Control systems and methods for electric drive utility vehicles

A utility vehicle, comprising:

• a traction system comprising at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle;
• an auxiliary system comprising at least one electric auxiliary motor in communication with an auxiliary mechanism;
• and
• an electric motor control system, comprising:
• a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the utility vehicle each providing an operator interface input signal, wherein one of the operator interface input signals comprises an accelerator input signal;
• a plurality of sensors each providing a sensor input signal, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is in communication with at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces;
• a traction controller in communication with the plurality of operator interfaces, the plurality of sensors, and the at least one electric drive motor, wherein the traction controller is configured to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric drive motor based on the accelerator input signal and at least one of the sensor input signals;
• and
• an auxiliary controller in communication with the at least one electric auxiliary motor and the traction controller to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric auxiliary motor;
• wherein the traction controller is configured to provide integrated power management and safety control of the at least one electric drive motor such that the at least one electric drive motor is automatically adjusted in response to conditions of the vehicle as determined from one or more of the accelerator input signal, at least one of the operator interface input signals, or at least one of the sensor input signals;
• wherein the plurality of operator interfaces comprises a user setting control interface having a plurality of user settings for controlling usage of the utility vehicle based on a selected user or a selected category of user, wherein the operator interface input signal from the user setting control interface denotes a selected user setting for the selected user or the selected category of user;
• and
• wherein the traction controller is further configured to enable or inhibit operation of the at least one electric drive motor based on the selected user setting and one or more of the accelerator input signal or at least one of the sensor input signals.

A utility vehicle, comprising:

• a traction system comprising at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• an electric motor control system comprising:
• a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the utility vehicle each providing an operator interface input signal, wherein one of the operator interface input signals comprises an accelerator input signal;
• a plurality of sensors each providing a sensor input signal, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is in communication with at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces;
• and
• a traction controller in communication with the plurality of operator interfaces, the plurality of sensors, and the at least one electric drive motor, wherein the traction controller is configured to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric drive motor based on the accelerator input signal and at least one of the sensor input signals;
• wherein the traction controller is configured to provide integrated power management and safety control of the at least one electric drive motor such that the at least one electric drive motor is automatically adjusted in response to conditions of the vehicle as determined from one or more of the accelerator input signal, at least one of the operator interface input signals, or at least one of the sensor input signals;
• wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an object detection sensor, wherein the sensor input signal from the object detection sensor denotes a presence of an object in a vicinity of the vehicle in the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein the traction controller is further configured to automatically initiate a panic stop of the at least one electric drive motor based on the sensor input signal from the object detection sensor and one or more of the accelerator input signal or at least one of the operator interface input signals.

A utility vehicle, comprising:

• a traction system comprising at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• an electric motor control system comprising:
• a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the utility vehicle each providing an operator interface input signal, wherein one of the operator interface input signals comprises an accelerator input signal;
• a plurality of sensors each providing a sensor input signal, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is in communication with at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces;
• and
• a traction controller in communication with the plurality of operator interfaces, the plurality of sensors, and the at least one electric drive motor, wherein the traction controller is configured to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric drive motor based on the accelerator input signal and at least one of the sensor input signals;
• wherein the traction controller is configured to provide integrated power management and safety control of the at least one electric drive motor such that the at least one electric drive motor is automatically adjusted in response to conditions of the vehicle as determined from one or more of the accelerator input signal, at least one of the operator interface input signals, or at least one of the sensor input signals;
• wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an object detection sensor, wherein the sensor input signal from the object detection sensor denotes a presence of an object in a vicinity of the vehicle in the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein the traction controller is further configured to automatically reduce a speed of the at least one electric drive motor based on the sensor input signal from the object detection sensor and one or more of the accelerator input signal or at least one of the operator interface input signals.