Patent ID: 7607500

Claim:
A bumper car, comprising: a frame; a seat attached to the frame, the seat being configured to hold and position at least one rider of the bumper car; a portable source, mounted to the frame, of electrical power for propelling the bumper car; multiple drive wheels mounted to the frame, each drive wheel comprising a respective hub motor that, when supplied with the electrical power from the source, rotates the respective drive wheel relative to the frame and propels the bumper car, each hub motor being a combination of an electric motor and one or more gears located in a hub of the respective drive wheel; a motor controller connected to the source and to the hub motors, the motor controller being configured (a) to limit a maximal current, supplied by the source to the hub motors during a surge-current situation, to a preset maximum, and (b) to ramp down the maximal current, over a preset time interval, during the surge-current situation; and at least one rider control interconnected with the source, the hub motors, and the motor controller and configured to be manipulated by a rider for propelling and maneuvering the bumper car.