Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.

Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.

Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.

Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.

Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.

Abstract: Techniques involve controlling battery access on a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve monitoring status of input signals from a group comprising: a lithium battery system, a keyed switch, and a charging receptacle, comparing the status of the input signals to timeout settings stored in memory of the motion control system, initiating a timer based on comparison of the input signals to the timeout settings, and disconnecting at least one direct current (DC) path between a lithium battery interface and a power distribution interface of the utility vehicle in response to expiration of the timer. Such techniques further involve, after disconnecting, reconnecting the at least one DC current path between the lithium battery interface and the power distribution interface in response to a change in status of at least one of the input signals. Such techniques may be performed by a motion control system of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.

Abstract: A control system for handling a fault condition on a utility vehicle includes a lithium battery, a contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the contactor. The control circuitry is configured to detect, while the contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, onset of a fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, after a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, a subsequent operation which opens the contactor if the fault condition remains and maintains closure of the contactor if the fault condition does not remain.

Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.

Abstract: Techniques involve managing lithium battery access on a utility vehicle. In accordance with such techniques, a wakeup circuit includes a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and control logic coupled with the set of inputs and the set of outputs. The control logic is constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a wakeup event from circuitry of the utility vehicle via the set of inputs, close a switching apparatus of the utility vehicle via the set of outputs to connect a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to a set of loads of the utility vehicle. The control logic is further constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a sleep event, open the switching apparatus via the set of outputs to disconnect the lithium battery of the utility vehicle from the set of loads of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.

Abstract: Techniques involve controlling battery access on a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve monitoring status of input signals from a group comprising: a lithium battery system, a keyed switch, and a charging receptacle, comparing the status of the input signals to timeout settings stored in memory of the motion control system, initiating a timer based on comparison of the input signals to the timeout settings, and disconnecting at least one direct current (DC) path between a lithium battery interface and a power distribution interface of the utility vehicle in response to expiration of the timer. Such techniques further involve, after disconnecting, reconnecting the at least one DC current path between the lithium battery interface and the power distribution interface in response to a change in status of at least one of the input signals. Such techniques may be performed by a motion control system of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: A control system for handling a fault condition on a utility vehicle includes a lithium battery, a contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the contactor. The control circuitry is configured to detect, while the contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, onset of a fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, after a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, a subsequent operation which opens the contactor if the fault condition remains and maintains closure of the contactor if the fault condition does not remain.

Abstract: A control system for handling a fault condition on a utility vehicle includes a lithium battery, a contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the contactor. The control circuitry is configured to detect, while the contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, onset of a fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, after a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, a subsequent operation which opens the contactor if the fault condition remains and maintains closure of the contactor if the fault condition does not remain.

Abstract: Techniques involve managing lithium battery access on a utility vehicle. In accordance with such techniques, a wakeup circuit includes a set of inputs, a set of outputs, and control logic coupled with the set of inputs and the set of outputs. The control logic is constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a wakeup event from circuitry of the utility vehicle via the set of inputs, close a switching apparatus of the utility vehicle via the set of outputs to connect a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to a set of loads of the utility vehicle. The control logic is further constructed and arranged to, in response to detecting a sleep event, open the switching apparatus via the set of outputs to disconnect the lithium battery of the utility vehicle from the set of loads of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) controls lithium battery access on a utility vehicle. The BMS includes a battery interface that couples with a lithium battery, a load interface that couples with a set of loads of the utility vehicle, and control circuitry coupled with the battery interface and the load interface. The control circuitry mechanically disconnects the battery interface from the load interface in response to a sleep event. Additionally, after the battery interface is mechanically disconnected from the load interface, the control circuitry mechanically reconnects the battery interface to the load interface in response to a wakeup event. Furthermore, after the battery interface is mechanically reconnected to the load interface, the control circuitry maintains connection between the battery interface and the load interface to convey power from the lithium battery to the set of loads of the utility vehicle through the battery interface and the load interface.

Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.