Youth electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12162339-B2
Application number	US-202217587721-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	Jan 29, 2021
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to youth electric recreational vehicles. In an exemplary embodiment, a youth recreational vehicle, comprises: one or more front ground engaging members, one or more rear ground engaging members, and a frame supported by the one or more front ground engaging members and the one or more rear ground engaging members. In addition, the youth recreational vehicle comprises a seat supported by the frame and configured to support at least one rider and an electric powertrain. The electric powertrain is configured to drive at least one of: (i) the one or more front ground engaging members and (ii) the one or more rear ground engaging members. The electric powertrain comprises: a controller, at least one electric motor, and at least one battery pack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A youth recreational vehicle, comprising:
a pair of front ground engaging members;
a pair of rear ground engaging members;
a frame supported by the one or more front ground engaging members and the one or more rear ground engaging members;
a seat supported by the frame and configured to support at least one rider; and
an electric powertrain configured to drive at least one of: (i) the one or more front ground engaging members and (ii) the one or more rear ground engaging members, the electric powertrain comprising: a controller, at least one electric motor having an electric motor output shaft, a drive member operably coupled between the electric motor and at least one ground engaging member of the pair of front ground engaging members and the pair of rear ground engaging members, and at least one battery pack; and
the electric motor is positioned entirely laterally offset on a first side of a vehicle centerline, the electric motor output shaft extending transverse to the vehicle centerline, and the entire drive member is laterally offset on a second side of the vehicle centerline opposite the first side.

2. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack is arranged proximal a center portion of the frame.

3. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack is arranged proximal the one or more rear ground engaging members.

4. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack is accessible via a lockable access panel.

5. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a signal from a user device to stop power output of the at least one electric motor; and
send a signal to the electric motor to stop outputting power in response to a throttle signal.

6. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a docking station releasably coupled to the youth recreational vehicle, wherein the docking station receives a first power output from the at least one battery pack and converts the first power output to a second power output that can be used by an accessory device.

7. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a front suspension coupled to the one or more front ground engaging members;
a rear suspension to the one or more rear ground engaging members; and
wherein the front suspension, the rear suspension, or the front suspension and the rear suspension are configured to send an electromotive force to the battery pack in response to (i) the one or more front ground engaging members moving in an upward or downward direction and/or (ii) the one or more rear ground engaging members moving in an upward or downward direction.

8. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic throttle control configured to send a throttle signal to the controller in response to a user activating the throttle.

9. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack comprises configurable battery modules.

10. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to send a signal to the at least one motor to disengage in response to receiving a freewheel signal.

11. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , the controller is further configured to:
receive a tether signal indicating a user has released at least one of the user's hands from the steering assembly; and
send a signal to the at least one motor to disengage so the at least one motor no longer outputs power.

12. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a charge signal from the at least one battery pack corresponding to a charge level of the battery pack; and
transmit a signal to a user device corresponding to the charge level of the battery pack.

13. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a power output signal from a user device; and
configure a maximum power output of the at least one electric motor based upon the received power output signal.

14. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a steering assembly configured to control a direction of the one or more front ground engaging members;
at least one of a footwell or pegs arranged on each side of the youth recreational vehicle; and
wherein at least one of the following is translatable in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and/or a diagonal direction: the steering assembly, the seat, the footwells, and the pegs.

15. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more front ground engaging members and the one or more rear ground engaging members are swappable with larger diameter or smaller diameter ground engaging members.

16. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a front suspension coupled to the one or more front ground engaging members;
a rear suspension to the one or more rear ground engaging members; and
wherein the front suspension, the rear suspension, or both the front suspension and the rear suspension are swappable with stiffer or more flexible suspensions.

17. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a charge signal from the at least one battery pack corresponding to a charge level of the battery pack;
determine the charge level is at or below a first threshold;
send a signal to the at least one motor to operate at a first operating level; and
provide a notification to a user device that the charge level is at least or below the first threshold.

18. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a charge signal from the at least one battery pack corresponding to a charge level of the battery pack;
determine the charge level is at or below a second threshold;
send a signal to the at least one motor to operate at a second operating level, wherein the second operating level produces a lower max power output than the first operating level; and
provide a notification to the user device that the charge level is at least or below the second threshold.

19. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a charge signal from the at least one battery pack corresponding to a charge level of the battery pack;
determine the charge level is at or below a third threshold; and
send a signal to the at least one motor to stop power output of the at least one motor.

20. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive an authorization signal from the user device; and
send a signal to the at least one motor to operate at a second operating level.

21. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electric powertrain is scalable.

22. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the youth recreational vehicle is a side-by-side.

23. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member operably coupled between the frame and a first ground engaging member of the pair of front ground engaging members and pair of rear ground engaging members, and the biasing member extends along the vehicle centerline.

24. The youth recreational vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a rear a

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Bartz Austin R
• Liu Chiao George
• Taylor Scott D
• Schounard Kyle J
• Rodriguez William B
• Kelay Yassin M
• Buehler David F
• Nutter John M
• Edwards Lindsay S B
• Wegleitner Joseph A

Classifications

• B60L58/12

  responding to state of charge [SoC] · CPC title

• B60G2300/50

  Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles · CPC title

• B60K2001/0416

  Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60K2001/0405

  characterised by their position · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title