System for extracting electrical power from an electric vehicle

• US 8,922,049 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydrive Vehicles, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hydrive Vehicles, Incorporated
• Inventors: Holland, Dewey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/958,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 307/23, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A system is disclosed for extracting electrical power from a plurality of batteries of an electric vehicle for use by an electric device. The system may include a power inverter configured to convert a DC power output of the batteries to an AC power output usable by the electric device. The system may also include a power cable having a first end electrically connected to the batteries and a second end electrically connected to the power inverter such that the DC power output of the batteries is transmitted through the power cable to the power inverter. Additionally, the first end of the power cable may include a charger plug configured to be connected to the batteries through a charging receptacle of the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for extracting electrical power from a plurality of batteries of an electric vehicle for use by an electric device, the system comprising:

a power inverter configured to convert a DC power output of the plurality of batteries to an AC power output usable by the electric device; and

a power cable having a first end electrically connected to the plurality of batteries and a second end electrically connected to the power inverter such that the DC power output of the plurality of batteries is transmitted through the power cable to the power inverter,

wherein the first end of the power cable includes a charger plug configured to be connected to the plurality of batteries through a charging receptacle of the electric vehicle, the charger plug being unidirectional such that power is only extracted from the plurality of batteries and delivered through the power cable to the power inverter when the charger plug is connected to the charging receptacle,

wherein the electric vehicle comprises one of a golf car, an all-terrain vehicle or a low-speed vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power inverter includes at least one AC electrical outlet configured to receive a corresponding electrical plug of the electric device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least AC one electrical outlet is configured as a ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the power cable includes an output plug configured to be received within an input receptacle of the power inverter such that the DC power output of the plurality of batteries is transmitted through the power cable to the power inverter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power inverter is configured to stop the extraction of power from the plurality of batteries when an output voltage of the plurality of batteries drops below a predetermined voltage threshold.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined voltage threshold is equal to about 10% less than the rated voltage of the plurality of batteries.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adapter member having an adapter receptacle and an adapter plug, the adapter receptacle being configured to be connected to the charger plug of the power cable, the adapter plug being configured to be connected to a charging receptacle of a second electric vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle comprises one of the golf car or the all-terrain vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle comprises the golf car.