# US 9,437,058 B2 · Dynamically limiting vehicle operation for best effort economy

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- Number: US 9,437,058 B2
- Document ID: US9437058B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/559,264
- Filed: 2012-07-26
- Published: 2013-01-31
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-26
- Assignees: Gogoro Inc.
- Applicants: Hok-Sum Horace Luke; Matthew Whiting Taylor
- Inventors: Hok-Sum Horace Luke; Matthew Whiting Taylor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437058B2

## CPC

- B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors}
- B60L 1/00: Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)
- B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors}
- B60L 1/02: to electric heating circuits
- B60L 1/14: to electric lighting circuits
- B60L 3/003: {relating to inverters}
- B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines}
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 7/06: for vehicles propelled by AC motors
- B60L 7/14: for vehicles propelled by AC motors
- B60L 7/22: Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
- B60L 15/2045: {for optimising the use of energy}
- B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
- B60L 50/51: characterised by AC-motors
- B60L 50/60: using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75)
- B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries}
- B60L 53/11: {DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4}
- B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer
- B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces}
- B60L 53/65: involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
- B60L 53/665: {Methods related to measuring, billing or payment}
- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- B60L 53/80: Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
- B60L 55/00: Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
- B60L 58/10: for monitoring or controlling batteries
- B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC]
- B60L 58/16: responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
- B60L 58/25: by controlling the electric load
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- E05B 47/0001: {with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04)}
- E05B 81/04: Electrical (electrical circuits E05B81/54)
- E05B 81/56: Control of actuators
- G01C 21/3476: {using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs}
- G01C 21/3682: {output of POI information on a road map (G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence)}
- G05F 1/66: Regulating electric power
- G06F 3/0608: {Saving storage space on storage systems}
- G06F 3/0638: {Organizing or formatting or addressing of data}
- G06F 3/0671: {In-line storage system}
- G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
- G06Q 30/0253: {During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions}
- G06Q 30/0259: {based on store location}
- G06Q 30/0261: {based on user location}
- G06Q 30/0267: {Wireless devices}
- G06Q 30/0639: {Locating goods or services, e.g. based on physical position of the goods or services within a shopping facility}
- G07C 5/00: Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
- G07C 5/0858: {wherein the data carrier is removable}
- G07C 9/00309: {operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks}
- G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices}
- G07F 15/003: {for electricity}
- G07F 15/005: {dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles (electrical charging as such, B60L50/00)}
- G07F 17/12: comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- H01M 10/4257: {Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries}
- H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36)
- H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 7/90: Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
- H02J 11/00: Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
- B60L 3/12: Recording operating variables {; Monitoring of operating variables}
- B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage
- B60L 2200/12: Bikes
- B60L 2200/24: Personal mobility vehicles
- B60L 2210/12: Buck converters
- B60L 2210/14: Boost converters
- B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters
- B60L 2220/14: Synchronous machines
- B60L 2220/16: DC brushless machines
- B60L 2220/46: Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
- B60L 2240/12: Speed
- B60L 2240/14: Acceleration
- B60L 2240/26: Vehicle weight
- B60L 2240/421: Speed
- B60L 2240/423: Torque
- B60L 2240/427: Voltage
- B60L 2240/429: Current
- B60L 2240/525: Temperature of converter or components thereof
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- B60L 2240/622: by satellite navigation
- B60L 2240/642: Slope of road
- B60L 2240/645: Type of road
- B60L 2240/662: Temperature
- B60L 2240/70: Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
- B60L 2250/10: by alarm
- B60L 2250/16: by display
- B60L 2250/18: by enquiring driving style
- B60L 2250/20: by driver identification
- B60L 2250/22: by presence detection
- B60L 2260/44: by parameter estimation
- B60L 2260/52: drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
- B60L 2270/34: of parts
- B60L 2270/46: Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
- B60R 25/04: operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
- G05B 19/05: Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
- G05B 2219/15048: Microprocessor
- G05B 2219/15053: Microcontroller
- G07C 2009/00769: {with data transmission performed by wireless means}
- G07F 15/006: {dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles}
- G07F 17/0042: {for hiring of objects}
- H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing}
- H01M 2010/4278: {Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller}
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
- H02J 7/44: between battery management systems and power sources
- H02J 7/47: Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
- H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries}
- Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 10/92: Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/167: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
- Y04S 10/126: the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
- Y04S 30/12: Remote or cooperative charging
- Y04S 30/14: Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
- Y04S 50/10: Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
- Y04S 50/14: Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards
- Y10T 70/7062: Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Vehicle operation (e.g., speed, acceleration) may be limited based on various conditions such as a current charge condition of an electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, super- or ultracapacitors), history of such, conditions related to the vehicle (e.g., mileage, weight, size, drag coefficient), a driver or operator of the vehicle (e.g., history with respect to speed, acceleration, mileage) and/or environmental conditions (e.g., ambient temperature, terrain). A controller may control operation of one or more power converters to limit current and/or voltage supplied to a traction electric motor, accordingly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a vehicle having a prime mover powered by a main electrical power storage device, the method comprising:
determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time;
determining at least an estimate of at least one travel distance between a present location and at least one destination;
comparing the determined travel distance with the determined estimated range, wherein the comparing the determined travel distance with the determined estimated range includes determining whether the estimated range is within a defined threshold of the determined travel distance, the defined threshold determined based on one or more of: operation or condition of the vehicle at the present time and operation or condition of a driver of the vehicle at the present;
receiving information regarding a determination made by a backend system located remotely from the vehicle whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the determined travel distance and the determined estimated range, wherein the determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical profile for the main electrical power storage device;
receiving a determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle to not limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the determined travel distance and the determined estimated range;
determining a new estimated range of the vehicle;
determining a new estimate of at least one travel distance between a new present location and at least one new destination;
receiving a determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a comparison between the determined travel distance with the determined new estimated range; and
limiting the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
limiting, by a controller in a control circuit in the vehicle, at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein limiting at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle includes limiting a speed of the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein limiting at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle includes limiting an acceleration of the vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the prime mover is an electric motor, and further comprising:
limiting, by a controller in a control circuit in the vehicle, a voltage supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle in response to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining that the determined travel distance is more than the determined estimated range.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the prime mover is an electric motor, and further comprising:
limiting, by a controller in a control circuit in the vehicle, a current supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle in response to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining that the determined travel distance is more than the determined estimated range.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting, by a controller in a control circuit in the vehicle, a temperature of the main electrical power storage device in response to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining that the determined travel distance is more than the determined estimated range.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
ceasing, by a controller in a control circuit in the vehicle, a supply of power to at least one non-essential component of the vehicle in response to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining that the determined travel distance is more than the determined estimated range.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a charge level of the main electrical power storage device at the present time.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical driving pattern of the vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical driving pattern of a driver of the vehicle at the present time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining an estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at a present time includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a least one environmental parameter of an environment in which the vehicle is operated at the present time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least an estimate of at least one travel distance between a present location and at least one destination includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining a travel distance between the present location and at least one location having a replacement for the main electrical power storage device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least an estimate of at least one travel distance between a present location and at least one destination includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining a shortest distance between the present location and the at least one destination on roads along which the vehicle may travel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least an estimate of at least one travel distance between a present location and at least one destination includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle accounting for at least one elevational change between the present location and the at least one destination.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein comparing the determined travel distance with the determined estimated range includes the backend system located remotely from the vehicle determining whether the estimated range is within the defined threshold of the determined travel distance.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle of whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the determined travel distance and the determined estimated range includes a determination made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle whether to limit at least one of a speed or an acceleration of the vehicle in response to the estimated range being within the defined threshold of the determined travel distance.

### Claim 19

A vehicle, comprising:
a prime mover coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle;
a main electrical power storage device that stores power; a power supply coupled and operable to selectively transfer electrical power between the main electrical power storage device and the prime mover; and
a controller communicatively coupled to control the power supply, wherein the controller receives a determination made by a backend system located remotely from the vehicle to not limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of a comparison of a determined travel distance and a determined estimated range made by the backend system located remotely form the vehicle, wherein comparison of the determined travel distance with the determined estimated range includes a determination of whether the estimated range is within a defined threshold of the determined travel distance, the defined threshold determined based on one or more of: operation or condition of the vehicle at the present time and operation or condition of a driver of the vehicle at the present time, wherein the controller limits at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to a result of a determination by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based on a determination made of a new estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical profile for the main electrical power storage device and a comparison by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle of the new determined estimated range of the vehicle at a present time and a new determined travel distance between a present location of the vehicle and at least one destination.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller further:
sends information to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle for the backend system to determine the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of the main electrical power storage device at the present time;
sends information to the backend system located remotely from the vehicle for the backend system to determine the travel distance between a present location and at least one destination; and
receives information from the backend system located remotely from the vehicle as result of a determination made by the backend system of whether to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on the result of the comparison by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle of the determined travel distance and the determined estimated range.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the prime mover is an electric motor and the controller applies control signals to the power supply that limit a voltage supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle in response to a determination by the backend system of whether to limit the operational characteristic.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the prime mover is an electric motor and the controller applies control signals to the power supply that limit a current supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle in response to a determination by the backend system of whether to limit the operational characteristic.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller ceases a supply of power to at least one non-essential component of the vehicle in response to a determination by the backend system of whether to limit the operational characteristic.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a charge level of the main electrical power storage device at the present time of whether to limit the operational characteristic.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the vehicle.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical driving pattern of the vehicle.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical driving pattern of a driver of the vehicle at the present time.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on a least one environmental parameter of an environment in which the vehicle is operated at the present time.

### Claim 29 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the backend system determines the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one elevational change between the present location and the at least one destination.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller determines the travel distance between the present location and at least one location having a replacement for the main electrical power storage device.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller determines a shortest distance between the present location and the at least one destination along roads along which the vehicle may travel.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller determines whether the estimated range is within the defined threshold of the determined travel distance.

### Claim 33 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the controller limits at least one of a speed or an acceleration of the vehicle in response to the estimated range being within the defined threshold of the determined travel distance.

### Claim 34 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19, wherein:
the controller determines whether an operator of the vehicle has selected to override the limiting of the at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle that was performed in response to the determination by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle; and
if the controller determines that the operator of the vehicle has selected to override the limiting of the at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle, then the controller stops the limiting of the at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination that the operator of the vehicle has selected to override the limiting of the at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The vehicle of claim 34, further comprising:
an operable control that allows the operator to make the selection to override the limiting of the at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle that was performed in response to the determination by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle.

### Claim 36

A method in a backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, the method comprising:
comparing, by a controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, a determined estimated range of the vehicle with a determined travel distance between a present location of the vehicle and at least one destination of the vehicle, wherein comparing the determined travel distance with the determined estimated range includes determining whether the estimated range is within a defined threshold of the determined travel distance, the defined threshold determined based on one or more of: operation or condition of the vehicle at the present time and operation or condition of a driver of the vehicle at the present time; and
determining, by the controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, to not limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a historical profile for a-the main electrical power storage device of the vehicle and a result of the comparison of the determined estimated range and the determined travel distance;
sending, by the controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, the determination made by the backend system to not limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle;
comparing, by the controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, a new determined estimated range of the vehicle with a new determined travel distance between a new present location of the vehicle and at least one destination of the vehicle;
determining, by the controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on the historical profile for a main electrical power storage device of the vehicle and a result of the comparison of the new determined estimated range and the new determined travel distance; and
limiting, by the controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, at least one operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle in response to the determination made by the backend system to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the limiting includes:
sending information from the backend system to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover in response to the determination of whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle made by the backend system.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, further comprising:
determining, by a controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, the estimated range of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one electrical characteristic of a main electrical power storage device of the vehicle at a present time.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, further comprising:
determining, by a controller in the backend system for limiting vehicle operation located remotely from the vehicle, at least an estimate of at least one travel distance between the present location of the vehicle and the at least one destination of the vehicle.

### Claim 40

A method of operating a vehicle having a prime mover powered by a main electrical power storage device, the method comprising:
determining a current status of the main electrical power storage device; and
determining whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of the determined current status of the main electrical power storage device and a determination of whether an estimated range of the vehicle at a present time is within a defined threshold of a determined travel distance, the defined threshold determined based on one or more of: operation or condition of the vehicle at the present time and operation or condition of a driver of the vehicle at the present time, wherein the determination of whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle is a determination made by a backend system located remotely from the vehicle to not limit the operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40 wherein the status of the main electrical power storage device is regarding a current charge condition of the main electrical power storage device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40 wherein the determination of whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on a result of the determined current status of the main electrical power storage device is made by the backend system located remotely from the vehicle.