Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and methods for controlling an inverter of a towed vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, a system includes a controller. The controller includes a processor and computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to: receive sensed data indicative of detected deceleration of a tow vehicle; and during detected deceleration, control an inverter of a towed vehicle responsive to the detected deceleration.

Abstract: An illustrative system includes a location sensor configured to sense location of an electric vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of an electric vehicle's location. An electric vehicle battery cooling system is configured to provide cooling to an electric vehicle's battery. A controller is electrically couplable to receive the signal indicative of an electric vehicle's location from the location sensor and is configured to determine battery energy for the electric vehicle to reach a location of a charging station. The battery energy is based on the location of the electric vehicle and an amount of electrical energy remaining in the electric battery. The controller is configured to initiate cooling of the electric battery based on the amount of electrical energy remaining in the electric battery and the battery energy for the electric vehicle to reach the location of the charging station.

Abstract: A battery assembly having batteries connected in series to form rows and columns of battery cells into packs that combine the energy of multiple batteries. The battery cells are joined together to form columns of cells connected mechanically together by an exterior connection sleeve, and mechanically and electrically connected together by a conductive epoxy joining the end of one cell to the end of an adjacent cell in series. The columns of cells are mounted and held in place by racks, with bolts passing through the racks to form a sandwich structure that secures the position and orientation of the cells and columns, and that maintains the electrical connection between joined cells. Perpendicularly disposed to the direction of the columns are a series of conductive bands that join adjacent cells together along rows of cells.

Abstract: A battery assembly having batteries connected in series to form rows and columns of battery cells into packs that combine the energy of multiple batteries. The battery cells are joined together to form columns of cells connected mechanically together by an exterior connection sleeve, and mechanically and electrically connected together by a conductive epoxy joining the end of one cell to the end of an adjacent cell in series. The columns of cells are mounted and held in place by racks, with bolts passing through the racks to form a sandwich structure that secures the position and orientation of the cells and columns, and that maintains the electrical connection between joined cells. Bus bars at the end of the columns of each rack are joined together to electrically connect the columns to each other, and to provide two terminals of the pack through which power is supplied to and from the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motive power device for a vehicle, which is preferably retrofittable as front or rear axle. In a first embodiment, the device comprises a chassis (301) supporting at least one electric motor (318) and attached to the vehicle suspension fixtures with mounts (302, 304). Wheel hubs (377) are suspended from the chassis (301) and driven by the at least one motor (318). Further independent claims are included for a motive power device having a controller providing launch assist and/or stability control, a motive power device having at least two motors and a clutch therebetween, a vehicle provided with these various motive power devices, a method of making a vehicle, a clutch per se and an acceleration controller.

Abstract: In vehicles having drive wheel selections, accessed for example through a transfer case, drive wheel settings are used to determine a desired vehicle ride height at which the vehicle is maintained by a vehicle suspension control system. Preferably, both vehicle speed and transfer case setting are combined to determine the desired vehicle ride height. With two wheel drive selected, the desired vehicle ride height is set to a low ride height which provides the most aerodynamic airflow for the vehicle. However, if four wheel drive is selected, the speed is checked to determine the desired vehicle ride height. If four wheel drive (automatic four wheel drive) is selected, low ride height is still selected for speeds in excess of a first defined speed. For speeds at or below the first defined speed, a high ride height approximately 1 inch above the low ride height is set for the desired ride height.

Abstract: Vehicle speed is measured and used to calculate lateral acceleration of the vehicle and speed dependent thresholds to which the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is compared to determine when to change a controllable suspension system of the vehicle to improve operation of the suspension system. The controllable suspension system includes air springs and variable damping shock absorbers switchable between soft and firm damping rates. At speeds above a given speed, lateral accelerations exceeding first speed dependent thresholds will result in switching the shock absorbers to firm and/or closing gate valves which intercouple the left and right air springs to decrease vehicle roll. For slower speeds less than the given speed, the suspension system control is desensitized such that lateral accelerations of the same given magnitudes, for example due to entering a parking space or other low speed maneuver, do not alter the suspension.

Abstract: One or more vehicle suspension signals, preferably already generated within a controllable suspension system, is utilized to perform switches of the damping state of variable damping shock absorbers in the suspension system while the velocity of the shock absorbers is close to zero velocity. In particular, signals generated by height sensors within a controllable suspension system are utilized as vehicle suspension signals which are filtered to generate signals to enable switching of the shock absorbers while the shock absorbers are close to zero velocity. In addition, performance of the suspension system is improved by utilizing the vehicle suspension signals as one criterion to determine when switching from soft damping to firm damping or from firm damping to soft damping is desirable. Switch enable signals are determined from vehicle suspension signals by filtering at a resonant body frequency and comparison to an appropriate threshold.

Abstract: Load leveling height control is provided for a vehicle by replacing a conventional scheduled vehicle height with a load leveling height which is sensed upon detection of the opening of at least one compartment of the vehicle. Load leveling height control raises and lowers the vehicle to maintain the load leveling height. While either a passenger compartment or a cargo compartment can be monitored, preferably both are monitored to protect the vehicle from potential damage both below and above the vehicle due to changes in vehicle height as a vehicle is loaded and/or unloaded. Any currently active leveling activity is aborted such that a load leveling height or open compartment height can be read and maintained as long as a compartment remains open or until vehicle speed reaches a predefined speed, for example 16 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour), at which time the conventional scheduled vehicle height is once again utilized.

Abstract: An anti-skid control circuit for a wheeled vehicle and a method of processor computation confirmation within such an anti-skid control circuit includes the confirmation of proper processor operation only at a certain one of the computation values. Rotation of a vehicle wheel Provides a pulse train the repetition rate of which is indicative of the vehicle speed. A sequence of program steps is repetitively executed in a microprocessor (17) over a fixed time interval with the microprocessor (17) repeating that same predetermined sequence of program steps during each successive said fixed time interval. A second pulse train is provided having one pulse for each repetition of the sequence of program steps.

Abstract: An anti-skid control circuit for a wheeled vehicle and a method of processor computation confirmation within such an anti-skid control circuit includes the confirmation of proper processor operation only at a certain one of the computation values. Rotation of a vehicle wheel provides a pulse train the repetition rate of which is indicative of the vehicle speed. A sequence of program steps is repetitively executed in a mircroprocessor (17) over a fixed time interval with the microprocessor (17) repeating that same predetermined sequence of program steps during each successive said fixed time interval. A second pulse train is provided having one pulse for each repetition of the sequence of program steps.