Abstract: In one aspect, responsive to determining that an electric vehicle is connected to an external power source, an operator interface of the electric vehicle is enabled to command a headlight of the electric vehicle into an off condition. Responsive to determining that the electric vehicle is disconnected from the external power source and that the electric motor of the electric vehicle is powered, the headlight of the electric vehicle is maintained in an on condition, and the operator interface from commanding the headlight into the off condition is disabled. In another aspect, an electric vehicle headlight may be rendered non-deactivatable when an accelerator of the electric vehicle is enabled, and the headlight may be rendered deactivatable when an accelerator of the electric vehicle is disabled.

Abstract: There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

Abstract: An electric snowmobile, has: a frame; a drive track assembly having a drive track and a sprocket; an electric motor mounted to the frame; and a transmission mounted to the frame, the transmission drivingly engaging the electric motor to the drive track, the transmission having an input drivingly engaged by the electric motor and an output drivingly engaging the sprocket, the transmission having a speed ratio defined as a rotational speed of the input to a rotational speed of the output, and wherein one or more of: a rotor-to-sprocket ratio ranging from 0.65 to 1.30, a rotor-to-transmission ratio ranging from 52 mm to 180 mm, a stator-to-sprocket ratio ranging from 0.20 to 0.58, and a rotor size-to-sprocket ratio ranging from 25 mm to 105 mm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating watercraft are provided. One method of operating a watercraft includes detecting a presence of an obstacle in proximity to the watercraft. When a propulsion command is received when the presence of the obstacle is detected, an actual output from a powertrain of the watercraft is restricted to a restricted output associated with the presence of the obstacle.

Abstract: Drive units for electric vehicles are provided. One example provides a drive unit for an electric vehicle including a first housing section forming a first compartment to house an electrical inverter and a second housing section forming a second compartment to house an electric motor. The drive unit housing further includes an inlet port to receive a fluid and a shared wall separating the first compartment and the second compartment. The shared wall defines fluid pathways in fluid communication with the inlet port to circulate the fluid to cool the electrical inverter. The drive unit also includes an outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid pathways to discharge the fluid.

Abstract: Drive units for electric vehicles are provided. One example provides a drive unit for an electric vehicle including a first housing section forming a first compartment to house an electrical inverter and a second housing section forming a second compartment to house an electric motor. The drive unit housing further includes an inlet port to receive a fluid and a shared wall separating the first compartment and the second compartment. The shared wall defines fluid pathways in fluid communication with the inlet port to circulate the fluid to cool the electrical inverter. The drive unit also includes an outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid pathways to discharge the fluid.

Abstract: One example provides a thermal management system for an electric vehicle including a pump to pump a thermal transfer fluid through a number of circulation loops, an electric heater to heat the thermal transfer fluid, a heat exchanger to expel heat from the thermal transfer fluid, a number of valves, and a number of fluid pathways fluidically interconnecting the pump, heater, heat exchanger and valves. The valves being controllable to a number of different positions to form the number of circulation loops, the number of circulation loops including a battery heating circulation loop extending through the heater for heating a battery pack of the vehicle, a secondary components cooling circulation loop extending through the heat exchanger to cool secondary components of the vehicle, including a motor and a motor controller, and a battery cooling circulation loop extending through the heat exchanger to cool the battery pack.

Abstract: A brake control system for a vehicle includes a brake actuator operable over a range from an initial position that includes contiguous portions of displacement that are a first portion of displacement, a second portion of displacement and a third portion of displacement, a controller and an actuation sensor operatively coupled to the brake actuator. The actuation sensor sends a signal to the controller to activate a regenerative braking system using an electric motor of the vehicle if the actuation sensor detects the brake actuator is in the first portion of displacement. The regenerative braking system is activated and the friction braking system is activated when the brake actuator is in the second portion of displacement. The regenerative braking system is deactivated and the friction braking system is activated when the brake actuator is in the third portion of displacement.

Abstract: An electric vehicle including an electric motor and a battery system to provide electrical power to the electric motor. A first input device, when actuated, provides a first input representing a command to propel the electric vehicle. A second input device, when actuated, provides a second input for initiating a boost operating mode. A controller is operative to control a permitted rate of change of a selected operating parameter of the electric motor. The controller, in a normal operating mode, operates the electric motor according to a first rate of change for the selected operating parameter in response to the first input, and in a boost operating mode, operates the electric motor according to a second rate of change, greater than the first, for the selected operating parameter for a limited period of time in response to the first input.

Abstract: A battery cooling panel and battery module are disclosed. In one example, the battery cooling panel includes a first outer panel defined as a first cooling fin with a first major surface configured to contact a battery cell. A second outer panel is secured to the first outer panel at an outer edge. A panel insert is positioned between the first outer panel and the second outer panel, the panel insert having a major surface with coolant flow channels. The battery module includes one or more battery cells in contact with the battery cooling panel, and is suitable for use as part of an electric vehicle system.

Abstract: Drive units for electric vehicles are provided. One example provides a drive unit for an electric vehicle including a first housing section forming a first compartment to house an electrical inverter and a second housing section forming a second compartment to house an electric motor. The drive unit housing further includes an inlet port to receive a fluid and a shared wall separating the first compartment and the second compartment. The shared wall defines fluid pathways in fluid communication with the inlet port to circulate the fluid to cool the electrical inverter. The drive unit also includes an outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid pathways to discharge the fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating travel of an electric off-road vehicle on an uncharted off-road route are provided. A method includes relating the uncharted off-road route to be travelled by the electric off-road vehicle to map data of a geographic area including the uncharted off-road route. Using the map data, one or more geographic characteristics of the uncharted off-road route are determined. Using the one or more geographic characteristics of the uncharted off-road route and predetermined battery consumption data associated with the one or more geographic characteristics, an estimated battery consumption for the electric off-road vehicle to travel the uncharted off-road route is determined. The estimated battery consumption is communicated to an operator of the electric off-road vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating an operation of an electric off-road vehicle are provided. A method includes determining an estimated battery consumption data for a planned trip along a route including an off-road trail with the electric off-road vehicle using past battery consumption data and communicating the estimated battery consumption data for the planned trip to an operator of the electric off-road vehicle. When the electric off-road vehicle is travelling along the off-road trail, the method includes receiving actual battery consumption data associated with the electric off-road vehicle, and revising the estimated battery consumption data for the planned trip based on the actual battery consumption data. The revised estimated battery consumption data is communicated to the operator of the electric off-road vehicle during the planned trip.

Abstract: A jet pump housing is mountable to a hull of a personal watercraft. The jet pump housing comprises a body extending between an inlet and an outlet. The body has an inner wall delimiting an interior of the body and an outer wall. The inner wall and the outer wall are configured to be exposed to water during use of the personal watercraft. The body is shaped and sized to allow water to flow into the interior via the inlet and to expel water from the outlet. The body has one or more fluid passages positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall. The one or more fluid passages are fluidly isolated from the water and are in heat exchange relationship with the water via one or both of the inner wall and the outer wall.

Abstract: One example provides a chassis for an electric snowmobile including a battery pack. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing defining an enclosure for housing a number of battery modules for powering an electric motor of the electric snowmobile, the battery pack housing having a length extending in a longitudinal direction of the snowmobile, the battery pack housing including a bottom surface. A pair of opposing side panels extends downwardly from and along at least a portion of the length of the battery pack housing, the opposing panels and at least portions of the bottom surface of the battery pack housing together forming a rear structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric snowmobile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a battery of an electric vehicle are provided. One method includes heating a battery of the electric vehicle using a battery charger of the electric vehicle. The method includes using the battery charger to generate heat without charging the battery with the battery charger, and transferring the heat generated using the battery charger to the battery to heat the battery. Once a temperature of the battery is sufficiently high to accept a charge, the battery charger may be used to charge the battery.

Abstract: One example provides a thermal management system for an electric vehicle including a pump to pump a thermal transfer fluid through a number of circulation loops, an electric heater to heat the thermal transfer fluid, a heat exchanger to expel heat from the thermal transfer fluid, a number of valves, and a number of fluid pathways fluidically interconnecting the pump, heater, heat exchanger and valves. The valves being controllable to a number of different positions to form the number of circulation loops, the number of circulation loops including a battery heating circulation loop extending through the heater for heating a battery pack of the vehicle, a secondary components cooling circulation loop extending through the heat exchanger to cool secondary components of the vehicle, including a motor and a motor controller, and a battery cooling circulation loop extending through the heat exchanger to cool the battery pack.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating powersport vehicles during an operator-vehicle separation condition are provided. One method includes detecting the operator-vehicle separation condition using a first tetherless criterion and a second tetherless criterion. In response to detecting the operator-vehicle separation condition using both the first tetherless criterion and the second tetherless criterion, the method includes preventing propulsion of the powersport vehicle.

Abstract: There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.

Abstract: There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.