SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING AN ON-BOARD BATTERY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including a generator driven by an engine and an electric motor driven by the battery, the electric motor being configured to drive a drive axle of the electric vehicle to move the electric vehicle, the method including:
- providing a regenerative braking system with the electric vehicle, the regenerative braking system being configured to transfer kinetic energy of the electric vehicle to the electric motor to rotate the electric motor;
rotating the electric motor with electrical power from the battery to move the electric vehicle;
generating a first electrical current with the generator, the first electrical current being routed to the battery;
rotating the electric motor with the regenerative braking system to slow movement of the electric vehicle and to generate a second electrical current, the second electrical current being routed to the battery;
charging the battery with the first and second electrical currents;
monitoring the first and second electrical currents during the charging step to determine a total electrical current supplied to the battery; and
removing the first electrical current from the battery upon the total electrical current exceeding a first predetermined threshold.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including a generator driven by an engine and an electric motor driven by the battery, the electric motor being configured to drive a drive axle of the electric vehicle to move the electric vehicle, the method including:
-
providing a regenerative braking system with the electric vehicle, the regenerative braking system being configured to transfer kinetic energy of the electric vehicle to the electric motor to rotate the electric motor; rotating the electric motor with electrical power from the battery to move the electric vehicle; generating a first electrical current with the generator, the first electrical current being routed to the battery; rotating the electric motor with the regenerative braking system to slow movement of the electric vehicle and to generate a second electrical current, the second electrical current being routed to the battery; charging the battery with the first and second electrical currents; monitoring the first and second electrical currents during the charging step to determine a total electrical current supplied to the battery; and removing the first electrical current from the battery upon the total electrical current exceeding a first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the method including:
-
providing a battery, a generator driven by an engine, an electric motor operative to drive a drive axle of the electric vehicle to move the electric vehicle, a regenerative braking system configured to transfer kinetic energy of the electric vehicle to the electric motor, and control logic operative to control charging of the battery; rotating the electric motor with electrical power from the battery to move the electric vehicle; generating a first electrical current with the generator, the first electrical current being routed to the battery; rotating the electric motor with the regenerative braking system to slow movement of the electric vehicle and to generate a second electrical current, the second electrical current being routed to the battery; charging the battery with the first and second electrical currents; monitoring the first and second electrical currents to determine a combined electrical current supplied to the battery; and removing at least one of the first and second electrical currents from the battery upon the combined electrical current exceeding a predetermined threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A battery charging system for an electric vehicle, the battery charging system including:
-
an electric motor; a battery operative to rotate the electric motor to drive a drive axle of the electric vehicle; an engine; a generator driven by the engine and operative to generate a first electrical current; a regenerative braking system operative to transfer kinetic energy of the electric vehicle to the electric motor to rotate the electric motor to generate a second electrical current, the first and second electrical currents being routed to the battery to charge the battery; and control logic operative to monitor the first and second electrical currents and to remove at least one of the first and second electrical currents from the battery upon the combined first and second electrical currents exceeding a threshold current level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification