Patent ID: 7755329

Claim:
A method for optimizing the charging cycle of a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: electrically connecting a power control subsystem of said electric vehicle to an external power source, wherein said power control subsystem may draw up to a maximum power from said external power source; monitoring a battery pack temperature; comparing said battery pack temperature to a first preset temperature when said power control subsystem is electrically connected to said external power source, said first preset temperature corresponding to a threshold temperature requirement of said battery pack, wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is greater than said first preset temperature: enabling operation of a battery pack cooling subsystem; and charging said battery pack at a suboptimal charge rate, wherein said suboptimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power reduced by a power drain corresponding to said battery pack cooling system; and wherein said method comprises the following steps when said battery pack temperature is less than said first preset temperature: determining an optimal charge rate for said battery pack, wherein said optimal charge rate determining step is performed by a charging controller, and wherein said optimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power; charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate; determining whether surplus power is available from said external power source based on said optimal charge rate; terminating operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when no surplus power is available; and enabling operation of said battery pack cooling subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when surplus power is available.