GB2566503A

GB2566503A - Electrical vehicle and method of preventing loss in an event of theft of an electrical vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2566503A
Application number: GB1714900.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: lam Albert
Original assignee: DE Innovation Lab Ltd
Current assignee: DE Innovation Lab Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-15
Filing date: 2017-09-15
Publication date: 2019-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-15
Also published as: GB2566503B; GB201714900D0

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical vehicle 100 including a battery arrangement 110 for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train including at least one electrical motor for providing motive power to one or more wheels 320A,B of the electrical vehicle, and an anti-theft arrangement 150. The battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units (120, 130 figure 1) and is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor (112). Furthermore, each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a contactor (122, 132) that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement. The anti-theft arrangement includes a data processing arrangement that is operable to receive remote instructions to disconnect a contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement in the event of a theft, said remote instructions possibly being generated by software running on a mobile wireless device carried by the owner of the vehicle. The battery arrangement may be released from a floor of the vehicle when the remote instruction is received. The data processing arrangement may transmit a message to a law enforcement authority in the event of a theft.

Description

The present disclosure relates to electrical vehicles including anti-theft arrangements. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to methods of preventing loss of electrical vehicles in events of thefts of electrical vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Generally, vehicles are expensive items of property owned by people, especially, in a case of high-end vehicles such as sports cars, luxury cars and so forth. It will be appreciated that some people may spend a substantial amount of their earnings to purchase such high-end vehicles. Therefore, maintenance and protection of these high-end vehicles is extremely important.

Usually, a given driver may need to use his/her vehicle for a certain duration of time during a day and the vehicle may not be used for a remainder of the day. For example, a given driver uses his/her vehicle to travel to (and/or from) his/her workplace. Subsequently, the driver parks his/her vehicle in a parking area associated with the workplace. Furthermore, when the vehicle is parked in the parking area, the driver may not be completely aware of the vehicle's whereabouts at every instance of time. For example, the driver may assume that the vehicle continues to be located at a parking location thereof. However, such a lack of awareness of the driver may result in a theft of the vehicle being unnoticed.

Usually, in an instance of a vehicle theft, the driver is dependent upon law enforcement authorities (such as police) to track and retrieve their vehicle. However, such operation of tracking and retrieving the vehicle is dependent upon a time elapsed since the vehicle theft. For example, it will be appreciated that the law enforcement authorities may be able to track and retrieve a vehicle more easily in an instance when the time elapsed since vehicle theft is less, as compared to when a substantial amount of time has elapsed since the vehicle theft; for example, as the elapsed time increases, there is a greater risk that the vehicle is modified to deactivate its antitheft functionalities. In such an instance, it is beneficial to prevent usage of the vehicle until the vehicle can be tracked and retrieved.

Generally, conventional anti-theft systems prevent unauthorized usage of a vehicle by disconnecting an electrical connection (such as, from a starter battery) to a drive train of the vehicle, for example, using a disconnect switch. However, such electrical disconnection may be easily identified and conveniently reconnected, thereby allowing operation of the electrical vehicle to be achieved by unauthorized third parties. It will be appreciated that such conventional anti-theft systems often fail to provide law enforcement authorities with sufficient time to track and retrieve the vehicle.

Therefore, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional anti-theft arrangements of vehicles, such as, electrical vehicles.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to provide an improved electrical vehicle.

The present disclosure also seeks to provide an improved method of preventing loss of an electrical vehicle in an event of theft of the electrical vehicle.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrical vehicle including a battery arrangement for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train including at least one electrical motor for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels of the electrical vehicle, and an anti-theft arrangement for resisting a theft of the electrical vehicle, characterised in that:

(i) the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units;

(ii) the battery arrangement is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor;

(Hi) each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a corresponding contactor that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement; and (iv) the anti-theft arrangement includes a data processing arrangement that is operable to receive remote instructions to disconnect a contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement in an event of the theft occurring.

The present disclosure seeks to provide an electrical vehicle including a battery arrangement that further includes a plurality of battery sub-units, an electrical drive train and an anti-theft arrangement, wherein the antitheft arrangement enables disconnection of the battery arrangement, in particular selectively disconnecting a plurality of battery sub-units thereof, from the electrical drive train, thereby preventing operation of the electrical vehicle to allow easy tracking and retrieval of the electrical vehicle.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of preventing loss of an electrical vehicle in an event of theft of the electrical vehicle, wherein the electrical vehicle includes a battery arrangement for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train including at least one electrical motor for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels of the electrical vehicle, and an anti-theft arrangement for resisting a theft of the vehicle, wherein the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units, wherein the battery arrangement is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor, and wherein each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a corresponding contactor that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement, characterised in that the method includes:

(a) receiving remote instructions via a data processing arrangement to disconnect a contactor associated with at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement; and (b) disconnecting the contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement in an event of the theft occurring.

It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

The present invention is included in the general business context, which aims to substitute vehicles powered by traditional fuels, for example gasoline or diesel, by electric vehicles. In particular, the present invention is intended for use in electric vehicles used within cities, which can be highly beneficial to the local environment due to significant reduction of gaseous emissions as well as significant reduction of noise. Overall environmental benefits can also be significant when electric vehicles are charged from renewable energy sources.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the software application executed on mobile wireless communication device of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the electrical vehicle of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of steps of a method of preventing loss of an electrical vehicle in an event of a theft of the electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In overview, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with electrical vehicles including anti-theft arrangements. Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with methods of preventing loss of electrical vehicles in events of theft thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a block diagram of an electrical vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical vehicle 100 includes a battery arrangement 110 for storing electrical energy and an electrical drive train 140 including at least one electrical motor (not shown) for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels (not shown) of the electrical vehicle 100. For example, the electrical vehicle includes a front set of wheels and a rear set of wheels. In such an implementation, the electrical drive train 140 includes the at least one electrical motor for providing motive power to the rear set of wheels of the electrical vehicle 100. It will be appreciated that providing such motive power to the rear set of wheels enables a user (such as a driver) to drive the electrical vehicle 100. In one embodiment, the electrical drive train 140 further includes a clutch arrangement, a gearbox arrangement, and a differential gear arrangement. In such an implementation, the battery arrangement 110 is operable to store electrical energy to enable operation of the aforementioned components of the electrical drive train 140. Furthermore, the electrical vehicle 100 includes an anti-theft arrangement 150 for resisting, namely frustrating, a theft of the electrical vehicle 100.

As shown, the battery arrangement 110 includes a plurality of battery sub-units 120, 130; the sub-units 120, 130 optionally include one or more battery modules, for example a given sub-unit 120, 130 includes

Ί a plurality of battery modules. For example, the battery arrangement 110 is implemented as a battery unit including separable battery subunits 120, 130 that are configured to accommodate battery modules (not shown). In such an implementation, the battery sub-units 120, 130 can be separated from the battery arrangement 110 to provide spatially separated individual battery sub-units 120, 130. Furthermore, the battery arrangement 110 is connected to the electrical drive train 140 using a main contactor 112; the main contactor 112 is conveniently implemented as an electromagnetic relay having a magnetic actuation coil, and movable electrical contacts having a current rating of up to circa 200 Amperes. For example, the battery arrangement 110 is operable to provide an electrical potential of 400 Volts to the electrical drive train 140. In such an instance, the main contactor 112 includes two contactors (such as terminals) that have voltages of +200 Volts and -200 Volts respectively.

Moreover, each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units 120, 130 is provided with a contactor 122, 132 respectively that is connected to the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. For example, each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units 120, 130 has a terminal (electrical) potential of 40 Volts. In such an instance, the battery arrangement 110 includes ten battery sub-units that are coupled in a series connection to form the battery arrangement 110. Furthermore, each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units 120, 130 is provided with a contactor 122, 132 that is connected to the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. In such an implementation, the contactors 122, 132 of the battery sub-units 120, 130 are operable to be disconnected from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. Alternatively expressed, the battery arrangement 110 utilizes a hierarchical configuration of contactors, wherein the battery arrangement 110 has the main contactor at a higher hierarchical level, and each battery sub-unit 120, 130 has a corresponding contactor at a lower hierarchical level. The contactors of the lower hierarchical level are selectively employed to implement the anti-theft arrangement 150.

Additionally, the anti-theft arrangement 150 includes a data processing arrangement 160 that is operable to receive remote instructions to disconnect a corresponding contactor 122, 132 of at least one battery sub-unit 120, 130 from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. For example, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to execute a software application (such as Software Application Management and Infotainment System or SAMI) thereon. In such an instance, the software application enables the data processing arrangement 160 to generate a signal to enable disconnection of the corresponding contactor of at least one battery sub-unit 120, 130 from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. In one example, the corresponding contactor of at least one battery module 120, 130 is operable to be mechanically disconnected from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. In another example, the corresponding contactors of all the battery modules 120, 130 are operable to be electrically disconnected from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110.

According to an embodiment, the remote instructions are generated by a software application that is executable upon computing hardware of a mobile wireless communication device 170. For example, the mobile wireless communication device 170 is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer and so forth associated with a user (such as an owner) of the electrical vehicle 100. Furthermore, the mobile wireless communication device 170 is communicatively coupled to the data processing arrangement 160 of the anti-theft arrangement 150, for example, using a wireless communication network. In an example, the wireless communication network includes at least one of Bluetooth,

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN), the Internet, second generation (2G) telecommunication networks, third generation (3G) telecommunication networks, fourth generation (4G) telecommunication networks, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) networks and so forth.

In an embodiment, the remote instructions are automatically generated by the data processing arrangement 160. For example, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to execute a software application (such as Software Application Management and Infotainment System or SAMI) thereon. In such a situation, the software application is operable to employ an artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithm to determine that a user (such as a driver) of the electrical vehicle 100 is an unauthorized user, for example a thief. For example, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to store user-profiles associated with various authorized users of the electrical vehicle 100, wherein each user-profile includes one or more images (and/or videos) associated with the various authorized users. In such a situation, the artificial intelligence algorithm is operable to capture an image (for example, using a camera arrangement included within the electrical vehicle 100) of a current given user (such as the driver) of the electrical vehicle 100. Subsequently, the artificial intelligence algorithm is operable to compare the captured image with images (and/or video frames) associated with various user-profiles associated with authorized users of the electrical vehicle 100. Furthermore, if the artificial intelligence algorithm is unable to correspond the captured image of the current given user to a user-profile associated with authorized users of the electrical vehicle 100, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to automatically generate the remote instructions for immobilizing the electrical vehicle 100.

In one embodiment, the mobile wireless communication device 170 is operable to execute a software application (such as Software Application Management and Infotainment System or SAMI) thereon. For example, the software application is associated with an app installed on a smartphone of the owner of the electrical vehicle 100. In one example, the owner of the electrical vehicle 100 determines that the electrical vehicle 100 has been stolen. In such a situation, the driver uses the software application executed on the mobile wireless communication device 170 to generate the remote instructions, for example, using a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the software application (shown in FIG. 2). Furthermore, the remote instructions are wirelessly communicated to the data processing arrangement 160 of the anti-theft arrangement 150. In such a situation, in response to receiving the remote instructions, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to disconnect a contactor of at least one battery module 120, 130 from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. For example, the data processing arrangement is operable to disconnect the contactor 122 of the battery module 120 from the main contactor 112 of the battery arrangement 110. It will be appreciated that such disconnection of the contactor 122 from the main contactor 112 reduces the electrical potential that is provided by the battery arrangement 110. Furthermore, such reduction in the electrical potential disables the battery arrangement 110 from providing a required potential for operation of the drive train 140 and consequently, the electrical vehicle 100 (such as, for movement of the electrical vehicle 100), thereby immobilizing the electrical vehicle 100.

In one embodiment, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to transmit a message to one or more law enforcement authorities in response to receiving the remote instructions. For example, the remote instructions are indicative of a theft of the electrical vehicle 100. In such a situation, a message is transmitted to one or more law enforcement authorities (such as police), such that the message provides information thereto associated with the theft of the electrical vehicle 100. In an example, the message is a predefined audio message that is transmitted via a designated communication line (such as, an emergency telephone number) associated with the one or more law enforcement authorities. In another example, the message includes a multimedia message that is transmitted to a server arrangement associated with the one or more law enforcement authorities.

According to an embodiment, the message includes at least one of a sensed location of the electrical vehicle 100, a speed of the electrical vehicle 100, a time of receipt of the remote instructions, and/or a userprofile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle 100. In one example, the message includes a real-time location of the electrical vehicle 100, for example determined from GPS, GPRS or via an artificial intelligence functionality of the electrical vehicle 100 coupled to a camera arrangement mounted upon the electrical vehicle 100 and imaging a surrounding road environment to the electrical vehicle 100. In such a situation, the real-time location of the electrical vehicle 100 is obtained from a location monitoring unit (such as a GPS sensor, as aforementioned) that is included in the electrical vehicle 100. Furthermore, the data processing arrangement 170 is operable to retrieve the real-time location of the electrical vehicle 100 and subsequently, transmit the real-time location to the one or more law enforcement authorities as part of the message. It will be appreciated that such real-time location enables faster tracking of the electrical vehicle 100 by the one or more law enforcement authorities and moreover, enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to retrieve the electrical vehicle 100.

In another example, the message includes a speed of travel of the electrical vehicle 100. In such a situation, the speed of the electrical vehicle 100 is retrieved as a real-time reading, such as, of a speedometer associated with the electrical vehicle 100. It will be appreciated that the speed of the electrical vehicle 100 enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to determine if the electrical vehicle 100 is stationery (or is being driven) and furthermore, enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to determine a distance travelled by the electrical vehicle 100 from an original location (such as a location associated with theft of the electrical vehicle 100) thereof. Moreover, the speed of the electrical vehicle 100 and its location enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to compute an expected route of travel of the electrical vehicle 100 for purposes of intercepting the electrical vehicle 100, for example by employing road blocks or similar.

Optionally, the one or more law enforcement authorities pertain to merely a single law enforcement authority being involved. Alternatively, optionally, the one or more law enforcement authorities pertain to a plurality of law enforcement authorities, for example a mixture of public and private law enforcement firms.

In one example, the message includes the time of receipt of the remote instructions. Such a time of receipt of the remote instructions enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to determine a time elapsed since a time of theft of the electrical vehicle 100 and may further enable to approximate a distance travelled by the electrical vehicle 100 from an original location (such as a location associated with theft of the electrical vehicle 100) thereof.

In another example, the message includes a user-profile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle 100. Such a user-profile associated with the user (such as a driver) of the electrical vehicle 100 may include one or more images and/or videos captured of the driver of the electrical vehicle 100 in real-time. For example, upon determination of the driver of the electrical vehicle 100 being an unauthorized user by the software application executed on the data processing arrangement 160 using the artificial intelligence algorithm (as described hereinabove), the software application is operable to generate a user-profile including one or more images and/or videos of the unauthorized user. In such a situation, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to transmit the message including the one or more images and/or videos to the one or more law enforcement authorities. In one example, the message is transmitted to the one or more law enforcement authorities at fixed intervals of time (such as, every 2 minutes). It will be appreciated that such a user-profile including one or more images and/or videos captured of the driver of the electrical vehicle 100 enables an identity of the driver (such as a thief) of the electrical vehicle 100 to be determined.

In an embodiment, the data processing arrangement 160 is operable to generate an alarm (such as an audio alarm and/or a visual alarm) to indicate the theft of the electrical vehicle 100 and/or to indicate a location of the electrical vehicle 100. Optionally, a loud audio alarm is activated within the electrical vehicle 100 to make it unpleasant for the unauthorized driver to remain within the electrical vehicle 100. Optionally, an oral warning is regularly announced to the unauthorized driver of the electrical vehicle 100 that the electrical vehicle 100 is being tracked and will be shortly intercepted by the one or more law enforcement authorities, psychologically to break a resolve of the unauthorized driver.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) 200 associated with the software application executed on the mobile wireless communication device 170 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the exemplary graphical user interface 200 provides a message 210 to a user (such as an owner of the electrical vehicle 100) associated with the mobile wireless communication device 170, such as, l/l/as your car stolen?.

Furthermore, the exemplary graphical user interface 200 provides various graphical elements 220-250 to enable the owner of the electrical vehicle to operate an anti-theft arrangement (such as the anti-theft arrangement 150 of FIG. 1) thereof. As shown, the graphical element 220 is implemented as a Panic button that is used by the owner of the electrical vehicle to provide instructions to the anti-theft arrangement to disconnect a contactor (such as the contactor 122, 132 of FIG. 1) of at least one battery sub-unit (such as at least one battery sub-unit 120, 130 of FIG. 1) from a main contactor (such as the main contactor 112 of FIG. 1) of a battery arrangement (such as the battery arrangement 110 of FIG. 1) of the electrical vehicle 100. Furthermore, use of the button 220 enables the data processing arrangement to transmit a message to the one or more law enforcement authorities in response to receiving the remote instructions. Moreover, the exemplary graphical user interface 200 includes a graphical element 230 implemented as a Locate Car button that enables the owner to determine a real-time location of the vehicle, a graphical element 240 implemented as a Driver Image button that enables the owner to capture an image (and/or a video) of a driver of the vehicle and a graphical element 250 implemented as a Call Police button that enables the owner to contact law enforcement authority, in response to determination that the electrical vehicle 100 has been stolen.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a schematic illustration of the electrical vehicle 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the electrical vehicle 100 includes a battery arrangement 110 for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train (such as the electrical drive train 140 of FIG. 1) including at least one electrical motor 320 for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels 322A-B of the electrical vehicle 100, and an anti-theft arrangement 150 for resisting theft of the electrical vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the battery arrangement 110 is accommodated in at least a floor region of the electrical vehicle 100. For example, the battery arrangement 110 is substantially L-shaped, such that the battery arrangement 110 is partially accommodated in the floor region of the electrical vehicle 100 and partially within the electrical vehicle 100. According to one embodiment, the battery arrangement 110 is retained in at least the floor region of the electrical vehicle 100 using an engagement mechanism 330A-B. For example, the engagement mechanism 330A-B is implemented as one or more quick release elements that are operable to release the battery arrangement 110 from the electrical vehicle 100; by quick release is meant within a period of seconds, for example within 30 seconds. In one embodiment, the engagement mechanism 330A-B includes at least one of a mechanical arrangement, an electromechanical arrangement, an electromagnetic arrangement. For example, the engagement mechanism 330A-B implemented as one or more quick release elements includes a mechanical arrangement such as a spring-loaded quick-release mechanism. In another example, the engagement mechanism 330A-B implemented as one or more quick release elements, for example a plurality of such quick release elements, includes an electromechanical arrangement such as a high speed electrical actuator. In yet another example, the engagement mechanism 330A-B implemented as a quick release element includes an electromagnetic arrangement such as an electromagnetic latch.

Furthermore, upon determination of a theft of the electrical vehicle 100, a user (such as owner of the electrical vehicle 100) provides remote instructions to the data processing arrangement (not shown) of the antitheft arrangement 150, wherein the remote instructions are generated by a software application that is executable upon computing hardware of a mobile wireless communication device 170 associated with the user. In one embodiment, the engagement mechanism 330A-B is operable to release the battery arrangement 110 from the floor region of the electrical vehicle 100 upon receiving the remote instructions by the data processing arrangement. For example, upon receiving the remote instructions, a contactor of at least one battery sub-unit (such as the battery sub-units 122, 132 of FIG. 1) is disconnected from a main contactor (such as the main contactor 112 of FIG. 1) of the battery arrangement 110. Optionally, the main contactor of the battery arrangement 110 is disconnected from the electrical drive train of the electrical vehicle 100. Subsequently, the battery arrangement 110 is released from the electrical vehicle 100. It will be appreciated that such release of the battery arrangement 110 from the electrical vehicle 100 prevents (in a dramatic manner) operation of the electrical vehicle 100. In one example, the data processing arrangement is operable to transmit a message to the one or more law enforcement authorities in response to receiving the remote instructions, wherein the message includes at least one of: a location of the electrical vehicle 100, a speed of the electrical vehicle 100, a time of receipt of the remote instructions, and/or a user-profile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle 100. In such a situation, transmitting the message to the one or more law enforcement authorities by the data processing arrangement enables the one or more law enforcement authorities to track and retrieve the electrical vehicle 100.

According to one embodiment, the electrical vehicle 100 includes an auxiliary battery arrangement for providing electrical power to the data processing arrangement. For example, prior to releasing the battery arrangement 110 from the electrical vehicle 100, the battery arrangement 110 is disconnected from the electrical vehicle 100. Such disconnection of the battery arrangement 110 may not allow operation of the data processing arrangement associated with the anti-theft arrangement 150. In such an instance, the auxiliary battery arrangement provides electrical power to the anti-theft arrangement 150 to enable operation of the data processing arrangement associated therewith.

According to an embodiment, a shock absorbing element 340 is coupled to an underside of the battery arrangement 110. For example, subsequent to release of the battery arrangement 110 from the floor region of the electrical vehicle 100, the battery arrangement 110 drops to ground underneath the electrical vehicle 100. It will be appreciated that subsequent to such release, the battery arrangement 110 may experience damage (such as shock) due to force experienced during contact thereof with the ground. In such a situation, the shock absorbing element 340 is operable to substantially absorb the shock experienced by the battery arrangement 110 upon contact with the ground.

In one embodiment, the battery arrangement 110 includes a location monitoring unit for determining a location of the battery arrangement 110 subsequent to release thereof from the electrical vehicle 100. In one example, the battery arrangement 110 further comprises to a data processing unit that is operable to receive the location of the battery arrangement 110 from the location monitoring unit and subsequently, transmit the location to at least one of the mobile wireless communication device 170 of the user and/or law enforcement authority. It will be appreciated that such determination of location of the battery arrangement 110 enables a prevention of theft of the battery arrangement 110 subsequent to release thereof from the electrical vehicle 100.

Referring to FIG. 4, illustrated are steps of a method 400 of preventing a loss of an electrical vehicle in an event of a theft of the electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical vehicle includes a battery arrangement for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train including at least one electrical motor for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels of the electrical vehicle, and an anti-theft arrangement for resisting a theft of the electrical vehicle, wherein the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units, wherein the battery arrangement is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor, and wherein each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a contactor that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement. At a step 402, remote instructions are received by a data processing arrangement to disconnect a contactor associated with at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement. At a step 404, the contactor of at least one battery subunit is disconnected from the main contactor of the battery arrangement.

The steps 402 to 404 are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein. In an example, the battery arrangement is accommodated in at least a floor region of the electrical vehicle. In another example, the battery arrangement is retained in at least the floor region of the electrical vehicle using an engagement mechanism. In one example, the method further includes releasing the battery arrangement from the floor region of the electrical vehicle using the engagement mechanism upon receiving the remote instructions by the data processing arrangement. In another example, the engagement mechanism includes at least one of a mechanical arrangement, an electromechanical arrangement, and/or an electromagnetic arrangement. In an example, a shock absorbing element is coupled to an underside of the battery arrangement. In another example, the remote instructions are generated by a software application that is executable upon computing hardware of a mobile wireless communication device. In one example, the electrical vehicle includes an auxiliary battery arrangement for providing electrical power to the antitheft arrangement. In another example, the data processing arrangement is operable to transmit a message to at least one law enforcement authority in response to receiving the remote instructions. In one example, the message includes at least one of a location of the electrical vehicle, a speed of the electrical vehicle, a time of receipt of the remote instructions, and/or a user-profile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle.

The electrical vehicle of the present disclosure includes the battery arrangement including the plurality of battery sub-units, wherein the battery arrangement is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor. Furthermore, each of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a corresponding contactor that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement; for example, the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units whose electrical outputs are coupled in series and are coupled via the main contactor, wherein each battery sub-unit is provided with a corresponding contactor; in such a configuration, disconnection of the main contactor or any one of the corresponding contactors is capable of immobilizing the electrical vehicle. Additionally, the electrical vehicle includes the antitheft arrangement that includes a data processing arrangement. The data processing arrangement is operable to receive remote instructions to disconnect a contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement. Such disconnection of the contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement disables operation of the electrical drive train of the electrical vehicle. It will be appreciated that such disabling of the electrical drive train of the electrical vehicle prevents use of the electrical vehicle, such as, by an unauthorized user thereof. Furthermore, disabling operation of the electrical vehicle retains the electrical vehicle at a fixed location, thereby, enabling easy tracking and retrieval of the electrical vehicle. Moreover, disconnecting the contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement prevents an unauthorized user from quickly and conveniently identifying the disconnected contactor for reinitiating operation of the electrical vehicle.

In such an instance, more time is provided for tracking and retrieval of the electrical vehicle (such as, by law enforcement authority). Furthermore, such disconnected contactor may be reconnected by authorized personnel (such as personnel associated with an authorized dealer and/or manufacturer of the electrical vehicle) subsequent to retrieval of the electrical vehicle, thereby allowing operation of the electrical vehicle by an authorized user (such as the owner of the electrical vehicle). Therefore, the anti-theft arrangement of the electrical vehicle is easy to implement, reliable and efficient.

In the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a given technician may expect the electrical vehicle to have only a main contactor, but would not expect the plurality of battery sub-units also to be provided with corresponding contactors. In view of so many contactors being employed in the battery arrangement, it would be time-consuming and difficult for the technician to implement a temporary modification to bypass so many contactors. Moreover, in an event of the battery arrangement being released from the electrical vehicle, the technician would find it extremely difficult, in addition, to attempt to remount the battery arrangement back into the electrical vehicle.

Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as including, comprising, incorporating, consisting of, have, is used to describe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.

Claims

1. An electrical vehicle (100) including a battery arrangement (110) for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train (140) including at least one electrical motor (320) for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels (322A-B) of the electrical vehicle (100), and an anti-theft arrangement (150) for resisting a theft of the electrical vehicle (100), characterised in that:

(i) the battery arrangement (110) includes a plurality of battery subunits (120, 130);

(ii) the battery arrangement (110) is connected to the electrical drive train (140) using a main contactor (112);

(iii) each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units (120, 130) is provided with a corresponding contactor (122, 132) that is connected to the main contactor (112) of the battery arrangement (110); and (iv) the anti-theft arrangement (150) includes a data processing arrangement (160) that is operable to receive remote instructions to disconnect a corresponding contactor (122, 132) of at least one battery sub-unit (120, 130) from the main contactor (112) of the battery arrangement (110) in an event of the theft occurring.

2. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 1, characterized in that the battery arrangement (110) is accommodated in at least a floor region of the electrical vehicle (100).

3. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 2, characterized in that the battery arrangement (110) is retained in at least the floor region of the electrical vehicle (100) using an engagement mechanism (330A-B).

4. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 3, characterized in that the engagement mechanism (330A-B) is operable to release the battery arrangement (110) from the floor region of the electrical vehicle (100) upon receiving the remote instructions by the data processing arrangement (160).

5. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 4, characterized in that a shock absorbing element (340) is coupled to an underside of the battery arrangement (110).

6. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 4, characterized in that the engagement mechanism (330A-B) includes at least one of: a mechanical arrangement; an electromechanical arrangement; an electromagnetic arrangement.

7. The electrical vehicle (100) of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote instructions are generated by a software application that is executable upon computing hardware of a mobile wireless communication device (170).

8. The electrical vehicle (100) of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical vehicle (100) includes an auxiliary battery arrangement for providing electrical power to the anti-theft arrangement (150).

9. The electrical vehicle (100) of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data processing arrangement (160) is operable to transmit a message to at least one law enforcement authority in response to receiving the remote instructions.

10. The electrical vehicle (100) of claim 9, characterized in that the message includes at least one of: a location of the electrical vehicle (100); a speed of the electrical vehicle (100); a time of receipt of the remote instructions; a user-profile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle (100).

11. A method (400) of preventing a loss of an electrical vehicle in an event of a theft of the electrical vehicle, the electrical vehicle including a battery arrangement for storing electrical energy, an electrical drive train including at least one electrical motor for providing in operation motive power to one or more wheels of the electrical vehicle, and an anti-theft arrangement for resisting the theft of the electrical vehicle, wherein the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery sub-units, the battery arrangement is connected to the electrical drive train using a main contactor, and each battery sub-unit of the plurality of battery sub-units is provided with a corresponding contactor that is connected to the main contactor of the battery arrangement, characterised in that the method includes:

(a) receiving remote instructions by a data processing arrangement to disconnect a contactor associated with at least one battery subunit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement; and (b) disconnecting the corresponding contactor of at least one battery sub-unit from the main contactor of the battery arrangement in the event of the theft occurring.

12. The method (400) of claim 11, characterized in that method includes arranging for the battery arrangement to be accommodated in at least a floor region of the electrical vehicle.

13. The method (400) of claim 12, characterized in that the method includes arranging for the battery arrangement to be retained in at least the floor region of the electrical vehicle using an engagement mechanism.

14. The method (400) of claim 13, characterized in that the method further includes releasing the battery arrangement from the floor region of the electrical vehicle using the engagement mechanism upon receiving the remote instructions by the data processing arrangement.

15. The method (400) of claim 14, characterized in that a shock absorbing element is coupled to an underside of the battery arrangement.

16. The method (400) of claim 14, characterized in that the method includes arranging for the engagement mechanism to include at least one of: a mechanical arrangement; an electromechanical arrangement; an electromagnetic arrangement.

17. The method (400) of any one of the claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the method include generating the remote instructions by using a software application that is executable upon computing hardware of a mobile wireless communication device.

18. The method (400) of any one of the claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the method includes arranging for the electrical vehicle to include an auxiliary battery arrangement for providing electrical power to the anti-theft arrangement.

19. The method (400) of any one of the claims 11 to 18, characterized in that the method includes operating the data processing arrangement to transmit a message to at least one law enforcement authority in response to receiving the remote instructions.

20. The method (400) of claim 19, characterized in that the message includes at least one of: a location of the electrical vehicle; a speed of the electrical vehicle; a time of receipt of the remote instructions; a userprofile associated with a user of the electrical vehicle.