Electric off-road wheeled vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An off-road vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
at least one seat mounted on the frame;
an electric motor supported by the frame;
at least one battery electrically connected to the electric motor;
two front wheels and two rear wheels supported by the frame, at least two of the wheels being operatively connected to the electric motor for propelling the vehicle;
a front driveshaft selectively connected to the electric motor to selectively drive the two front wheels;
a rear driveshaft connected to the electric motor to drive the two rear wheels;
a 2WD/4WD selector selectively connecting the front driveshaft to the electric motor;
a steering device being operatively connected to at least two of the wheels for steering the vehicle;
a motor control module electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling an operation of the electric motor;
a vehicle control module electrically connected to the motor control module for controlling an operation of the motor control module;
a shifter movably connected to the frame, the shifter being movable to a plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions including a neutral position; and
a shifter position sensor operatively connected to the shifter for sensing a position of the shifter, the shifter position sensor being electrically connected to the vehicle control module for transmitting a shifter position signal indicative of the position of the shifter to the vehicle control module, the vehicle control module being adapted for controlling the operation of the motor control module based at least in part on the shifter position signal,the vehicle control module being adapted to cause the 2WD/4WD selector to disconnect the front driveshaft from the electric motor when the shifter position signal indicates that the shifter is in the neutral position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An off-road vehicle has four wheels and side-by-side driver and passenger seats. At least two of the wheels are driven by an electric motor powered by batteries disposed in the vehicle.
20 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An off-road vehicle comprising:
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a frame; at least one seat mounted on the frame; an electric motor supported by the frame; at least one battery electrically connected to the electric motor; two front wheels and two rear wheels supported by the frame, at least two of the wheels being operatively connected to the electric motor for propelling the vehicle; a front driveshaft selectively connected to the electric motor to selectively drive the two front wheels; a rear driveshaft connected to the electric motor to drive the two rear wheels; a 2WD/4WD selector selectively connecting the front driveshaft to the electric motor; a steering device being operatively connected to at least two of the wheels for steering the vehicle; a motor control module electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling an operation of the electric motor; a vehicle control module electrically connected to the motor control module for controlling an operation of the motor control module; a shifter movably connected to the frame, the shifter being movable to a plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions including a neutral position; and a shifter position sensor operatively connected to the shifter for sensing a position of the shifter, the shifter position sensor being electrically connected to the vehicle control module for transmitting a shifter position signal indicative of the position of the shifter to the vehicle control module, the vehicle control module being adapted for controlling the operation of the motor control module based at least in part on the shifter position signal, the vehicle control module being adapted to cause the 2WD/4WD selector to disconnect the front driveshaft from the electric motor when the shifter position signal indicates that the shifter is in the neutral position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An off-road vehicle comprising:
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a frame; at least one seat mounted on the frame; an electric motor supported by the frame; at least one battery electrically connected to the electric motor; two front wheels and two rear wheels supported by the frame, at least two of the wheels being operatively connected to the electric motor for propelling the vehicle; a steering device being operatively connected to at least two of the wheels for steering the vehicle; a motor control module electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling an operation of the electric motor; a first rear drive axle connected to one of the two rear wheels for rotation therewith; a second rear drive axle connected to a remaining one of the two rear wheels for rotation therewith; a rear gear assembly operatively connecting the first and second rear drive axles to the electric motor, the rear gear assembly selectively connecting the first and second rear drive axles together, the first and second rear drive axles rotating together when the first and second rear drive axles are connected together by the rear gear assembly, the first and second rear drive axles rotating independently from each other when the first and second rear drive axles are disconnected from each other by the rear gear assembly; a vehicle control module electrically connected to the motor control module for controlling an operation of the motor control module; a shifter movably connected to the frame, the shifter being movable to a plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions including a neutral position; and a shifter position sensor operatively connected to the shifter for sensing a position of the shifter, the shifter position sensor being electrically connected to the vehicle control module for transmitting a shifter position signal indicative of the position of the shifter to the vehicle control module, the vehicle control module being adapted for controlling the operation of the motor control module based at least in part on the shifter position signal, the vehicle control module being adapted to cause the rear gear assembly to disconnect the first and second rear drive axles from each other when the shifter position signal indicates that the shifter is in the neutral position.
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Specification