Conditional progressive degradation of electric vehicle power supply system
Systems of an electric vehicle and the operations thereof are provided. Methods are provided that determine whether a vehicle power source is authorized to power a vehicle at a specific level, and if the power source is not authorized to power the vehicle, alter an ability of the power source.
1. An electric vehicle, comprising:
a power source;
an electric motor electrically connected to the power source, wherein the power source is configured to provide electrical energy to the electric motor according to a selective power capability; and
a power management controller electrically interconnected with the power source, the power management controller comprising:
a microprocessor; and
a computer readable medium coupled to the microprocessor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to:
determine a first power capability of the power source, wherein the first power capability corresponds to a capacity of electrical charge set as available for the power source;
receive, at a first time, a first power degradation signal from a remote administrative server to selectively degrade the first power capability of the power source;
determine, based on the first power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the first power capability from the power source;
degrade, based on the first power degradation signal received, the first power capability of the power source to a decreased second power capability of the power source, wherein the decreased second power capability corresponds to a reduced percentage of the capacity of electrical charge set as available for use by the electric vehicle;
receive, at a second time, a second power degradation signal from the remote administrative server to selectively degrade the decreased second power capability of the power source:
determine, based on the second power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the decreased second power capability from the power source; and
degrade, based on the second power degradation signal received, the decreased second power capability of the power source to a further decreased third power capability of the power source, wherein the further decreased third power capability maintains a minimum usable capacity of electrical charge for the power source.
2. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , wherein prior to determining that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the first power capability from the power source, the microprocessor is caused to:
refer to user information stored in a memory associated with a user of the electric vehicle, wherein the user information includes at least one degradation condition.
3. The electric vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the microprocessor degrades the first power capability of the power source in accordance with a predetermined degradation amount based on the at least one degradation condition and rules stored in the computer readable medium.
4. The electric vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the microprocessor degrades the first power capability of the power source to the decreased second power capability by reducing the overall available capacity of the power source.
5. The electric vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising:
a communication system configured to send and receive messages across a wireless communication network, and wherein the communication system receives a signal from an administrative server across the wireless network directing the microprocessor to return the selective power capability of the power source to the first power capability.
6. A conditional progressive degradation method, comprising:
determining, via a processor of an electric vehicle, a first power capability of a vehicle on-board power source for providing electrical energy to an electric motor of the electric vehicle, wherein the first power capability corresponds to a capacity of electrical charge set as available for use by the electric vehicle;
receiving, at a first time, a first power degradation signal from a remote administrative server to selectively degrade the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source;
determining, via the processor and based on the first power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power from the vehicle on-board power source at the first power capability;
degrading, via the processor, in response to receiving the first power degradation signal and determining that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power from the vehicle on-board power source at the first power capability, the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to a decreased second power capability of the vehicle on-board power source, wherein the decreased second power capability corresponds to a reduced percentage of the capacity of electrical charge set as available for use by the electric vehicle;
receiving, at a second time, a second power degradation signal from the remote administrative server to selectively degrade the decreased second power capability of the power source;
determining, via the processor and based on the second power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the decreased second power capability from the power source; and
degrading, via the processor, in response to receiving the second power degradation signal and determining that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power from the vehicle on-board power source at the decreased second power capability, the second power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to a further decreased third power capability of the vehicle on-board power source, wherein the further decreased third power capability maintains a minimum usable capacity of electrical charge for the power source.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein prior to determining that the electric vehicle is not authorized, the method further comprises:
referring, via the processor, to user information stored in a memory associated with a user of the electric vehicle, wherein the user information includes at least one degradation condition.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein degrading the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source, includes degrading the first power capability by a predetermined degradation amount that is based on the at least one degradation condition and rules stored in a memory of the electric vehicle.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein degrading the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to the decreased second power capability includes reducing the overall available capacity of the vehicle on-board power source.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
setting, via the processor, a power degradation interval timer associated with the vehicle on-board power source, wherein the power degradation interval timer includes an expiration timer that prompts a subsequent degradation of the vehicle on-board power source.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, via the processor, a reset signal for the power degradation interval timer; and
resetting, via the processor, the power degradation interval timer associated with the vehicle on-board power source.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining, via the processor, an emergency condition associated with the vehicle; and
restoring, via the processor, the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source for a predetermined period of time.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein upon expiration of the predetermined period of time, the method comprises:
degrading, via the processor, the restored first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to the decreased second power capability of the vehicle on-board power source.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein prior to an expiration of the predetermined period of time, the method further comprises:
receiving, via the processor, a compliance signal configured to maintain the first power capability for an extended period of time; and
maintaining, via the processor, the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source for an extended period of time beyond the predetermined period of time.
15. A controller, comprising:
a microprocessor; and
a computer readable medium coupled to the microprocessor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to:
determine a first power capability of a vehicle on-board power source for providing electrical energy to an electric motor of an electric vehicle, wherein the first power capability corresponds to a capacity of electrical charge set as available for the power source;
receive, at a first time, a first power degradation signal from a remote administrative server to selectively degrade the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source;
determine, based on the first power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the first power capability from the vehicle on-board power source at the first power capability;
degrade, based on the first power degradation signal received, the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to a decreased second power capability of the vehicle on-board power source, wherein the decreased second power capability corresponds to a reduced percentage of the capacity of electrical charge set as available for use by the electric vehicle;
receive, at a second time, a second power degradation signal from the remote administrative server to selectively degrade the decreased second power capability of the power source;
determine, based on the second power degradation signal received, that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the decreased second power capability from the power source; and
degrade, based on the second power degradation signal received, the decreased second power capability of the power source to a further decreased third power capability of the power source, wherein the further decreased third power capability maintains a minimum usable capacity of electrical charge for the power source.
16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein prior to determining that the electric vehicle is not authorized to receive power at the first power capability from the power source, the microprocessor is caused to:
refer to user information stored in a memory associated with a user of the electric vehicle, wherein the user information includes at least one degradation condition.
17. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the microprocessor degrades the first power capability of the power source in accordance with a predetermined degradation amount based on the at least one degradation condition and rules stored in the computer readable medium by reducing the overall available capacity of the power source.
18. The controller of claim 17 , wherein the microprocessor sets a power degradation interval timer associated with the vehicle on-board power source, wherein the power degradation interval timer includes an expiration timer that prompts a subsequent degradation of the vehicle on-board power source.
19. The controller of claim 18 , wherein the microprocessor receives a reset signal for the power degradation interval timer and, in response to receiving the reset signal, resets the power degradation interval timer associated with the vehicle on-board power source.
20. The controller of claim 17 , wherein the microprocessor determines an emergency condition associated with the vehicle and, in response to determining the emergency condition, restores the first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source for a predetermined period of time, and wherein upon expiration of the predetermined period of time the microprocessor degrades the restored first power capability of the vehicle on-board power source to the decreased second power capability of the vehicle on-board power source.