Patent ID: 8296003

Claim:
A utility vehicle comprising: a plurality of vehicle systems comprising a steering system, an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system; a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the vehicle each associated with one of the plurality of vehicle systems; a plurality of sensors each associated with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems; and an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors; the traction system comprising: at least one drivable wheel; at least one electric drive transaxle in communication with the drivable wheel; the auxiliary system comprising: an auxiliary mechanism; and an AC electric auxiliary motor in communication with the auxiliary mechanism; the electric motor control system comprising: a traction controller in communication with the steering system, the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the at least one electric drive transaxle of the traction system; and an auxiliary controller in communication with the traction controller, the power system, and the AC electric auxiliary motor, wherein the auxiliary controller applies sensorless field oriented control to the AC electric auxiliary motor and controls the AC electric auxiliary motor via at least one DC control technique.