Proterra has been granted a patent for a method of operating an electric vehicle with multiple electric traction motors. The method involves receiving a signal indicating the driver’s requested torque and determining the portions of torque to produce from each motor based on efficiency maps. The patent also considers factors such as the maximum torque capability of each motor and the total usage time over the lifetime of the motors. GlobalData’s report on Proterra gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Proterra, battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Proterra's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method of operating an electric vehicle with multiple motors
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11639114B2) describes a method for operating an electric vehicle with multiple electric motors for traction. The method involves receiving a signal indicating the driver's requested torque and comparing it with the maximum torque capabilities of the electric motors. Based on efficiency maps of the motors, the total usage time over their lifetime, and the comparison of the requested torque with the maximum capabilities, the method determines the portions of torque to be produced by each motor. The determined portions are then produced by the respective motors.
The patent also includes a method for operating an electric vehicle with at least two electric motors for traction. In this method, the driver's requested torque is compared with the maximum torque capabilities of the motors. If the requested torque is less than or equal to the maximum capabilities of one motor, that motor is operated to produce the entirety of the requested torque. The selection of the motor is based on factors such as total usage time, total torque output, power output, and current consumption over the lifetime of the motors. If the requested torque exceeds the maximum capabilities of both motors, both motors are operated to produce portions of the requested torque. The portions are determined based on efficiency maps of the motors.
The patent also describes an electric vehicle with a powertrain consisting of two electric motors for traction. The vehicle includes a control unit that receives the driver's requested torque and compares it with the maximum torque capabilities of the motors. Based on efficiency maps, total usage time, and the torque comparison, the control unit determines the portions of torque to be produced by each motor and controls the motors accordingly.
The patent further includes additional details such as the use of inverters to independently control the motors, the option to have one motor produce the entirety of the requested torque, the ability to produce substantially equal portions of torque from both motors, and the consideration of factors like total torque output, power output, and consumption over the lifetime of the motors.
Overall, this patent presents methods and systems for efficiently operating electric vehicles with multiple electric motors for traction, allowing for optimized torque distribution based on various factors and considerations.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
