Multi-mode charging system for an electric vehicle
First Claim
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1. An electric vehicle multi-mode battery charging and operating system, comprising:
- a battery charging system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle, said battery charging system utilizing a cut-off voltage selected from at least a first cut-off voltage, a second cut-off voltage, and a third cut-off voltage;
a battery cooling system for cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle when said battery charging system is coupled to a charging power source, said battery cooling system cooling said battery pack to a temperature within a temperature range selected from at least a first temperature range and a second temperature range; and
means for selecting a preferred mode from a plurality of charging/operational modes, wherein said selecting means is accessible by a user of said electric vehicle, wherein a first mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said first cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, wherein a second mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said second cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, and wherein a third mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said third cut-off voltage and said second temperature range.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus that allows the end user to optimize the performance of an all-electric or hybrid vehicle and its charging system for a desired mode of operation is provided. The system of the invention includes multiple charging/operational modes from which the user may select. Each charging/operational mode controls the cut-off voltage used during charging and the maintenance temperature of the battery pack.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle multi-mode battery charging and operating system, comprising:
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a battery charging system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle, said battery charging system utilizing a cut-off voltage selected from at least a first cut-off voltage, a second cut-off voltage, and a third cut-off voltage; a battery cooling system for cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle when said battery charging system is coupled to a charging power source, said battery cooling system cooling said battery pack to a temperature within a temperature range selected from at least a first temperature range and a second temperature range; and means for selecting a preferred mode from a plurality of charging/operational modes, wherein said selecting means is accessible by a user of said electric vehicle, wherein a first mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said first cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, wherein a second mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said second cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, and wherein a third mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said third cut-off voltage and said second temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of setting a charging/operational mode of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of user accessible charging/operational modes; selecting a preferred mode from said plurality of user accessible charging/operational modes; displaying an indicator of said selected preferred mode; adjusting a charging cut-off voltage to a first cut-off voltage in response to selecting a first mode as said preferred mode; cooling a battery pack of said electric vehicle to a battery pack temperature within a first range of temperatures in response to selecting said first mode as said preferred mode, wherein said step of cooling said battery pack to said battery pack temperature within said first range of temperatures is performed after said electric vehicle is coupled to an external charging power source; adjusting said charging cut-off voltage to a second cut-off voltage in response to selecting a second mode as said preferred mode; cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle to said battery pack temperature within said first range of temperatures in response to selecting said second mode as said preferred mode, wherein said step of cooling said battery pack to said battery pack temperature within said first range of temperatures is performed after said electric vehicle is coupled to said external charging power source; adjusting said charging cut-off voltage to a third cut-off voltage in response to selecting a third mode as said preferred mode; and cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle to said battery pack temperature within a second range of temperatures in response to selecting said third mode as said preferred mode, wherein said step of cooling said battery pack to said battery pack temperature within said second range of temperatures is performed after said electric vehicle is coupled to said external charging power source. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An electric vehicle multi-mode battery charging and operating system, comprising:
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a battery charging system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle, said battery charging system utilizing a cut-off voltage selected from at least a first cut-off voltage, a second cut-off voltage, and a third cut-off voltage, wherein said second cut-off voltage is higher than said first cut-off voltage, and wherein said third cut-off voltage is higher than said second cut-off voltage; a battery cooling system for cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle when said battery charging system is coupled to an external charging power source, said battery cooling system maintaining said battery pack within a temperature range selected from at least a first temperature range and a second temperature range, wherein said second temperature range is colder than said first temperature range; a charging/operational mode selector with at least three available charging/operational modes, wherein said charging/operational mode selector is accessible by a user of said electric vehicle, wherein a first charging/operational mode defines a standard mode and utilizes said second cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, wherein a second charging/operational mode defines a storage mode and utilizes said first cut-off voltage and said first temperature range, and wherein a third charging/operational mode defines an extended driving range mode and utilizes said third cut-off voltage and said second temperature range; and a mode display, wherein said mode display indicates which charging/operational mode of said at least three available charging/operational modes has been selected.
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Specification