Charging Indicator
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle comprising:
- an electric drive system including at least one electric traction motor and an energy storage device;
an adjustable-height suspension;
a charging monitor configured to monitor charging of the energy storage device from an external electrical supply; and
a control unit configured to control a height of said suspension in dependence on the charging monitor;
wherein the control unit is configured to lower said suspension during charging of the energy storage device and to raise said suspension when charging of the energy storage device is complete.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) having an electric drive system including an electric traction motor (11) and an energy storage device (13). The vehicle (1) also has an adjustable-height suspension (7) to allow the height (h) of the vehicle (1) to be adjusted. A monitor (21) is provided for monitoring charging of the energy storage device (13) from an external electrical supply. A control unit (27) is provided for adjusting the height of the suspension (7) in dependence on the monitor (21). Aspects of the present invention also relate to a charging indicator system (3); and a method of indicating the charging status of a vehicle energy storage device (13).
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A motor vehicle comprising:
-
an electric drive system including at least one electric traction motor and an energy storage device; an adjustable-height suspension; a charging monitor configured to monitor charging of the energy storage device from an external electrical supply; and a control unit configured to control a height of said suspension in dependence on the charging monitor; wherein the control unit is configured to lower said suspension during charging of the energy storage device and to raise said suspension when charging of the energy storage device is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. (canceled)
-
14. A method of indicating a charging status of a vehicle energy storage device, the method comprising:
-
monitoring the charging status of the vehicle energy storage device; and adjusting a height of a suspension system to vary a vehicle height in dependence on the charging status, comprising lowering the height of the suspension system during charging of the vehicle energy storage device, and increasing the height of the suspension system when charging of the vehicle energy storage device is complete.
-
-
15-16. -16. (canceled)
-
17. A control unit for a motor vehicle, the control unit configured to control a height of an adjustable-height suspension of the motor vehicle in dependence on a control signal received by the control unit, the control signal being indicative of charging of an energy storage device of the motor vehicle by an external electrical supply,
wherein the control unit is configured to lower said suspension during charging of the energy storage device and to raise said suspension when charging of the energy storage device is complete.
Specification