Patent ID: 8269457

Claim:
A method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including a generator driven by an engine and an electric motor driven by the battery, the electric motor being configured to drive a drive axle of the electric vehicle to move the electric vehicle, the method including the steps of: providing a regenerative braking system with the electric vehicle, the regenerative braking system being configured to transfer kinetic energy of the electric vehicle to the electric motor to rotate the electric motor in a reverse direction; rotating the electric motor in a forward direction with electrical power from the battery to move the electric vehicle; generating a first electrical current with the generator, the first electrical current being routed to the battery; rotating the electric motor in a reverse direction with the regenerative braking system to slow movement of the electric vehicle and to generate a second electrical current, the second electrical current being routed to the battery; charging the battery with the first and second electrical currents; monitoring the first and second electrical currents during the charging step to determine a total electrical current supplied to the battery; and removing the first electrical current from the battery upon the total electrical current exceeding a first predetermined threshold.