Integrated starter-generator

Abstract

A method for maintaining a state of charge in a gas powered golf car, wherein the method comprises via an integrated starter control unit: continuously monitoring a state of charge of the battery; and continuously controlling operation of a generator based on the continuously monitored state of charge of the battery to thereby continuously maintain the state of charge of the battery within a desired range. A method for remotely controlling the operation of a gas powered golf car, wherein the method comprises using geospatial position data to monitor a location of the golf car and determine when the golf car is near or within a geofenced area, and then instructing an engine control unit to modify operation of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas powered golf car, said golf car comprising:
 an internal combustion engine operably connected to a driveline, the internal combustion engine structured and operable to generate and deliver power to the driveline;   a starter operably coupled with the internal combustion engine and structured and operable to start the internal combustion engine;   a battery structured and operable to provide electrical energy to the starter for starting the internal combustion engine;   a generator operably connected the internal combustion engine, the generator structured and operable to generate voltage and output the voltage to the battery to charge the battery; and   an integrated starter control unit communicatively connected to the generator and structured and operable to:
 continuously monitor a state of charge of the battery; and 
 based on the continuously monitored state of charge of the battery, continuously control operation of the generator and thereby continuously control the voltage output by the generator to the battery in order to continuously maintain the state of charge of the battery within a desired range. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf car of  claim 1 , wherein the starter and generator are combined to provide a starter-generator. 
     
     
         3 . The golf car of  claim 2 , wherein the starter-generator and the integrated starter control unit are integrated with the internal combustion engine to provide a unitary prime mover. 
     
     
         4 . The golf car of  claim 3 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a single cylinder engine. 
     
     
         5 . A method for maintaining a state of charge in a gas powered golf car, said method comprising:
 operably coupling a starter of the golf car with an internal combustion engine of the golf car, wherein the starter is structured and operable to start the internal combustion engine;   electrically connecting a battery with the starter, wherein the battery is structured and operable to provide electrical energy to the starter for starting the internal combustion engine;   operably coupling a generator of the golf car with the internal combustion engine such that the internal combustion engine can drive the generator;   electrically connecting the generator with the battery, wherein the generator is structured and operable to generate voltage and output the voltage to the battery to charge the battery; and   communicatively connecting an integrated starter control unit with the generator;   via the integrated starter control unit, continuously monitoring a state of charge of the battery; and   via the integrated starter control unit, continuously controlling operation of the generator based on the continuously monitored state of charge of the battery to thereby continuously control the voltage output by the generator to the battery to thereby continuously maintain the state of charge of the battery within a desired range.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising communicating generator operation data from generator to the integrated starter control unit, and wherein continuously controlling operation of the generator comprises:
 via the integrated starter control unit, continuously controlling operation of the generator based on the generator operation data and the continuously monitored state of charge of the battery to thereby continuously control the voltage output by the generator to the battery to thereby continuously maintain the state of charge of the battery within a desired range. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the starter and generator are combined to provide a starter-generator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the starter-generator and the integrated starter control unit are integrated with the internal combustion engine to provide a unitary prime mover. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a single cylinder engine. 
     
     
         10 . A method for remotely controlling the operation of a gas powered golf car, said method comprising:
 communicatively connecting a global positioning system enhanced fleet management system (GPSEFMS) of the golf car with an internal combustion engine control unit (ECU) of the golf car via a vehicle data network of the golf car, the ECU structured and operable to control operation of an internal combustion engine of the golf car;   via the GPSEFMS, monitoring a location of the golf car as the golf car is moving utilizing geospatial position data communicated from a global position sensor of the golf car to the GPSEFMS;   via the GPSEFMS, determining when the golf car is one of near or within a geofenced area; and   via the GPSEFMS, sending control commands to the ECU instructing the ECU to modify operation of the internal combustion engine, and hence operation of the golf car, in accordance with a predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced area.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sending control commands to the ECU instructing the ECU to control operation of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced area comprises:
 via the GPSEFMS, evaluating the predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced area to determine if a reduction in at least one of a speed of the internal combustion engine and a ground speed of the golf car is required by the operation profile; and   via the GPSEFMS, sending one or more speed reduction command to the ECU instructing the ECU to alter one or more operational parameter of the internal combustion engine to reduce the at least one of the speed of the internal combustion engine and the ground speed of the golf car.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ground speed of the golf car can be monitored via the GPSEFMS using the geospatial position data communicated from a global position sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 via the GPSEFMS, continuing to monitor a subsequent location of the golf car utilizing geospatial position data communicated from the global position sensor after the GPSEFMS has sent the control commands to the ECU instructing the ECU to control operation of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the operation profile; 
 via the GPSEFMS, utilizing the subsequent location of the golf car to evaluate vehicle operation restore criteria of the operation profile to determine when the restore criteria has been satisfied, based on the subsequent location of the golf car; and 
 via the GPSEFMS, send a restore command to the ECU to restore operation of the internal combustion engine when the restore criteria has been satisfied. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sending control commands to the ECU instructing the ECU to control operation of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced area comprises sending control commands to at least one of:
 the ECU instructing the ECU to control operation of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a predetermined operation profile specific to the geofenced; and   a driver display of the golf car to provide information to a driver of the golf car.