ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20100314183A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnstun, Jeremiah T., Olsen, Russ G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/346 the transfer gear being a differential gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A utility vehicle is disclosed having an electric drive. The drivetrain is comprised of batteries, a motor, a transaxle driven by the motor, a rear differential driven by the transaxle, and a prop shaft which is driven by the transaxle and drives a front differential. The batteries are provided in two groups and are supported on the frame of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of powering an accessory coupled to an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a first DC-to-DC converter to a plurality of batteries which power the operation of the vehicle;

operatively coupling a second DC-to-DC converter to the plurality of batteries which power the operation of the vehicle; and

based on a condition of the vehicle, selectively coupling an accessory battery to one of a first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and a second output voltage of the second DC-to-DC converter to charge the accessory battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selectively coupling the accessory battery to one of the first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and the second output voltage of the second DC-to-DC converter includes the steps of:

coupling the first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the condition of the vehicle has a first value; and

coupling the second output voltage of the second DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the condition of the vehicle has a second value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the condition of the vehicle is a movement of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first value is that the vehicle is stationary and the second value is that the vehicle is moving.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second output voltage is greater than the first output voltage.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of powering a plurality of components of the vehicle with the first DC-to-DC converter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the components of the vehicle include at least a first component that is a low voltage component and a second component that is a high voltage component, the first component being powered through one of the first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and a third output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and the second component being powered through the other of the first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and the third output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter, the third output voltage being greater than the first output voltage.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first component is powered through the first output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter and the second component is powered through the third output voltage of the first DC-to-DC converter.

9. An electric vehicle having an accessory device coupled thereto, the electric vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame;

an electric motor supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to propel the vehicle;

a plurality of batteries supported by the frame;

an accessory battery separate from the plurality of batteries and operatively coupled to the accessory to power the accessory;

at least one high voltage vehicle component supported by the plurality of ground engaging members and operatively powered by the plurality of batteries;

at least one low voltage vehicle component supported by the plurality of ground engaging members and operatively powered by the plurality of batteries; and

an electronic controller which charges the accessory battery from the plurality of batteries through a plurality of devices based on a condition of the vehicle.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the accessory battery is supported by the vehicle independent of the accessory.

11. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the plurality of devices include a first DC-to-DC converter operatively coupled to the plurality of batteries, the first DC-to-DC converter having a first output voltage;

and a second DC-to-DC converter operatively coupled to the plurality of batteries, the second DC-to-DC converter having a second output voltage, the second output voltage being different from the first output voltage.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter powers the at least one low voltage vehicle component.

13. The electric vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first DC-to-DC converter includes a third output voltage separate from the first output voltage and which powers the at least one high power voltage vehicle component.

14. The electric vehicle of claim 13, wherein the third output voltage is about 48 volts and the first output voltage is about 12 volts.

15. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the condition of the vehicle is a movement of the vehicle relative to the ground.

16. The electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein the electronic controller couples the first DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the vehicle is stationary and the electronic controller couples the second DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the vehicle is moving.

17. The electric vehicle of claim 16, wherein the second output voltage is greater than the first output voltage.

18. The electric vehicle of claim 9, wherein the accessory device is a winch.

19. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a frame having front and rear ends;

a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame, the plurality of ground engaging members including a first group positioned adjacent the frame front end and a second group positioned adjacent the frame rear end;

an electric motor supported by the frame;

a front drive system supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the frame front end, the front drive system operatively coupled to the electric motor and to the first group of ground engaging members;

a rear drive system supported by the frame and positioned adjacent the frame rear end, the rear drive system being operatively coupled to the electric motor and to the second group of ground engaging members;

a plurality of batteries supported by the frame;

an accessory battery separate from the plurality of batteries;

a sensor monitoring a movement of the vehicle;

an electronic controller which controls a provision of power from the plurality of batteries to the electric motor and which monitors the movement of the vehicle;

a first DC-to-DC converter operatively coupled to the plurality of batteries, the first DC-to-DC converter having a first output voltage; and

a second DC-to-DC converter operatively coupled to the plurality of batteries, the second DC-to-DC converter having a second output voltage, the second output voltage being different from the first output voltage, wherein based on the movement of the vehicle the electronic controller couples the accessory battery to one of the first DC-to-DC converter and the second DC-to-DC converter.

20. The electric vehicle of claim 19, wherein the electronic controller couples the first DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the vehicle is stationary and the electronic controller couples the second DC-to-DC converter to the accessory battery when the vehicle is moving.

21. The electric vehicle of claim 19, wherein the second output voltage is greater than the first output voltage.

22. The electric vehicle of claim 19, wherein the first DC-to-DC converter has a third output voltage independent of the first output voltage, the third output voltage being higher than the first output voltage.

23. The electric vehicle of claim 22, wherein the third output voltage provides power to at least one high voltage component of the vehicle and the first output voltage provides power to at least one low voltage component of the vehicle.

24. The electric vehicle of claim 23, wherein the third output voltage is about 48 volts and the first output voltage is about 12 volts.

25. The electric vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a low voltage accessory device coupled to the vehicle, the low voltage accessory device being powered by the accessory battery as opposed to the first DC-to-DC converter.

26. The electric vehicle of claim 25, wherein the low voltage accessory device is a winch.