the capacitor and the boost converter, and a control device controlling the boost converter and the system main relays. The control device, after giving an instruction for disconnection to the system main relays, causes the boost converter to change the voltage of the output to determine whether the system main relays are normally disconnected.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling fan placed in a power storage device, an exhaust port placed in a battery, and a cooling wind flow path for allowing cooling wind taken in from the cooling fan to flow therethrough. In the power storage device and the battery, communication between a gap inside a casing a gap inside a casing can be established via an opening. The cooling wind supplied from the wind blowing fan (F10) flows through the gap formed inside the casing for the power storage device to cool capacitor cells. Subsequently, the cooling wind that has passed through the power storage device is introduced into the inside of the casing for the battery via the opening, and flows through a gap between the upper surface of battery cells and the casing and a gap between the battery cells to cool the battery cells. Thereafter, the cooling wind is emitted to the outside of the casing via the exhaust port.

Abstract: Provided is a plug wherein a plurality of points in an electric circuit can be easily put into a conductive state or a nonconductive state. A system wherein such a plug is applied is also provided. The composite plug is provided with a plurality of plugs, each of which is provided with two conductive pieces connected by a conductive member. A current is carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are brought into contact with two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. A current is not carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are separated from the two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. The plugs are attached to a common case body.