Emergency Heating System for Electric Vehicle (EV) Running Out of Power

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing emergency heating in an electric vehicle (EV) running out of power, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors in an EV, an indication of an amount of charge remaining for powering the EV;

determining, by the one or more processors, a threshold charge level based on a distance to a nearest charging station;

determining, by the one or more processors, that the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

sending, by the one or more processors, control signals to the EV to cause the EV to pull over to a side of a road in response to determining the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

automatically transmitting, by the one or more processors, a notification to an emergency services provider requesting emergency services; and

routing, by the one or more processors, at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power a heating system in the EV until emergency services arrives.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, a temperature outside of the EV; and

routing, by the one or more processors, at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power the heating system in response to determining that the outside temperature is below a threshold temperature level.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the EV has one or more autonomous operation features.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, a duration until emergency services are expected to arrive;

predicting, by the one or more processors, a maximum temperature that the heating system can maintain in the EV using the remaining amount of charge for the determined duration; and

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is within a threshold range of a threshold temperature level, setting, by the one or more processors, the temperature in the vehicle to the maximum temperature.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is not within the threshold range of the threshold temperature level:

determining, by the one or more processors, a maximum duration that in which the heating system can maintain the threshold temperature level using the remaining amount of charge; and

transmitting, by the one or more processors, a notification to the emergency services indicating the maximum duration.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the threshold temperature level is based upon a temperature outside of the EV.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold temperature level is inversely proportional to the outside temperature.

8 . A computer system configured to provide emergency heating in an electric vehicle (EV) running out of power, the computer system comprising one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to:

receive an indication of an amount of charge remaining for powering an EV;

determine a threshold charge level based on a distance to a nearest charging station;

determine that the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

send control signals to the EV to cause the EV to pull over to a side of a road in response to determining the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

automatically transmit a notification to an emergency services provider requesting emergency services; and

route at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power a heating system in the EV until emergency services arrives.

9 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

determine a temperature outside of the EV; and

route at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power the heating system in response to determining that the outside temperature is below a threshold temperature level.

10 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the EV has one or more autonomous operation features.

11 . The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

determine a duration until emergency services are expected to arrive;

predict a maximum temperature that the heating system can maintain in the EV using the remaining amount of charge for the determined duration; and

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is within a threshold range of a threshold temperature level, set the temperature in the vehicle to the maximum temperature.

12 . The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is not within the threshold range of the threshold temperature level:

determine a maximum duration that in which the heating system can maintain the threshold temperature level using the remaining amount of charge; and

transmit a notification to the emergency services indicating the maximum duration.

13 . The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the threshold temperature level is based upon a temperature outside of the EV.

14 . The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the threshold temperature level is inversely proportional to the outside temperature.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors in an electric vehicle (EV), cause the one or more processors to:

receive an indication of an amount of charge remaining for powering an EV;

determine a threshold charge level based on a distance to a nearest charging station;

determine that the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

send control signals to the EV to cause the EV to pull over to a side of a road in response to determining the amount of charge remaining is below the threshold charge level;

automatically transmit a notification to an emergency services provider requesting emergency services; and

route at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power a heating system in the EV until emergency services arrives.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine a temperature outside of the EV; and

route at least some of the remaining amount of charge to power the heating system in response to determining that the outside temperature is below a threshold temperature level.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the EV has one or more autonomous operation features.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine a duration until emergency services are expected to arrive;

predict a maximum temperature that the heating system can maintain in the EV using the remaining amount of charge for the determined duration; and

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is within a threshold range of a threshold temperature level, set the temperature in the vehicle to the maximum temperature.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer system is further configured to:

in response to determining that the maximum temperature is not within the threshold range of the threshold temperature level:

determine a maximum duration that in which the heating system can maintain the threshold temperature level using the remaining amount of charge; and

transmit a notification to the emergency services indicating the maximum duration.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the threshold temperature level is based upon a temperature outside of the EV.