Patent ID: 8182393
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B60K,B60L,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An electric vehicle, comprising: a frame; a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame; an electric motor supported by the frame and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to propel the vehicle; an electronic controller operatively coupled to the electric motor to control operation of the electric motor; an operator area supported by the frame, the operator area including seating and operator controls, at least a first operator control providing an input to the electronic controller regarding a desired speed of the electric vehicle; a battery supply supported by the frame, the battery supply being operatively coupled to the electric motor; a first differential supported by the frame rearward of the front plane of the seating and operatively coupled to at least one ground engaging member which is rearward of the front plane of the seating, the electric motor being operatively coupled to the first differential; a second differential supported by the frame forward of the front plane of the seating and operatively coupled to at least one ground engaging member which is forward of the front plane of the seating; and a prop shaft coupling the electric motor to the second differential, the prop shaft extending through the battery supply, wherein the electric vehicle has a plurality of wheel drive modes, each of the wheel drive modes selecting at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to be operatively coupled to the electric motor, at least one of the plurality of wheel drive modes initially provides power to a first number of ground engaging members, the first number being less than a total number of ground engaging members, and subsequently provides power to a second number of ground engaging members in response to a loss of traction of at least one of the first number of ground engaging members, the second number being greater than the first number.