Apparatus and method for controlling a relay in electric drive vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is a relay control apparatus and method for electric drive vehicles. The apparatus controls turn-off of a relay operative to connect an electric drive unit with a battery pack for supplying electrical power to the electric drive unit, and comprises a current sensor for measuring and outputting a residual current flowing between the battery pack and the electric drive unit; and a controller for, in a situation requiring turn-off of the relay, receiving the measured residual current value, comparing the measured residual current value with a reference value for the residual current, and controlling to maintain the ON-state of the relay or to turn off the relay on the basis of the comparison results. Accordingly, it prevents a relay of electric drive vehicles from being damaged due to over-current such as a surge current, at the time of turning off the relay.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.