Acceleration Control System in Electric Vehicle

• US 20130274983A1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Yoshimoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/00 Motorcycles characterised by position of motor or engine rider propulsion with addition source of power, e.g. auxiliary combustion engine or electric motor B62M6/00; frames characterised by position of engine B62K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/02 with engine between front and rear wheels
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A control system includes an electric motor, an electric storage device, a throttle grip, a brake lever, a controller, and an acceleration/deceleration adjustment lever. The controller supplies electric power from the electric storage device to the electric motor in response to an acceleration command input by the throttle grip and causes the electric motor to drive the rear wheel. The controller adjusts the electric power generated by rotational power applied by the rear wheel in response to an acceleration/deceleration command from the acceleration/deceleration adjustment lever. The acceleration/deceleration adjustment lever is provided separately from throttle grip.

Claims

1. An acceleration control system in an electric vehicle comprising:

an electric motor for driving a drive wheel by electric power supplied to the electric motor;

an acceleration operation member for inputting a command for causing the drive wheel to be accelerated;

a controller for supplying to the electric motor electric power corresponding to the command from the acceleration operation member; and

an acceleration amount adjustment member provided separately from the acceleration operation member;

wherein the controller controls an amount of the electric power supplied to the electric motor in response to the command from the acceleration adjustment member.

2. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller generates the electric power supplied to the electric motor in response to an operation of the acceleration operation member, and suppresses the electric power supplied to the electric motor in response to an operation of the acceleration amount adjustment member.

3. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the acceleration operation member is movable in a first predetermined direction from a predetermined first reference position and is applied with a biasing force in a direction opposite to the first predetermined direction to return the acceleration operation member to the first reference position;

wherein the acceleration amount adjustment member is movable in a second predetermined direction from a predetermined second reference position and is applied with a biasing force in a direction opposite to the second predetermined direction to return the acceleration amount adjustment member to the second reference position; and

wherein the controller increases the electric power supplied to the electric motor as an operation amount of the acceleration operation member with respect to the first reference position increases and decreases the electric power supplied to the electric motor as the acceleration operation member moves closer to the first reference position when the acceleration operation member returns to the first reference position; and

wherein the controller decreases the electric power supplied to the electric motor as an operation amount of the acceleration amount adjustment member with respect to the second reference position increases and increases the electric power supplied to the electric motor as the acceleration amount adjustment member moves closer to the second reference position when the acceleration amount adjustment member returns to the second reference position.

4. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein the controller nullifies the operation of the acceleration operation member and halts electric power supply to the electric motor, when the acceleration amount adjustment member is moved by a predetermined operation amount or greater in the second predetermined direction from the second reference position.

5. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 3, comprising:

a steering device including two gripping members which are gripped by driver'"'"'s right and left hands, respectively;

wherein the acceleration operation member is provided at one of the gripping members; and

wherein the acceleration amount adjustment member is provided at the other gripping member.

6. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein the acceleration operation member is an operation member of a throttle grip shape which is attached on the one of the gripping members such that the acceleration operation member is operated to be rotatable in the first predetermined direction around an axis of the acceleration operation member;

and

wherein the acceleration amount adjustment member is an operation member of a lever shape which is operated to be movable in the second predetermined direction.

7. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the controller supplies to the electric motor prescribed electric power corresponding to the operation amount of the acceleration operation member;

wherein when the acceleration amount adjustment member is moved by the predetermined operation amount or more and the acceleration operation member is operated, before starting of the electric vehicle, and then

the acceleration amount adjustment member is returned by a predetermined operation amount or more to activate and start the electric motor, the controller gradually increases the electric power supplied to the electric motor to the prescribed electric power.

8. The acceleration control system in the electric vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein when a predetermined torque increasing condition is satisfied after the acceleration amount adjustment member has been moved in the second predetermined direction, the controller supplies to the electric motor instantaneous electric power which is greater than prescribed electric power corresponding to an operation amount of the acceleration operation member at a time point when the predetermined torque increasing condition is satisfied.