RUNAWAY PREVENTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

1 . A method of preventing vehicle runaway of an electric powersport vehicle in an emergency situation, the method comprising:

receiving, via an emergency shutoff switch of the electric powersport vehicle or via a tether switch of the electric powersport vehicle, a signal indicating an existence of the emergency situation while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion; and

in response to the signal, attempting to regulate an operation of an electric motor configured to propel the electric powersport vehicle to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the signal is received via the tether switch.

3 . The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the signal is received via the emergency shutoff switch.

4 . The method as defined in claim 1 , comprising, after a prescribed amount of time of attempting to regulate the operation of the electric motor to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor, causing two or more armature windings of the electric motor to adopt a short-circuit state.

5 . The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the prescribed amount of time is less than one second.

6 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the electric powersport vehicle is an electric snowmobile.

7 . A computer program product for preventing vehicle runaway of an electric powersport vehicle in an emergency situation, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a computer, processor or logic circuit to perform the method as defined in claim 1 .

8 . A method of preventing vehicle runaway of an electric powersport vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a separation of an operator of the electric powersport vehicle from the electric powersport vehicle while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion; and

in response to the signal, regulating an operation of an electric motor configured to propel the electric powersport vehicle to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion.

9 . The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the signal indicating a separation of an operator is received via a tether switch.

10 . The method as defined in claim 8 , comprising, after a prescribed amount of time of regulating the operation of the electric motor to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor, and the operation of the electric motor being outside a predefined operating range, causing two or more armature windings of the electric motor to adopt a short-circuit state.

11 . The method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the prescribed amount of time is less than 1 second.

12 . A computer program product for preventing vehicle runaway of an electric powersport vehicle, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a computer, processor or logic circuit to perform the method as defined in claim 8 .

13 . An electric powersport vehicle with vehicle runaway prevention, the electric powersport vehicle comprising:

an electric motor for propelling the electric powersport vehicle;

a tether switch to signal a separation of an operator of the electric powersport vehicle from the electric powersport vehicle; and

a controller operatively connected to the electric motor and to the tether switch, the controller being configured to:

in response to the separation of the operator from the electric powersport vehicle being signaled while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion, regulate an operation of the electric motor to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor while the electric powersport vehicle is in motion.

14 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 13 , further comprising a battery, wherein during regenerative braking, the battery is supplied with electric energy generated by the electric motor.

15 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 13 , comprising a receptacle for receiving a key, the tether switch signals a separation of the operator from the electric powersport vehicle when the key is separated from the receptacle.

16 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 15 , comprising handlebars and a straddle seat, wherein the receptacle for receiving the key is positioned between the handlebars and the straddle seat.

17 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 13 , the tether switch signals a separation of an operator from the electric powersport vehicle when the controller no longer detects proximity of a key to the vehicle.

18 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to, after a prescribed amount of time of regulating the operation of the electric motor to cause regenerative braking of the electric motor, and the operation of the electric motor being outside a predefined operating range, cause two or more armature windings of the electric motor to adopt a short-circuit state.

19 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 18 , wherein the prescribed amount of time is less than one second.

20 . The electric powersport vehicle as defined in claim 13 , wherein the electric powersport vehicle is a snowmobile.