US 12,117,074 B1
Reducing losses in an idled vehicle drive unit
Mason Verbridge, Canton, MI (US); Vinaey Kalyanaraman, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); and Cameron Philip Williams, Dexter, MI (US)
Assigned to Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Rivian IP Holdings, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/431,883.
Int. Cl. B60K 1/02 (2006.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/0476 (2013.01) [B60K 1/02 (2013.01); F16H 57/0409 (2013.01); F16H 57/0413 (2013.01); B60K 2001/006 (2013.01); B60K 2001/008 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a battery mounted to the chassis;
a first drive unit mounted to the chassis and configured to drive one or more first wheels of the vehicle, the first drive unit comprising a first electric motor;
a second drive unit mounted to the chassis and configured to drive one or more second wheels of the vehicle, the second drive unit comprising a second electric motor; and
a control system coupled to the first drive unit and the second drive unit, the control system configured to:
idle the first drive unit while the second drive unit is not idled and induces movement of the vehicle; and
heat the first drive unit while the first drive unit is idled.