ELECTRIC VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of the second group of ground engaging members;
a plurality of batteries supported by the frame;
an electronic controller which controls a provision of power from the plurality of batteries to the electric motor; and
a drive mode input operatively coupled to the electronic controller, the electronic controller operating the electric vehicle in one of a plurality of drive modes based on the drive mode input, wherein in a first drive mode the electronic controller specifies a first amount of engine braking to be applied by the electric motor and in a second drive mode the electronic controller specifies a second amount of engine braking to be applied by the electric motor, the second amount differing from the first amount.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
80 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of the second group of ground engaging members; a plurality of batteries supported by the frame; an electronic controller which controls a provision of power from the plurality of batteries to the electric motor; and a drive mode input operatively coupled to the electronic controller, the electronic controller operating the electric vehicle in one of a plurality of drive modes based on the drive mode input, wherein in a first drive mode the electronic controller specifies a first amount of engine braking to be applied by the electric motor and in a second drive mode the electronic controller specifies a second amount of engine braking to be applied by the electric motor, the second amount differing from the first amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of operating an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
requesting a desired speed of the electric vehicle; monitoring a current speed of the electric vehicle; and applying engine braking with an electric drive motor of the vehicle to reduce a current speed of the vehicle to a desired speed, a first amount of engine braking being applied with the electric drive motor when the vehicle is being operated in a first drive mode and a second amount of engine braking being applied with the electric drive motor when the vehicle is being operated in a second drive mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of the second group of ground engaging members; a plurality of batteries supported by the frame; an electronic controller which controls a provision of power from the plurality of batteries to the electric motor including a drive current; and a drive mode input operatively coupled to the electronic controller, the electronic controller operating the electric vehicle in one of a plurality of drive modes based on the drive mode input, wherein in a first drive mode the electronic controller limits the drive current in a first non-linear fashion based on an rpm of the electric motor and in a second drive mode in a second non-linear fashion based on the rpm of the electric motor.
-
-
16. The electric vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a prop shaft coupling the electric motor to the front drive system, the prop shaft extending through a longitudinal opening in the plurality of batteries.
-
17. The electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first non-linear fashion and the second non-linear fashion includes a plurality of linear segments.
-
18. A method of operating an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
requesting a desired speed of the electric vehicle; monitoring a current speed of the electric vehicle; and adjusting a drive current of the electric vehicle when the current speed of the electric vehicle is less than the desired speed of the vehicle, the drive current being limited in a non-linear fashion based on an rpm of the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of operating an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
requesting a desired speed of the electric vehicle; monitoring a current speed of the electric vehicle; and adjusting a drive current of the electric vehicle when the current speed of the electric vehicle is less than the desired speed of the vehicle, the drive current being increased until one of the current speed equals the desired speed and a pause in the operation of the drive motor of the electric vehicle is detected. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of 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, the electric motor providing power to at least one of the second group of ground engaging members; a plurality of batteries supported by the frame; an electronic controller which controls a provision of power from the plurality of batteries to the electric motor; and a throttle input system operatively coupled to the electronic controller to provide an indication of a desired speed for the vehicle, the throttle input system including a throttle input member; at least two sensors each of which provide an indication of a position of the throttle input member; and at least two voltage supplies, a first voltage supply being operatively coupled to a first sensor of the at least two sensors and a second voltage supply being operatively coupled to a second sensor of the at least two sensors. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification