Electric vehicle

• US 20050154508A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Honda, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A dynamo-electric motor applies motive power to a drive wheel. A battery supplies electric power to the dynamo-electric motor with a driver for controlling the driving of the dynamo-electric motor. A battery control unit performs a control of charging and discharging of the battery. A speed meter displays predetermined information relating to a vehicle. In the electric vehicle including the elements described above, the battery control unit obtains the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver, and displays information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, the trip travel distance and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery on a display unit using communication means.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

a dynamo-electric motor for applying motive power to a drive wheel;

a battery for supplying electric power to the dynamo-electric motor;

a driver for performing drive control of the dynamo-electric motor;

a control unit for performing control relating to charging and discharging of the battery; and

a display unit for displaying predetermined information relating to a vehicle,

wherein the control unit obtains a vehicle speed, a total travel distance, and a trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver, and displays information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance, and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery on the display unit via communication means.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates a residual travel distance of the battery based on the vehicle speed pulse detected by the driver.

3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit determines the abnormality and displays the abnormality on the display unit.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit determines the abnormality and displays the abnormality on the display unit.

5. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an operator can confirm information relating to the history of usage of the battery on the display unit.

6. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a memory for storing total travel distance and trip travel distance.

7. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a charger for rectifying and lowering a commercial power source to a prescribed voltage and allowing the current to flow into the battery and a DC-DC converter for converting a battery voltage from a high voltage for driving the dynamo-electric motor to a low voltage for supplying electricity to electric components on the vehicle.

8. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a reduction power transmitting system for transmitting output power from the dynamo-electric motor to the drive wheel.

9. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a regenerative charging mechanism operatively connected to said dynamo-electric motor for converting the rotational force transmitted from the drive wheel to the dynamo-electric motor when the speed is reduced into electric energy that is accumulated in the battery.

10. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a residual quantity of battery display for notifying an operator of the residual quantity of the battery by reducing the number of illuminated blocks as the residual quantity of the battery decreases.

11. An electric vehicle comprising:

a dynamo-electric motor for supplying rotation to a drive wheel;

a battery for supplying electric power to the dynamo-electric motor;

a driver for controlling the dynamo-electric motor;

a control unit for obtaining a vehicle speed, a total travel distance, and a trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver and for controlling a charging and discharging of the battery;

a display unit for displaying predetermined information; and

communication means for communicating information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance and the trip travel distance and information relating to the charging and discharging of the battery to the display unit for displaying the information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance, and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery on the display unit.

12. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control unit calculates a residual travel distance of the battery based on the vehicle speed pulse detected by the driver.

13. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit determines the abnormality and displays the abnormality on the display unit.

14. The electric vehicle according to claim 12, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit determines the abnormality and displays the abnormality on the display unit.

15. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein an operator can confirm information relating to the history of usage of the battery on the display unit.

16. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said control unit includes a memory for storing total travel distance and trip travel distance.

17. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control unit includes a charger for rectifying and lowering a commercial power source to a prescribed voltage and allowing the current to flow into the battery and a DC-DC converter for converting a battery voltage from a high voltage for driving the dynamo-electric motor to a low voltage for supplying electricity to electric components on the vehicle.

18. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, and further including a reduction power transmitting system for transmitting output power from the dynamo-electric motor to the drive wheel.

19. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, and further including a regenerative charging mechanism operatively connected to said dynamo-electric motor for converting the rotational force transmitted from the drive wheel to the dynamo-electric motor when the speed is reduced into electric energy that is accumulated in the battery.

20. The electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the display unit includes a residual quantity of battery display for notifying an operator of the residual quantity of the battery by reducing the number of illuminated blocks as the residual quantity of the battery decreases.