Electric Vehicle

• US 20130282218A1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Published: 10/24/2013
• 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 8,892,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/025 Input devices for controlling electric drive motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/36 Cycles; Motorcycles; Scooters
• 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: B62M 7/04 below the frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 when the acceleration/deceleration adjustment lever is placed in a location closer to a driver than a cut-off position to cause the electric motor to activate the rear wheel, and cuts off electric power supplied to the electric motor irrespective of an operation of the throttle grip in a state in which the acceleration/deceleration adjustment lever has been operated and placed in the cut-off position.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

an electric motor for driving a drive wheel;

an acceleration operation member for activating the electric motor;

an activated state switching member which is capable of being operated and is provided separately from the acceleration operation member; and

a controller for controlling an activated state of the electric motor in response to an operation of the acceleration operation member and an operation of the activated state switching member;

wherein when the acceleration operation member is operated in a state in which the activated state switching member is placed in a non-switched state, the controller activates the electric motor; and

wherein in a state in which the activated state switching member is placed in a switched state, the controller does not activate the electric motor, even when the acceleration operation member is operated.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the activated state switching member is changed from the non-switched state to the switched state when the activated state switching member is operated from a reference position, and is applied with a biasing force for returning the activated state switching member to the reference position, in the switched state.

3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a brake operation member for activating a brake member for braking the drive wheel;

wherein

the activated state switching member is provided separately from the brake operation member.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller transitions to a starting permission state when a predetermined starting permission condition is satisfied, in a starting stand-by state in which the electric motor is placed in a stand-by state;

wherein when the activated state switching member is placed in the switched state in the starting permission state, the controller maintains the starting permission state and does not activate the electric motor even when the acceleration operation member is operated;

wherein when the acceleration operation member is operated within a predetermined time in a state in which the activated state switching member is placed in the non-switched state, the controller activates the electric motor; and

wherein when the non-switched state of the activated state switching member continues for a predetermined time, the controller transitions to the starting stand-by state.

5. The electric vehicle according to claim 4,

wherein the starting permission condition includes a first input condition and a second input condition;

wherein the first input condition is such that a first operation member mounted to the electric vehicle is operated; and

wherein the second input condition is such that a second operation member mounted to the electric vehicle separately from the first operation member is operated.

6. The electric vehicle according to claim 5,

wherein the second operation member is the activated state switching member;

and

wherein the second input condition is such that the activated state switching member is placed in the switched state.

7. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, 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 activated state switching member is provided at the other gripping member.

8. The electric vehicle according to claim 7,

wherein the activated state switching member is an operation member of a lever shape operated in a predetermined direction.