An electric propulsion system includes a rotary electric machine having an output member, a rechargeable energy storage system (“RESS”) connected to the electric machine, a user interface device, and a controller. The RESS includes multiple battery modules and a switching circuit, the latter being configured, in response to electronic switching control signals, to connect the battery modules in a parallel-connected (“P-connected”) configuration or a series-connected (“S-connected”) configuration, as a selected battery configuration. The user interface device receives an operator-requested drive mode signal indicative of a desired drive mode of the electric propulsion system. The controller, which is programmed with mode-specific electrical losses associated with the desired drive mode, establishes the selected battery configuration in response to the drive mode signal, and presents a drive mode recommendation via the user interface device when the losses associated with the desired drive mode exceed a calibrated loss threshold.

A method and system for configuring an electric vehicle in preparation for a planned trip with a trailer are provided. The method includes obtaining, by a control device of the EV, a user request to perform a trip with the EV towing the trailer. The user request includes trailer configuration data specifying characteristics of the trailer and navigation data specifying characteristics of the planned trip. The method includes assessing a battery status of an electric battery of the EV with a battery management system of the EV being in communication with the control device and calculating with the control device operating settings for operating the electric battery on the trip of the EV towing the trailer based on the trailer configuration data and the navigation data.

A vehicle control system for reducing turn radius of a vehicle may include electric motors associated with front and rear wheels of the vehicle. The system may further include a plurality of vehicle sensors to receive information including driving surface type, vehicle speed and handwheel position. The system may also include a controller operably coupled to the electric motors and the sensors to control wheel slip during a turn based on the driving surface type, the vehicle speed and the handwheel position.

A regenerative braking torque control system of an electric vehicle, includes a travel information setting section selects a regenerative braking level in response to a driver’s input and setting at least one driving mode among a plurality of driving modes, an in-vehicle information detector which detects in-vehicle information corresponding to a number and in-vehicle positions of occupants seated on vehicle seats, and a controller which allows driving to be performed according to the regenerative braking level selected by the travel information setting section, the controller transferring motor torque responsiveness according to the number and the in-vehicle positions of the occupants detected by the in-vehicle information detector to a motor controller for driving the vehicle by reflecting the motor torque responsiveness on regenerative braking torque.

A fuel cell vehicle may include: a fuel cell unit; a battery unit connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell unit in parallel; a traction motor configured to be driven by electric power supplied from at least one of the fuel cell unit and the battery unit; and a controller configured to control the fuel cell unit to maintain a FC voltage outputted from the fuel cell unit at an idling voltage which is higher than zero and lower than a battery voltage outputted from the battery unit while driving of the traction motor is prohibited.

A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a driver acceleration/deceleration command for the vehicle's powertrain and determining a torque request corresponding to the driver's acceleration command. The controller shapes the torque request and determines compensated and uncompensated accelerations from the shaped torque request. The compensated acceleration is based on an estimated road grade and an estimated vehicle mass, whereas the uncompensated acceleration is based on a zero road grade and a nominal vehicle mass. A final speed horizon profile is calculated as: a speed-control speed profile based on the uncompensated acceleration if the vehicle's speed is below a preset low vehicle speed; or a torque-control speed profile based on a blend of the compensated and uncompensated accelerations if the vehicle speed exceeds the preset low vehicle speed. The controller commands the powertrain to output a requested axle torque based on the final speed horizon profile.

A method of protecting the high voltage DC bus of a hybrid vehicle as well as to a hybrid vehicle and controller configured to implement the method. The method involves detecting a plurality of requests to start the vehicle and, in response to at least the first request, precharging and energizing the high voltage DC bus without starting the engine. When one or more further requests are detected the engine is started and the high voltage DC bus is energized if each of the further requests is detected within a respective predetermined time interval from the preceding request. Starting the engine provides an audible feedback to the driver that the vehicle is ready for operation, thereby preventing overheating of the precharging circuit.

A method for operating a control unit of a light-weight vehicle, especially of a pedal electric cycle or of an electric kick scooter. The method includes: receiving at least one sensor information associated with a sensor of the vehicle; and transmitting, via a communication channel between the control unit and a personal mobile terminal, the at least one sensor information and/or at least an information based thereon.

The present disclosure relates to a dual battery system (1) comprising a first battery (B1) and a second battery (B2), for balancing charge level of the first battery and the second battery, the dual battery system being adapted for powering propulsion of an electric vehicle (3) comprising a first electric motor (E1) coupled in driving relationship with one or more rear wheels of the electric vehicle and a second electric motor (E2) coupled in driving relationship with one or more front wheels of the electric vehicle. The first battery is adapted to provide electric power for driving the first electric motor and the second battery is adapted to provide electric power for driving the second electric motor. The dual battery system obtains (100) at least one of data or information of a predetermined and/or imminent charging event of the electric vehicle. The dual battery system furthermore obtains (200) at least one of data or information of charge level of the first battery and second battery respectively. Moreover the dual battery system selects (300), when the charge level of the first battery and the second battery are unbalanced, a driving scenario which comprises charging and/or discharging of at least one of the first battery and the second battery, the driving scenario balancing the charge level of the first battery and the second battery prior to arriving at the predetermined and/or imminent charging event. The disclosure also relates to a dual battery system in accordance with the foregoing, and an electric vehicle comprising such a dual battery system.

An operating method for a motor drive of a vehicle drivable by muscle power and additionally by motor power, and, in particular, for an electric bicycle, an e-bike, a pedelec, an S-pedelec and the like. The method includes the steps: (i) ascertaining whether and/or in what way an obstacle on a driving route of the vehicle is present directly at the vehicle; (ii) conditionally adapting an operating state of the motor drive as a function of a result of the ascertainment; and (iii) driving the vehicle with the aid of the motor drive in the adapted operating state, as well as to a corresponding control unit and to a vehicle per se.