Abstract: Described herein is a method controlling vehicle access, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. The method comprises, receiving, by a system onboard a vehicle a command from the driver as the driver exits the vehicle, defining, by the system, a maximum speed value the vehicle can operate based on the received command, determining, by the system, a geographic boundary for the vehicle operation based on the received command, controlling, by the system, operations of the speed limiter component to activate speed limit and operations of the geofencing component to limit operation of the vehicle within the geographic boundary.

Abstract: Techniques for externally displaying electric vehicle (EV) battery charge status using onboard vehicle display technologies are provided. For example, a method comprises determining, by a system onboard a vehicle comprising a processor, charge status information regarding a state of charge of a battery system of the vehicle that supplies power to a propulsion system of the vehicle, and controlling, by the system, displaying a visual signal of the charge status information using one or more electronic devices integrated on or within the vehicle, the visual signal being visible from a position outside the vehicle. For example, the one or more electronic device can include one or more lights onboard the vehicle and/or an electronic display apparatus onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: Advanced keyless vehicle entry and usage control systems and methods are provided. For example, a method comprises performing, by a system onboard a vehicle and comprising a processor, an identification/verification process to identify and verify an identity of a person located within a defined distance relative to the vehicle based on biometric data (e.g., facial image data, voice data, and other biometric data) captured of the person, via one or more sensors located on or within the vehicle. The method further comprises determining, by the system, access authorization information regarding whether the person is authorized to access one or more internal compartments of the vehicle based on verification of the identity of the person, and controlling, by the system, access to the one or more internal compartments via electronically controlling unlocking and locking of an enclosure of the one or more internal compartments in accordance with the access authorization information.

Abstract: A system, comprises: one or more sensors integrated on or within a vehicle; a memory that stores computer executable components; and a processor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory, wherein the computer executable components comprise: a communication interface component that receives a command from the driver as the driver exits the vehicle; a speed limiter component that defines a maximum speed value the vehicle can operate based on the received command; a geofencing component that defines geographic boundaries for the vehicle operation based on the received command; and a control component operatively connected to the communication interface component, speed limiter component and the geofencing component, wherein the control component activates the speed limiter component to utilizes the maximum speed value and activates the geofencing component to determine the geofencing boundaries to limit the functionality of the vehicle based on the driver's command.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are presented regarding discharging electrical energy from a battery pack, wherein the electrical energy can be discharged, via a battery discharge system, to a receiver system such as a microgrid, an electrical grid, a vehicle, or other suitable system configured to receive/store electrical energy. The battery pack can be discharged to facilitate testing of the battery pack. Discharge of the battery pack can be to a single receiver system or shared across two or more receiver systems. Discharging can be based on available receiver systems, time of day, payment/compensation for the electrical energy, and suchlike. Discharging can also be selected based on a user-preference (e.g., prior choice(s) for previous discharging operation). Discharging can be prioritized, e.g., the electrical grid is undergoing a grid emergency and the discharged electrical energy is directed to the electrical grid to assist the electrical grid in recovering from the grid emergency.