Abstract: The present invention is a control system for charging a lead-acid battery based on the knowledge of the state of charge of the battery to provide a more consistent percent return target across the range of discharge levels and life of the battery.

Abstract: To manage a fleet of vehicles efficiently, data is obtained concerning vehicle condition; some of this data is recorded in a data packet format on a vehicle and transmitted by radio from the vehicles to a base station, and under some circumstances, transmitted by the internet to a central data station where it is used to determine what should be done with the vehicles, such as for example to determine if the battery of a vehicle must be charged. The data may be transmitted from one vehicle to another vehicle before reaching the base station or the central data station. The data packets can indicate the vehicle to which the data applies, if the battery needs to be charged or replaced and can establish a priority schedule for the charging or replacement of the battery.

Abstract: To manage a fleet of vehicles efficiently, data is obtained concerning vehicle condition; some of this data is recorded in a data packet format on a vehicle and transmitted by radio from the vehicles to a base station, and under some circumstances, transmitted by the internet to a central data station where it is used to determine what should be done with the vehicles, such as for example to determine if the battery of a vehicle must be charged. The data may be transmitted from one vehicle to another vehicle before reaching the base station or the central data station. The data packets can indicate the vehicle to which the data applies, if the battery needs to be charged or replaced and can establish a priority schedule for the charging or replacement of the battery.

Abstract: In operating a battery powered vehicle, a battery charger is located at a stationary location but the battery charger control circuit is mounted on the vehicle and powered from the DC battery of the vehicle. During a charging operation, a microprocessor within the battery charger control circuit detects that a charging operation is taking place and locks the vehicle in position and when the battery charger is disconnected, the battery charger is de-energized prior to disconnecting the electrical contact between it and the vehicle to avoid arcing. The microprocessor and its memory within the battery charger control circuit records information about the energy state of the battery and controls the battery both by measuring input and output power to the battery and by measuring the rate of change of charging current. It also controls operations such as trouble lights within the vehicle and may control a speed control circuit within the vehicle as well.

Abstract: To prevent reduction in the efficiency of a battery in the wintertime for batteries used on vehicles outdoors, charging runs are automatically initiated in two or three hour intervals which are timed by 10 Hertz (Hz) clock pulses that are applied to a first counter normally used to measure the potential of the battery with the output from a selected terminal of the first counter being applied through a summer-winter switch to a second counter normally used to measure the rate of change of the potential of the battery. When the number of counts have elapsed indicating a two or three hour delay, the output from the second counter initiates a charging run. The summer-winter switch may be manual or temperature-controlled and may include one or more other positions to disconnect the timing circuit or connect a different terminal of the first counter to the second counter to initiate charging runs every two and one-half days during storage of the battery for long periods of time.