Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Justin J Chow

Robert C MacArthur

Geoffrey David Gaither

Joshua D Payne

Nathan C Westover

Shannon Alicia Wrobel

Abril A Galang

Benjamin M Geller

Tapan V Patel

Erik Hasso Benedikt

An electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable vehicle drive axle disposed along a transverse axis and having opposed ends that are configured for attachment to a pair of opposed drive wheels. The electric vehicle also comprises a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis, the electric propulsion motor configured to be mounted within the vehicle chassis and operatively coupled to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and opposed drive wheels, the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction.

Electric vehicle comprising a vertical electric propulsion motor and method of making and using the same

An electric or hybrid electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable vehicle drive axle disposed along a transverse axis and having opposed ends that are configured for attachment to a pair of opposed drive wheels. The electric vehicle also comprises a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis, the electric propulsion motor configured to be mounted within the vehicle chassis and operatively coupled to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and opposed drive wheels, the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction, a selectively movable differential disposed on the drive axle and configured to operatively couple motive power of the electric propulsion motor that is transmitted to the rotatable motor shaft to the drive axle, and a motor actuator operatively coupled to the electric propulsion motor and the vehicle chassis.

Electric or hybrid electric vehicle having adjustable vertical electric drive motor and method of making and using

A modular axle and motive wheel system comprises: a pair of opposed axle ends and attached axle hubs; a pair of inner motive wheels each comprising an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the hubs; and a pair of inner electric hub motors each comprising an inner stator and an inner rotor, the inner stators configured for attachment to the axle hubs, the inner rotors configured for attachment to the outer surface of the inner motive wheels, the inner rotors configured for rotation of the inner motive wheels by and about the inner stators; the inner motive wheels configured for attachment of a pair of outer motive wheels each comprising an outer electric hub motor comprising an outer stator configured for selective attachment to the inner stator and an outer rotor configured for attachment to the outer motive wheel and rotation of the outer motive wheels.

Modular axle and motive wheel system for a vehicle

Systems and methods are provided for simulating rev-matching in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), e.g., HEVs having a two motor hybrid system transmission. In particular, increased engine response is provided while downshifting during acceleration. The two-motor hybrid system transmission may include an electronic control unit that controls the speed of the engine to simulate gears, and increases the speed of the engine responsive to a driver using the gear selector to shift from one of the simulated gears to a lower one of the simulated gears, thereby providing the desired rev-matching experience.

Simulated rev-matching in a vehicle having a two motor hybrid system transmission

A variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises a chassis; a first axle disposed on the chassis comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first ends, a pair of motive wheels configured for rotatable disposition on the first hubs, and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle disposed on the chassis comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the second ends; a pair of non-motive wheels configured for rotatable disposition on the second hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and rotor blank, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks.

Variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors and method of using the same

A vehicle caravan comprising electric vehicles configured for coordinated movement and airflow control comprising: a lead vehicle and a chase vehicle, the lead vehicle disposed at the front of the caravan and the chase vehicle disposed behind the lead vehicle in a chase pattern. Each lead and chase vehicle comprising: a vehicle chassis and a front rotatable vehicle drive axle; a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft and a motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction; an air duct configured to direct an airflow to the propulsion motor; an airflow shutter in the front end of the air duct to selectively control the airflow within the air duct; and a vehicle controller; the caravan and the chase pattern configured for coordination of the motor position and the open/closed position of the lead vehicle and the chase vehicle shutters while the caravan is moving.

Vehicle caravan of electric vehicles configured for coordinated movement and airflow control and method of using

A rotatable drive axle assembly for an electric vehicle comprises a rotatable vehicle drive axle configured to be disposed along a transverse axis of an electric vehicle and having an axle end that is configured for attachment to a drive wheel. The rotatable drive axle assembly also comprises a selectively movable differential configured to be disposed on the rotatable vehicle drive axle and configured to operatively couple motive power of a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and the drive wheel, the selectively movable electric propulsion motor and the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction and movable with reference to the rotatable vehicle drive axle.

Rotatable drive axle assembly for an electric vehicle

A system for lateral adaptive cruise control for use in a vehicle includes a main body, a power source, and a brake. The system further includes an input device to receive an adaptive cruise control request. The system further includes an object sensor to detect lateral object data. The system further includes an ECU designed to determine a velocity of the lateral object or a relative distance to the lateral object based on the lateral object data, determine a lane entrance event corresponding to the lateral object traveling towards a current lane occupied by the main body based on the at least one of the velocity of the lateral object or the relative distance to the lateral object, and control at least one of the power source or the brake to adjust a current speed of the main body based on the lane entrance event.

Lateral adaptive cruise control

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a brake assist control system. The brake assist control system is for a vehicle. The brake assist control system includes a first sensor configured to detect driver awareness. The brake assist control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the first sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal are in a released position. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that there is vehicle movement. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a driver of the vehicle is unaware of the vehicle movement based on the driver awareness. The electronic control unit is configured to reduce or eliminate the vehicle movement.

Brake supplement assist control

A removable vehicle battery system includes an energy storage module, a charging/discharging control unit, converter configured to convert the energy into a usable format for an external device, and a power outlet configured to supply energy to the external device. The system communicates with the external device regarding the energy formats the external device requires as well as the quantity of energy in the energy storage module, and the formats in which the energy storage module can supply this energy to the external device. The control unit controls energy delivery from the energy storage module to the external device.

Removable high voltage battery components

Methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically regulating activation of one or more driving modes of a vehicle. The system includes a steering wheel sensor connected to a steering wheel and configured to detect whether two hands of a driver are in contact with the steering wheel. The system, includes a driving mode button configured to receive an indication from the driver to activate a driving mode, the driving mode adjusting at least one vehicle performance setting including a throttle sensitivity setting, a shift control setting, a traction control setting, or a stability control setting. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to adjust the at least one vehicle performance setting in response to receiving the indication from the driver to activate the driving mode and receiving an indication from the steering wheel sensor that the two hands of the driver are in contact with the steering wheel.

Vehicle driving mode safety system

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling power delivery to a consumer appliance in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a connection signal from the consumer appliance indicating presence of the consumer appliance. The method also includes directly providing electrical power from a propulsion device providing DC voltage to the consumer appliance without substantially lowering a voltage level of the propulsion device.

Systems and methods for directly delivering high voltage to appliances in a vehicle

Methods, systems, and apparatus for preventing a vehicle from driving in a wrong direction. The method includes detecting, via a vehicle orientation sensor, a current driving direction of the vehicle. The method also includes detecting, via a GPS unit, a current location of the vehicle. The method also includes providing, by a powertrain, torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle. The method also includes determining, by an electronic control unit (ECU), whether the vehicle is travelling in the wrong direction based on the current driving direction of the vehicle and the current location of the vehicle. The method also includes communicating, by the ECU, an instruction to the powertrain to reduce the torque provided to the one or more wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is travelling in the wrong direction.

One-way direction sensing system

An apparatus includes a propulsion module for a vehicle, and a control module communicatively connected to the propulsion module. The propulsion module is structured to be detached from the vehicle for mechanical connection to an off-board device. The propulsion module includes an electric motor and a power supply, and the power supply is operable to power the electric motor to output mechanical power. The control module is configured to receive a connection status of the propulsion module. In response to the connection status indicating that the propulsion module is detached from the vehicle, the control module is configured to operate the power supply at an off-board rated power to power the electric motor.

Detachable electrified powertrain components

Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a temperature of a battery of a vehicle. The battery management system includes a battery for storing and distributing an electrical charge. The battery management system includes a temperature for measuring or detecting a temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes one or more temperature control devices for controlling the temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes an electronic control unit configured to obtain the temperature of the battery and determine whether the temperature of the battery exceeds an optimal temperature range. The electronic control unit is configured to operate the one or more temperature control devices when the temperature of the battery exceeds the optimal temperature range to adjust the temperature to be within the optimal temperature range.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Justin J Chow