Energy recovery in electrically powered vehicles

Abstract

An electrically powered vehicle is disclosed, having a resistor to facilitate dynamic breaking when the electrically powered vehicle is moving downhill or under other external motive force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:
 one or more electrical motors configured to provide motive force to a powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle, the one or more electrical motors configured to generate electricity when the electrically powered vehicle is moved by a force external to the electrically powered vehicle;   a battery configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical motors;   a resistor configured to receive electrical power and heat to generate a load; and   a controller configured to determine that the one or more electrical motors are generating electricity and to divert electricity to (a) the battery in response to an indication that the battery has not satisfied a charging threshold and (b) the resistor in response to an indication that the battery has satisfied the charging threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the resistor is coupled with the powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the resistor provides the load from the received electrical power to the powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the resistor providing the load is based on a determination by the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the powered wheel includes a stator motor. 
     
     
         6 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an amount of the generated electricity from the one or more electrical motors. 
     
     
         7 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that a rate of electrical energy diverted to the battery satisfies an energy rate threshold for the battery; and   divert the generated electricity to the resistor in response to the rate satisfying the energy rate threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an amount of braking of the electrically powered vehicle in response to an input from a wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the resistor is further configured to receive inductive energy from a charging conductor. 
     
     
         10 . The electrically powered vehicle in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the resistor is further configured to provide the received inductive energy to the controller, the controller further configured to provide the received inductive energy to the battery. 
     
     
         11 . A method of regenerative braking for an electrically powered vehicle comprising:
 providing, by one or more electrical motors, motive force to a powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle;   generating, by the one or more electrical motors, electricity when the electrically powered vehicle is moved by a force external to the electrically powered vehicle;   providing, by a battery, electrical power to the one or more electrical motors;   receiving, by a resistor, electrical power and heat to generate a load;   determining that the one or more electrical motors are generating electricity; and   diverting electricity to (a) the battery in response to an indication that the battery has not satisfied a charging threshold and (b) the resistor in response to an indication that the battery has satisfied the charging threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the resistor is coupled with the powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the resistor provides the load from the received electrical power to the powered wheel of the electrically powered vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resistor providing the load is based on a determination by the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the powered wheel includes a stator motor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting an amount of the generated electricity from the one or more electrical motors. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining that a rate of electrical energy diverted to the battery satisfies an energy rate threshold for the battery; and   diverting the generated electricity to the resistor in response to the rate satisfying the energy rate threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting an amount of braking of the electrically powered vehicle in response to an input from a wireless device 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, at the resistor, inductive energy from a charging conductor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing the received inductive energy to a controller coupled to the resistor; and   providing, by the controller, the received inductive energy to the battery.