Patent ID: 8612075

Claim:
A method of extending the range of an at least electrically-powered vehicle when operating under electric power, the vehicle comprising at least a solar cell power source comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a controller comprising a computer, a vehicle cabin temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a high-voltage traction battery and a low-voltage battery, the low-voltage battery and the traction battery having a state-of-charge sensor, and a plurality of electric power-receiving devices; the controller being connected to all of the sensors, the solar cell array power source and the electric power-receiving devices; the controller being capable of receiving and interpreting the outputs of the sensors; the controller being capable of distributing the power from the solar cell array to the electric power-receiving devices; the method comprising executing, in the controller, the steps of: assessing the maximum available power from the solar cell array; determining whether the vehicle is parked and unoccupied; determining the high-voltage traction battery state of charge; determining the low-voltage battery state of charge; determining the cabin and ambient temperatures; prioritizing the power-receiving devices according to their ability to promote increased vehicle range under the assessed maximum available power from the solar array; distributing the power from the solar array to the highest priority power-receiving devices so that the power-receiving devices are operated under conditions where the electrical demand is substantially matched to the maximum power available from the array; and repeating the above steps at regular intervals.