Fuel efficiency display device for fuel cell vehicle, and fuel efficiency displaying method for fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

This fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining device which obtains a first interval vehicle efficiency being a fraction of a generated traveling energy with respect to a consumed fuel amount in a predetermined first time-interval; a second interval traveling energy obtaining device which obtains a second interval traveling energy being a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval; and a second interval fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains a second interval fuel efficiency being a fuel efficiency in the second time-interval, based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a construction of a fuel cell vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a construction of a controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show one example of a screen of a display device. FIG. 3A shows the screen while the fuel cell vehicle is in a cruising state, FIG. 3B shows the screen while the fuel cell vehicle is in an accelerating state, and FIG. 3C shows the screen while the fuel cell vehicle is in a stopped state.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing one example of time-histories of vehicle speed and fuel efficiency fraction of the fuel cell vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operations of the fuel efficiency display device shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle including a motor being a driving source of the fuel cell vehicle, a motor controller for controlling an operation status of the motor, and a fuel cell system being a power source for the motor, said fuel cell system including a fuel cell which receives reaction gasses and performs electrochemical reactions to generate an electrical power, and a power storage device which is charged with the generated electrical power from the fuel cell and a regeneration power from the motor,said fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle comprising:a first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining device which obtains a first interval vehicle efficiency being a fraction of a generated traveling energy with respect to a consumed fuel amount in a predetermined first time-interval;a second interval traveling energy obtaining device which obtains a second interval traveling energy being a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval; anda second interval fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains a second interval fuel efficiency being a fuel efficiency in the second time-interval, based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy.

2. The fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining device calculates the consumed fuel amount based on a discharged fuel amount discharged from the fuel cell system to an outside thereof.

3. The fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: an ideal fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains an ideal fuel efficiency being a predetermined ideal fuel efficiency which corresponds to a state of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval;a second interval fuel efficiency difference calculating device which calculates a second interval fuel efficiency difference being a status amount according to a difference between the second interval fuel efficiency obtained by the second interval fuel efficiency obtaining device and the ideal fuel efficiency obtained by the ideal fuel efficiency obtaining device; anda display device which displays the second interval fuel efficiency difference.

4. The fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising: a first interval fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains a first interval fuel efficiency being a fuel efficiency in the first time-interval, based on at least the consumed fuel amount and a mileage in the first time-interval;a standard fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains a standard fuel efficiency being a predetermined standard fuel efficiency in the first time-interval; anda first interval fuel efficiency difference calculating device which calculates a first interval fuel efficiency difference being a status amount according to a difference between the first interval fuel efficiency obtained by the first interval fuel efficiency obtaining device and the standard fuel efficiency obtained by the standard fuel efficiency obtaining device, whereinsaid display device displays the first interval fuel efficiency difference while the fuel cell vehicle is in a traveling-stopped state.

5. The fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 3, said display device displays an image having a size corresponding to said second interval fuel efficiency difference.

6. A fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell system which is a power source for the vehicle, said fuel cell system including a power storage device, and a fuel cell which receives reaction gasses and performs electrochemical reactions to generate an electrical power,said fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle comprising:obtaining a first interval vehicle efficiency that is a fraction of a generated traveling energy with respect to a consumed fuel amount in a predetermined first time-interval; andobtaining a fuel efficiency based on the first interval vehicle efficiency.

7. The fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said fuel cell vehicle includes a motor that is a driving source of the fuel cell vehicle, a motor controller for controlling an operation status of the motor, wherein the fuel cell system is a power source for the motor,said fuel cell system includes the fuel cell, and the power storage device which is charged with a generated power from the fuel cell and a regeneration power from the motor, andsaid fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle further comprises:obtaining a second interval traveling energy which is a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval; andobtaining a second interval fuel efficiency which is a fuel efficiency in the second time-interval based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy.

8. The fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6, wherein in said first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining step, calculating the consumed fuel amount based on a discharged fuel amount discharged from the fuel cell system to an outside thereof.

9. The fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising: obtaining an ideal fuel efficiency which is a predetermined ideal fuel efficiency which corresponds to a state of the fuel cell vehicle in the second time-interval;calculating a second interval fuel efficiency difference in which a second interval fuel efficiency difference is a status amount according to a difference between the second interval fuel efficiency and the ideal fuel efficiency; anddisplaying the second interval fuel efficiency difference.

10. The fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising: obtaining a first interval fuel efficiency is a fuel efficiency in the first time-interval based on at least the consumed fuel amount and a mileage in the first time-interval;obtaining a standard fuel efficiency which is a predetermined standard fuel efficiency in the first time-interval; andcalculating a first interval fuel efficiency difference which is a status amount according to a difference between the first interval fuel efficiency and the standard fuel efficiency, whereinin said displaying step, the first interval fuel efficiency difference is displayed while the fuel cell vehicle is in a traveling-stopped state.

11. The fuel efficiency displaying method for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 9, wherein in said displaying step, an image having a size corresponding to said first interval fuel efficiency difference is displayed.