Thermal protection method and system to maximize availability of electric drive system

A system controller for an electric drive system comprising:

• a temperature comparator configured to receive inputs from temperature sensors located on or in a plurality of components of the electric drive system;
• and
• a command generator interconnected with the temperature comparator and interconnected with a motor controller of the electric drive system to transmit a reduced performance command to the motor controller responsively to receipt of a reached-temperature-threshold-limit signal being received by the temperature comparator.

A method for operating an electric drive system comprising the steps of:

• establishing temperature threshold limits for a plurality of components of the electric drive system, the temperature threshold limit for any particular one of the plurality of components being at a temperature lower than temperature shutdown limit for the particular one of the plurality of components;
• monitoring temperatures of the plurality of components to detect if the temperature of any particular one of the plurality of components reaches the temperature threshold limit for said particular one of the plurality of components;
• initiating a reduction in performance of the electric drive system in the event that the temperature of any particular one of the plurality of components reaches the threshold limit for said particular one of the plurality of components.