Control system and method for electric vehicle
An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
1. An electric traction vehicle comprising:
a vehicle platform;
a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform;
a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors configured to be changeable;
an electrical connector which is used to allow an electrical power-consuming system off-board the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle and draw electrical power from the vehicle; and
a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source configured to be removed and replaced with a larger capacity generator, the power source being used to provide electrical power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector;
wherein the electric traction vehicle is capable of providing at least about 250 kilowatts of power to an off-board power-consuming system.
2. The electric traction vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a configuration program configured to detect a change in the electric traction vehicle.
3. The electric traction vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the configuration program being configured to reconfigure the electric traction vehicle based on a detected change in the electric traction vehicle.
4. The electric traction vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the reconfiguration is a control algorithm update.
5. The electric traction vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to a display.
6. The electric traction vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to another vehicle system.
7. The electric traction vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to an off-board computer.
8. The electric traction vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device configured to supplement the power source by providing short-term power.
9. The electric traction vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the energy storage device is a bank of ultracapacitors.
10. The electric traction vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a fuel cell.
11. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle platform;
a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform;
a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors configured to be reconfigurable;
an electrical connector which is used to allow an off-board power-consuming system to be connected to the vehicle and draw electrical power from the vehicle; and
a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source configured to be removed and replaced with a larger capacity generator, the power source being used to provide electrical power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector; and
a configuration program configured to detect a change in the vehicle, the configuration program being configured to reconfigure the vehicle based on a detected change in the vehicle.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the reconfiguration is a control algorithm update.
13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to a display.
14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to another vehicle system.
15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to an off-board computer.
16. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle platform;
a plurality of drive wheels coupled to the vehicle platform;
a plurality of electric motors coupled to respective ones of the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors being used to drive the plurality of drive wheels, the plurality of electric motors configured to be reconfigurable;
an electrical connector which is used to allow an off-board power-consuming system to be connected to the vehicle and draw power from the vehicle; and
a power source coupled to the vehicle platform, the power source configured to be removed and replaced with a larger capacity generator, the power source being used to provide electrical power to the plurality of electric motors and the electrical connector;
an energy storage device configured to supplement the power source by providing short-term power; and
a configuration program configured to detect a change in the vehicle, the configuration program being configured to reconfigure the vehicle based on a detected change in the vehicle.
17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device is a bank of ultracapacitors.
18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to a display.
19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to another vehicle system.
20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the configuration program being configured to transmit a configuration confirmation signal to an off-board computer.