Patent ID: 7622897

Claim:
An electric vehicle multi-mode battery charging and operating system, comprising: a battery charging system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle, said battery charging system utilizing a cut-off voltage selected from at least a first cut-off voltage, a second cut-off voltage, and a third cut-off voltage; a battery cooling system for cooling said battery pack of said electric vehicle, wherein said battery cooling system has at least two modes of operation, wherein said battery cooling system in a first mode of said at least two modes of operation maintains said battery pack within a first preset temperature range when said battery charging system is not coupled to an external charging power source, wherein said battery cooling system in a second mode of said at least two modes of operation maintains said battery pack within a second preset temperature range when said battery charging system is coupled to an external charging power source, wherein said first preset temperature range is selected from at least a first temperature range and a second temperature range, and wherein said second preset temperature range is selected from at least a third temperature range, a fourth temperature range and a fifth temperature range; and means for selecting a preferred mode from a plurality of charging/operational modes, wherein said selecting means is accessible by a user of said electric vehicle, wherein a first mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said first cut-off voltage, said first temperature range and said third temperature range, wherein a second mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said second cut-off voltage and said third temperature range, and wherein a third mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said third cut-off voltage, said second temperature range and said fourth temperature range, and wherein a fourth mode of said plurality of charging/operational modes utilizes said third cut-off voltage, said second temperature range and said fifth temperature range.