Remotely monitoring a plurality of vehicles

Abstract

A method for remotely monitoring and gathering information about a plurality of vehicles, including the steps of accessing the plurality of vehicles wherein each vehicle is individually operated, selecting vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles, communicating the vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles to a remote processor, and processing the plurality of vehicle data into population data by the remote processor. The individual operation of each vehicle preferably includes the steps of generating vehicle data, operating the vehicle based on the vehicle data with a vehicle controller, and storing the vehicle data in a database located on the vehicle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for remotely monitoring a plurality of individually operated vehicles, each vehicle including a battery with a plurality of coupled secondary cells that powers the vehicle and each vehicle including a vehicle controller that controls the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating vehicle data including battery data;   controlling the vehicle, with the vehicle controller, based on the vehicle data;   storing the vehicle data in a database located on the vehicle;   selecting vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles;   communicating the vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles to a remote processor; and   processing the plurality of vehicle data into population data by the remote processor.