Patent ID: 8183820

Claim:
A power processing system for use in a plug-in electric vehicle, the system comprising: at least one alternating current (AC) electric motor having windings with first ends and second ends; a bi-directional inverter system, electrically coupled with the first ends of the windings of the at least one AC electric motor, the bi-directional inverter system including a plurality of switches; a three-conductor AC power interface with three conductors, wherein first ends of the three conductors are electrically coupled with the second ends of the windings, and second ends of the three conductors are adapted to be electrically connected with an external load in the form of an electric utility; and an electronic control system, electrically coupled with the bi-directional inverter system, wherein the electronic control system is operable to provide a drive function by providing first control signals to the bi-directional inverter system to cause the bi-directional inverter system to draw direct current (DC) electrical power from a DC energy source of the vehicle, to convert the DC power to AC power, and to provide the AC power to the windings of the at least one AC electric motor in order to propel the vehicle, and wherein the electronic control system is further operable to provide a charging function by providing second control signals to the bi-directional inverter system to cause the bi-directional inverter system to draw AC power from the windings of the at least one AC electric motor, to convert the AC power to DC power, and to provide the DC power to the DC energy source in order to recharge the DC energy source, and wherein the bi-directional inverter system is further adapted cause the system to provide a utility-interconnected reactive power generator function by drawing DC power from the DC energy source in response to third control signals during a first half of an electrical cycle, converting the DC power to AC power during the first half of the electrical cycle, and providing the AC power to the windings of the at least one AC electric motor in order to provide AC power to the electric utility during the first half of the electrical cycle, and drawing AC power from the electric utility via the windings of the at least one AC electric motor in response to fourth control signals during a second half of the electrical cycle, converting the AC power to DC power during the second half of the electrical cycle, and providing the DC power to the DC energy source during the second half of the electrical cycle.