Abstract:
A battery electric vehicle jumper cable includes a first battery electric vehicle electrical plug adapted for connection to a standard charging port interface on a first battery electric vehicle; a second battery electric vehicle electrical plug adapted for connection to a standard charging port interface on a second battery electric vehicle; and an electrical cable establishing electrical communication between the first battery electric vehicle electrical plug and the second battery electric vehicle electrical plug. An electrical power transfer system for battery electric vehicles and a battery electric vehicle jump starting method are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to a jumper cable for battery electric vehicles and a method of jump starting battery electric vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Under some circumstances, the batteries of both internal combustion-powered and electric-powered vehicles may become depleted of electrical charge, potentially leaving the automobiles stranded. Conventional internal combustion-powered vehicles can be “jump started” using a pair of jumper cables, in which the battery of a first vehicle which supplies the electrical charge is electrically connected to the depleted battery of a second vehicle. The first vehicle is turned on to deliver the electrical current to the battery of the second vehicle, during which the ignition of the second vehicle can be engaged to operate the vehicle. 
         [0003]    A jumper cable for battery electric vehicles and a method of jump starting battery electric vehicles is needed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a battery electric vehicle jumper cable for battery electric vehicles. An illustrative embodiment of the battery electric vehicle jumper cable includes a first battery electric vehicle electrical plug adapted for connection to a standard charging port interface on a first battery electric vehicle; a second battery electric vehicle electrical plug adapted for connection to a standard charging port interface on a second battery electric vehicle; and an electrical cable establishing electrical communication between the first battery electric vehicle electrical plug and the second battery electric vehicle electrical plug. 
         [0005]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are further generally directed to an electrical power transfer system for battery electric vehicles. An illustrative embodiment of the electrical power transfer system includes a battery pack of a first battery electric vehicle; a battery energy control module of the first battery electric vehicle interfacing with the battery pack of the first battery electric vehicle; a first charging port of the first battery electric vehicle interfacing with the battery energy control module of the first battery electric vehicle; a battery pack of a second battery electric vehicle; a battery energy control module of the second battery electric vehicle interfacing with the battery pack of the second battery electric vehicle; a second charging port of the second battery electric vehicle interfacing with the battery energy control module of the second battery electric vehicle; and a battery electric vehicle jumper cable establishing electrical communication between the first charging port of the first battery electric vehicle and the second charging port of the second battery electric vehicle. The battery energy control module of the first battery electric vehicle is configured to transfer electrical current from the first battery pack of the first battery electric vehicle to the second battery pack of the second battery electric vehicle through the battery electric vehicle jumper cable. 
         [0006]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are further generally directed to battery electric vehicle jump starting method. An illustrative embodiment of the battery electric vehicle jump starting method includes configuring a first battery electric vehicle to transfer electrical current to a second battery electric vehicle; inserting a first battery electric vehicle electrical plug of a battery electric vehicle jumper cable into a charging port of the first battery electric vehicle; inserting a second battery electric vehicle electrical plug of a battery electric vehicle jumper cable into a charging port of the second battery electric vehicle; and transferring electrical current from a battery pack of the first battery electric vehicle to a battery pack of the second battery electric vehicle through the battery electric vehicle jumper cable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) jumper cable; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary battery electric vehicle configured for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the BEV jumper cable and jump starting method; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a pair of first and second battery electric vehicles with an illustrative BEV jumper cable connecting charging ports on the respective vehicles in implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the BEV jumper cable and jump starting method; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a BEV jump starting method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable users skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0013]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an illustrative embodiment of the BEV jumper cable is generally indicated by reference numeral  100  in  FIG. 1 . An exemplary battery electric vehicle (BEV)  110  which is suitable for implementation of the BEV jumper cable  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The BEV  110  may be any type of EV (Electric Vehicle) or PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) which utilizes at least one battery or battery pack and electric motor for vehicle conveyance. Non-limiting examples of commercially-available BEVs  110  which are suitable for implementation of the BEV jumper cable  100  include the FORD FOCUS (trademark) BEV, FORD TRANSIT (trademark) BEV and FORD C-MAX (trademark) PHEV (Plug In Hybrid Electric) vehicles. Generally, the BEV  110  may include a charging port  111 . The charging port  111  may include an industry-standard BEV charging port interface  116  on the exterior surface of the BEV  110 . A battery energy control module (BECM)  112  may interface with the charging port  111 . A battery pack  113  may interface with the BECM  112 . The battery pack  113  may include at least one battery (not shown) which supplies electrical power to an electric motor (not shown) which facilitates conveyance of the BEV  110  either alone or in combination with an internal combustion engine. 
         [0014]    Throughout normal operation of the BEV  110 , an electrical power source (not shown) is periodically connected to the charging port interface  116  of the charging port  111  to charge the battery pack  113  when the battery pack  113  is depleted or nears depletion of electrical power. The electrical power source may include a standard wall outlet or a power station which is equipped to charge BEVs, for example and without limitation. The electrical power source may be electrically connected to the charging port  111  through a connecting cord (not shown) which is fitted with an industry-standard connector that is compatible with the charging port interface  116  of the charging port  111 , as is known by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, electrical current may flow from the electrical power source to the battery pack  113  through the charging port  111  and the BECM  112 , respectively, to replenish or partially replenish the supply of electrical power in the battery pack  113 . When charging of the battery pack  113  is complete, the charging port  111  is disconnected from the electrical power source. The charged battery pack  113  supplies electrical current for operation of the BEV  110  typically in the conventional manner. Electrical charge in the battery pack  113  may be periodically replenished in a similar manner. 
         [0015]    The BEV jumper cable  100  may include a first BEV electrical plug  101  and a second BEV electrical plug  102 . An electrical cable  103  may electrically connect the first BEV electrical plug  101  and the second BEV electrical plug  102 . Each of the first BEV electrical plug  101  and the second BEV electrical plug  102  may include an industry-standard BEV electrical plug which is compatible for connection to the charging port interface  116  on the charging port  111  of the BEV  110 . Accordingly, each of the first BEV electrical plug  101  and the second BEV electrical plug  102  of the BEV jumper cable  100  can be inserted in the companion charging port  116  of the BEV  110  typically in the conventional manner. The BECM  112  of the BEV  110  is configured to transfer electrical current from the battery pack  113  to the charging port  111  for transfer of electrical power between BEVs  110  through the BEV jumper cable  100 , which will be hereinafter described. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, a depleted charge gauge  118  may interface with the BECM  112 . The BECM  112  may be programmed to calculate the electrical charge which is obtained from the battery pack  113  of the BEV  110  that donates the electrical power and indicate the transferred electrical charge on the depleted charge gauge  118  in a selected metric such as cents and kilowatt hours, for example and without limitation. The depleted charge gauge  118  may be located on the vehicle dashboard (not shown) or other visible location inside or on the BEV  110 . 
         [0017]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , exemplary implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the BEV jumper cable  100  is shown. Accordingly, the BEV jumper cable  100  may be used to transfer electrical charge from the battery pack  113  of a first BEV  110   a  to the battery pack  113  of a second BEV  110   b  under circumstances in which the battery pack  113  of the second BEV  110   b  is depleted or nearly depleted. The first BEV electrical plug  101  of the BEV jumper cable  100  is inserted in the charging port interface  116  of the charging port  111  on the first BEV  110   a.  In like manner, the second BEV electrical plug  101  of the BEV jumper cable  100  is inserted in the charging port interface  116  of the charging port  111  on the second BEV  110   b.  The first BEV  110  is energized to facilitate flow of electrical current from the battery pack  113  through the charging port  111  of the first BEV  110 , the first BEV electrical plug  101 , the electrical cable  103 , the second BEV electrical plug  102  and then the charging port  112  and the battery pack  113 , respectively, of the second BEV  110   b.  Thus, the transferred electrical current replenishes or partially replenishes the electrical power which is stored in the battery pack  113  of the second BEV  110   b  so that the second BEV  110   b  can be driven to an electrical power source (not shown) for complete charging. 
         [0018]    Throughout transfer of the electrical current, the operator (not shown) of the first BEV  110   a  may monitor the quantity of electrical power which is being transferred to the battery pack  113  of the second BEV  110   b  and terminate further flow of electrical power after a desired quantity of the electrical power has replenished the battery pack  113  of the second BEV  110   b.  Upon completion of the replenishment procedure, the first BEV electrical plug  101  and the second BEV electrical plug  102  of the BEV jumper cable  100  may be disconnected from the charging port  111  of the first BEV  110   a  and the charging port  111  of the second BEV  110   b,  respectively. The BEV jumper cable  100  may then be easily stored in the first BEV  110   a  or the second BEV  110   b  for subsequent use. 
         [0019]    Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a flow diagram  200  of an illustrative embodiment of a BEV jump starting method is shown. In block  202 , battery electric vehicles may be configured to transfer electrical current between the vehicles. In block  204 , a first BEV electrical plug on a BEV jumper cable may be inserted into a charging port on a first BEV. In block  206 , a second BEV electrical plug on the BEV jumper cable may be inserted into a charging port on a second BEV. In block  208 , electrical current may be transferred from a battery pack of the first BEV to the battery pack of the second BEV through the BEV jumper cable to at least partially replenish the electrical power in the battery pack of the second BEV. In block  210 , the electrical charge which is obtained from the battery pack of the first BEV may be calculated and displayed. In block  212 , the BEV jumper cable may be disconnected from the charging port of the first BEV and the charging port of the second BEV. 
         [0020]    Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, as other variations will occur to those of skill in the art.