Patent ID: 7635039

Claim:
A series hybrid electric vehicle comprising: an engine; an n-phase generator driven by said engine; a rectifier generating a direct voltage from an n-phase alternating voltage received from said n-phase generator; a battery charged with said direct voltage; a motor driving a drive wheel; an inverter driving said motor on said direct voltage received from said rectifier and/or a direct voltage received from said battery; a switch, wherein said n-phase generator includes n armature windings each having a first end connected to a common neutral point, wherein said rectifier includes: a negative terminal; a positive terminal on which a higher potential is generated than on said negative terminal; and n rectifying arms, wherein each of said n rectifying arms comprises: a first diode connected between said negative terminal and an intermediate node connected to second end of corresponding one of said n armature windings; and a second diode connected between said intermediate node and said positive terminal, and wherein said switch is connected between said neutral point and said negative terminal.