Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to off-road electric vehicles, and more particularly to monitoring and optimizing off-road electric vehicles by detecting the total energy spent on various operations and the state of charge (SOC) of the battery on the off-road electric vehicle, wherein at least one auxiliary implement is connected to the off-road electric vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] Off-road electric vehicles (such as tractors) may be equipped with various components such as battery, sensors, controllers, and the like. The battery of the tractor may be configured to store energy, for moving the vehicle and operating various auxiliary implements connected to the vehicle. The auxiliary implements may be equipment(s) and/or tool(s) that are attached to the off-road electric vehicle for performing various tasks. The operations performed by the off-road electric vehicle using the auxiliary implements may include, but are not limited to digging, ploughing the soil, processing the soil condition for cultivation, sowing, cultivating, seeding, preparing the land for harvest, and the like. However, the off-road electric vehicle, on performing these auxiliary operations may consume energy from the battery.
[003] In an example scenario, consider that the farmer may fail to monitor the energy spent on various operations and the State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery of the off-road electric vehicle. Thus, the farmer may end up depleting the battery of the off-road electric vehicle and may get stranded in a remote location without having access to a charging station. Current systems cannot monitor the energy spent on various operations performed by one or more auxiliary implements of the off-road electric vehicle and the SOC of the battery.
[004] Hence, there is a need in the art for solutions which will overcome the above mentioned drawback(s), among others.
OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for monitoring energy consumed by at least one auxiliary implement connected to an off-road electric vehicle, State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery present in the off-road vehicle, and stopping the operation of the at least one auxiliary implement (such that the vehicle has sufficient charge to reach a nearest available charging station).
[006] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[007] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the following illustratory drawings. Embodiments herein are illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, and in which:
[008] FIG. 1 depicts a system for monitoring the SOC of an off-road electric vehicle and managing the operation of one or more auxiliary components connected to the vehicle based on the SOC, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the process for monitoring the SOC of the off-road electric vehicle and managing the operation of one or more auxiliary components connected to the off-road electric vehicle based on the SOC, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting the process of managing the energy, if the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E1) to reach the nearest charging location, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the working of the efficiency operation mode, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0013] For the purposes of interpreting this specification, the definitions (as defined herein) will apply and whenever appropriate the terms used in singular will also include the plural and vice versa. It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purposes of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are to be construed as open-ended terms unless otherwise noted.
[0014] The words/phrases "exemplary", “example”, “illustration”, “in an instance”, “and the like”, “and so on”, “etc.”, “etcetera”, “e.g.,” , “i.e.,” are merely used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein using the words/phrases "exemplary", “example”, “illustration”, “in an instance”, “and the like”, “and so on”, “etc.”, “etcetera”, “e.g.,” , “i.e.,” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0015] Embodiments herein may be described and illustrated in terms of blocks which carry out a described function or functions. These blocks, which may be referred to herein as managers, units, modules, hardware components or the like, are physically implemented by analog and/or digital circuits such as logic gates, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory circuits, passive electronic components, active electronic components, optical components, hardwired circuits and the like, and may optionally be driven by a firmware. The circuits may, for example, be embodied in one or more semiconductor chips, or on substrate supports such as printed circuit boards and the like. The circuits constituting a block may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or by a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry), or by a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions of the block and a processor to perform other functions of the block. Each block of the embodiments may be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, the blocks of the embodiments may be physically combined into more complex blocks without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
[0016] It should be noted that elements in the drawings are illustrated for the purposes of this description and ease of understanding and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flowcharts/sequence diagrams illustrate the method in terms of the steps required for understanding of aspects of the embodiments as disclosed herein. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present embodiments so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Furthermore, in terms of the system, one or more components/modules which comprise the system may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present embodiments so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
[0017] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any modifications, equivalents, and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings and the corresponding description. Usage of words such as first, second, third etc., to describe components/elements/steps is for the purposes of this description and should not be construed as sequential ordering/placement/occurrence unless specified otherwise.
[0018] The embodiments herein achieve methods and systems for monitoring energy consumed by at least one auxiliary implement connected to an off-road electric vehicle, State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery present in the off-road electric vehicle, and stopping the operation of the at least one auxiliary implement (such that the off-road electric vehicle has sufficient charge to reach a nearest available charging station). Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a system for monitoring the SOC of an off-road electric vehicle and managing the operation of one or more auxiliary components connected to the off-road electric vehicle based on the SOC, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The system (100) in an off-road electric vehicle, as depicted, comprises a control unit (CU) (101), at least one battery (102), at least one traction motor (103), a power take-off (PTO) motor (104), one of more fans (105), at least one interface (106), and a motor control unit (107). In an embodiment herein, the off-road electric vehicle can be a tractor. Embodiments herein use the terms ‘off-road electric vehicle’, ‘electric vehicle’, ‘vehicle’, ‘tractor’, and so on interchangeably to refer to the off-road electric vehicle.
[0020] In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can be a dedicated unit. In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can be a control unit that performs one or more other operations in addition to embodiments as disclosed herein. The term ‘control unit (CU (101)),' as used in the present disclosure, may refer to, for example, hardware including logic circuits; a hardware/software combination such as a processor executing software; or a combination thereof. For example, the processing circuitry more specifically may include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip, a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. For example, the CU (101) may include at least one of, a single processer, a plurality of processors, multiple homogeneous or heterogeneous cores, multiple Central Processing Units (CPUs) of different kinds, microcontrollers, special media, and other accelerators.
[0021] The at least one battery (102) can provide power to the vehicle and one or more devices/accessories/implements or any other device that requires power and can receive power from the at least one battery (102). In an embodiment herein, the at least one battery (102) can be a rechargeable battery.
[0022] The one or more interfaces (106) can enable a user of the vehicle to interact with the vehicle, such as, receiving alerts and/or notifications, entering data/options, providing configurations/updates, and so on. The interfaces can provide alerts in the form of at least one of an audio warning (such as, a chime, a periodic tone, a continuous tone, and so on) and a visual warning (on a dashboard of the vehicle, an instrument console of the vehicle, a device used by the user for accessing one or more features of the vehicle (such as a smart phone), a dongle, a key fob, a wearable device, and so on).
[0023] At least one auxiliary implement (108) can be connected to the vehicle for performing at least one action. Examples of the at least one auxiliary implement (108) can be, but not limited to, a hitch, a digger, a hoe, a camper, a caravan, a trailer, a thresher, a reaper, a weeder, a device for charging, and any other tool/implement/device that can be connected to the vehicle and can perform one or more operations by drawing power from the at least one battery (102) present in the vehicle.
[0024] In an embodiment herein, the one of more fans (105) can be part of a thermal management system (not shown), which can help in managing the temperature of the vehicle, and one or more components present in the vehicle, and so on.
[0025] In an embodiment herein, the CU (101), the at least one battery (102), the at least one auxiliary implement (108), and the at least one interface (106) can communicate with each other using a Controller Area Network (CAN). In an embodiment herein, the CU (101), the at least one battery (102), the at least one auxiliary implement (108), and the at least one interface (106) can communicate with each other using a Local Interconnect Network (LIN).
[0026] The CU (101) can monitor a plurality of parameters related to the vehicle, the at least one battery (102), and the at least one auxiliary implement (108). The CU (101) can collect information about the at least one auxiliary implement (108) currently connected to the vehicle, a current location of the vehicle (for example, in terms of its Global Position System (GPS) coordinates), surface conditions at the location where the vehicle is presently located (such as in a muddy location, a sandy location, and so on), energy consumed by at least one traction motor (103) in the vehicle (which can be used for the motion of the vehicle), energy consumed by at least one Power Take-Off (PTO) motor (104) in the vehicle (which can be used to power the at least one auxiliary implement (108)), and so on. The CU (101) can collect information about the at least one battery (102) such as, but not limited to, the current SOC of the at least one battery (102) (E1), the rate of discharge of the at least one battery (102), and so on. The CU (101) can collect information about the at least one auxiliary implement (108), such as the energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108) (E2), and so on. The CU (101) can further have access to information related to the locations, where the vehicle can charge the at least one battery (102). Examples of the locations can be, but not limited to, a residence/parking accessible to the user for charging the vehicle, a public charging point, vehicle to vehicle (V2V) charging, and so on.
[0027] The CU (101) can compute an energy required by the vehicle to perform the required operations. The CU (101) can compute the energy required by the vehicle based on the type and weight of the implement used. For computing the energy required by the tractor doing operation in field/for computing time to operate before entering the field, the CU (101) can consider the following parameters: condition of the land, environmental conditions, type of auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, depth of cut of operation using the auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, time required for completing the operation, location related parameters, load impact on the soil, geofencing, number of headland turns required to complete the operation, and so on.
[0028] In an embodiment herein, the condition of the land can comprise factors such as, but not limited to, moisture levels, dampness, slope of the field, layout of the field (which can be provided manually, or fetched from an external source, such as, a Cloud, server, and so on), and so on. In an embodiment herein, the environmental conditions can comprise factors such as, but not limited to, rain, sun, temperature, and so on. In an embodiment herein, the type of implement (108) attached to the vehicle can be manually configured and/or determined automatically. In an embodiment herein, the depth of cut of operation using the auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle can be selected manually and/or can be selected automatically based on historical data. In an embodiment herein, the time required for completing the operation can be selected manually and/or can be selected automatically. The location related parameters can comprise the starting location for the vehicle, the location of the field with respect to the starting location, charging location(s) for the vehicle with respect to the field, availability of the charging location(s), and so on. The geofencing can be configured manually, and or automatically. In an embodiment herein, the number of headland turns required to complete the operation can be selected manually and/or can be selected automatically based on historical data.
[0029] The CU (101) can monitor the energy spent by the traction motor(s) (103), and the PTO motor (104). In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can learn the characteristics of the traction motor(s) (103), wherein the CU (101) can use the learned characteristics to monitor the energy spent by the traction motor(s) (103). In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can learn the characteristics of the PTO motor (104), wherein the CU (101) can use the learned characteristics to monitor the energy spent by the PTO motor (104).
[0030] Based on the monitored parameters, the CU (101) can compute the energy required by the traction motor(s) to enable the vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location (E3). The CU (101) can further check if the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E1) to reach the nearest charging location.
[0031] In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can consider that the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E3) to reach the nearest charging location if the SOC of the at least one battery (102) (E1) of the vehicle is sufficient to enable the vehicle without E1 becoming zero.
[0032] In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can consider that the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E3) to reach the nearest charging location if the SOC of the at least one battery (102) (E1) of the vehicle is sufficient to enable the vehicle without E1 becoming so low that the vehicle enters a low power mode/limp mode.
[0033] In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) considers that the vehicle only has sufficient energy to reach the charging location (E3), if the SOC is equal to the sum of E3 and a pre-defined threshold value. The pre-defined threshold value can be a safety margin, as defined by the user or any other authorized person. The pre-defined threshold value can be in terms of a percentage.
[0034] If the CU (101) considers that the vehicle only has sufficient energy to reach the nearest charging location (E3), the CU (101) can cut off energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108); i.e., the CU (101) can provide instructions to the motor control unit (107) to stop providing energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108). The CU (101) can continue providing energy to the traction motors, for enabling the vehicle to move.
[0035] If the vehicle has more than sufficient energy to reach the nearest charging location, the CU (101) provides a signal to the motor control unit (107) so as to continuously provide energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108).
[0036] The CU (101) can further provide a notification/alert to the user through the interface (106) that the power to the at least one auxiliary implement (108) has been cut off. The CU (101) can further provide guidance to the user to enable the user to reach the nearest charging location.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the process for monitoring the SOC of a vehicle and managing the operation of one or more auxiliary components connected to the vehicle based on the SOC, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In step 201, the CU (101) monitors a plurality of parameters related to the vehicle, the at least one battery (102), and the at least one auxiliary implement (108). The monitored plurality of parameters comprises information about the at least one auxiliary implement (108) currently connected to the vehicle, a current location of the vehicle, surface conditions at the location where the vehicle is presently located (such as in a muddy location, a sandy location, and so on), energy being consumed by at least one traction motor in the vehicle (not shown) (which can be used for the motion of the vehicle), the current SOC of the at least one battery (102) (E1), the rate of discharge of the at least one battery (102), the energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108) (E2), the locations, where the vehicle can charge the at least one battery (102).
[0038] Based on the monitored parameters, in step 202, the CU (101) computes the energy required by the traction motor(s) to enable the vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location (E3). In step 203, the CU (101) further checks if the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E1) to reach the nearest charging location. If the vehicle battery (102) has sufficient energy to reach the nearest charging location, in step 204, the CU (101) cuts off energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108); i.e., the CU (101) can provide signal to the motor control unit (107) to stop providing energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108) via the PTO motor (104), while continuing to provide energy to the traction motors, for enabling the vehicle to move. In step 205, the CU (101) further provides a notification/alert to the user through the interface (106) that the power to the at least one auxiliary implement (108) has been cut off and further provides guidance to the user to enable the user to reach the nearest charging location.
[0039] If the CU (101) has more than sufficient energy to reach the nearest charging location, in step 206, the CU (101) continues providing energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108). The various actions in method 200 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 2 may be omitted.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting the process of managing the energy, if the vehicle only has sufficient energy (E1) to reach the nearest charging location. In step 301, the CU (101) monitors the energy consumption of the vehicle, and the SOC of the vehicle battery (102). In step 302, the CU (101) checks if the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than a charge threshold. If the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than the charge threshold, in step 303, the CU (101) derates the PTO motor (104) and operates the vehicle in limp home mode by reducing the speed of the vehicle (i.e., derating the at least one traction motor (103)), reducing depth of cut and/or providing an alert to the user. If the user continues operating the implement (108), in step 304, the CU (101) stops operating the implement (108), and cuts off the operation of the PTO motor (104). In step 305, the CU (101) enters an efficiency operation mode. In the efficiency operating mode, the CU (101) maintains operation of the traction motor(s) (103) in an efficiency zone, irrespective of user operation/input, such as, but not limited to, high throttle/low throttle, and so on for extended range. In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can stop the implement (108). In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can detach the implement (108) from the vehicle, on determining that the drag caused by the implement (108) can have an adverse effect on the range of the vehicle. In an embodiment herein, the CU (101) can enable a regeneration mode by performing a pre-defined action, such as, but not limited to, pressing the brake on the vehicle. Due to this, the range available to the user will be increased. The various actions in method 300 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the working of the efficiency operation mode. On entering the efficiency operation mode, in step 401, the CU (101) switches off the one or more fans (105) present in the vehicle and operates the traction motor(s) (103) in the efficiency zone. In step 402, the CU (101) continuously monitors the temperature of the vehicle, including the various components and modules present in the vehicle. On determining that the temperature of the vehicle is greater than a pre-configured temperature threshold (step 403), in step 404, the CU (101) switches on the one or more fans (105), so that the temperature of the vehicle becomes less than the pre-configured temperature threshold. The various actions in method 400 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 4 may be omitted.
[0042] Embodiments herein prevent a user of the vehicle from being stranded in a location, away from a charging location.
[0043] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The elements include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.
[0044] The embodiment disclosed herein describes methods and systems for monitoring and optimizing the vehicle with the auxiliary implement. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in at least one embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g. Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL), another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.
[0045] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A method (200) for managing an off-road electric vehicle operating with at least one auxiliary implement (108), the method comprising:
monitoring, by a control unit (101), a plurality of parameters related to the off-road electric vehicle, at least one battery (102) present in the off-road electric vehicle, and the at least one auxiliary implement (108), wherein the monitored parameter includes State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery;
determining, by the control unit (101), a nearest available charging location;
computing (202), by the control unit (101), a sum of energy required by at least one traction motor (103) of the off-road electric vehicle, and the at least one auxiliary implement (108) for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location; and
cutting off, by the control unit (101), energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108), if the sum of energy required by the at least one traction motor (103), and the at least one auxiliary implement (108) for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location is greater than the current SOC of the battery.
2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters related to the off-road electric vehicle comprises information about the at least one auxiliary implement (108) connected to the off-road electric vehicle, a location of the off-road electric vehicle, surface conditions at the location where the off-road electric vehicle is presently located, energy being consumed by the at least one traction motor (103), the SOC of the at least one battery (102), a rate of discharge of the at least one battery (102), and energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108) (E2).
3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises computing energy, by the control unit (101), required by the vehicle to perform required operations, wherein the required energy is computed using condition of land where the operation is to be performed, environmental conditions, type of auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, depth of cut of operation using the auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, time required for completing the operations, location related parameters, load impact on the soil, geofencing, and number of headland turns required to complete the operation.
4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises
monitoring energy, by the control unit (101), spent by at least one traction motor (103), and a Power Take-Off (PTO) motor (104), based on learned characteristics of the at least one traction motor (103), and the PTO motor (104);
operating, by the control unit (101), the vehicle in limp home mode by derating the at least one traction motor (103), if the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than a charge threshold;
derating, by the control unit (101), the PTO motor (104) and reducing depth of cut, if the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than the charge threshold;
stopping, by the control unit (101), operation of the auxiliary implement (108), and cutting off the operation of the PTO motor (104), if a user continues operating the auxiliary implement (108); and
entering, by the control unit (101), an efficiency operation mode.
5. The method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the efficiency operating mode, the method comprises:
maintaining operation, by the control unit (101), of the traction motor(s) (103) in an efficiency zone, irrespective of user operation/input; and
detaching, by the control unit (101), the auxiliary implement (108) from the vehicle.
6. The method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the efficiency operating mode, the method comprises:
enabling, by the control unit (101), a regeneration mode, wherein the regeneration mode is enabled on the user pressing the brake;
switching off, by the control unit (101), one or more fans (105) present in the vehicle, on enabling the regeneration mode; and
switching on, by the control unit (101), the one or more fans (105) so that a temperature of the vehicle becomes less than a pre-configured temperature threshold, on determining that the temperature of the vehicle is greater than the pre-configured temperature threshold.
7. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein energy required to reach the nearest charging station is determined based on the SOC of the at least one battery (102), and energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108), wherein the energy required to reach the nearest charging station is the energy required by at least one traction motor present in the off-road electric vehicle for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location.
8. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
providing, by the control unit (101), a notification/alert to a user through an interface (106) that the power to the at least one auxiliary implement (108) has been cut off; and
providing, by the control unit (101), guidance to the user of the vehicle to enable the user to reach a nearest available charging location.
9. A system (100) for managing an off-road electric vehicle operating with at least one auxiliary implement (108), the system (100) comprising:
a control unit (101);
at least one battery (102); and
at least one traction motor (103);
wherein the control unit (101) is configured to:
monitor a plurality of parameters related to the off-road electric vehicle, at least one battery present in the off-road electric vehicle, and the at least one auxiliary implement (108), wherein the monitored parameter includes State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery;
determine a nearest available charging location;
compute a sum of energy required by the at least one traction motor (103), and the at least one auxiliary implement (108) for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location; and
cut off energy to the at least one auxiliary implement (108), if the sum of energy required by the at least one traction motor (103), and the at least one auxiliary implement (108) for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location is greater than the current SOC of the battery.
10. The system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of parameters related to the off-road electric vehicle comprises information about the at least one auxiliary implement (108) connected to the off-road electric vehicle, a location of the off-road electric vehicle, surface conditions at the location where the off-road electric vehicle is presently located, energy being consumed by the at least one traction motor (103), the SOC of the at least one battery (102), a rate of discharge of the at least one battery (102), and energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108) (E2).
11. The system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control unit (101) is configured to compute energy required by the vehicle to perform required operations, wherein the required energy is computed condition of land where the operation is to be performed, environmental conditions, type of auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, depth of cut of operation using the auxiliary implement (108) attached to the vehicle, time required for completing the operations, location related parameters, load impact on the soil, geofencing, and number of headland turns required to complete the operation.
12. The system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit (101) is configured to
monitor energy spent by at least one traction motor (103), and a Power Take-Off (PTO) motor (104), based on learned characteristics of the at least one traction motor (103), and the PTO motor (104);
operate the vehicle in limp home mode by derating the at least one traction motor (103), if the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than a charge threshold;
derate the PTO motor (104) and reduce depth of cut, if the SOC of the vehicle battery (102) is less than the charge threshold;
stop operation of the auxiliary implement (108), and cutting off the operation of the PTO motor (104), if the user continues operating the auxiliary implement (108); and
enter an efficiency operation mode, wherein in the efficiency operating mode, the control unit (101) is configured to:
maintain operation of the traction motor(s) (103) in an efficiency zone, irrespective of user operation/input; and
detach the auxiliary implement (108) from the vehicle.
13. The system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein in the efficiency operating mode, the control unit (101) is configured to:
enable a regeneration mode on the user pressing the brake;
switch off one or more fans (105) present in the vehicle, on enabling the regeneration mode; and
switch on the one or more fans (105) so that a temperature of the vehicle becomes less than a pre-configured temperature threshold, on determining that the temperature of the vehicle is greater than the pre-configured temperature threshold.
14. The system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit (101) is configured to:
determine energy required to reach the nearest charging station based on the SOC of the at least one battery (102), and energy being drawn by the at least one auxiliary implement (108); wherein the energy required to reach the nearest charging station is the energy required by at least one traction motor present in the off-road electric vehicle for enabling the off-road electric vehicle to reach the nearest available charging location.
15. The system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit (101) is configured to:
provide a notification/alert to a user through an interface (106) that the power to the at least one auxiliary implement (108) has been cut off; and
provide guidance to the user of the vehicle to enable the user to reach a nearest available charging location.