Saddle-type electric vehicle

Abstract

To control a motorcycle 1 in accordance with the intention of an occupant.SOLUTION: A motorcycle 1 includes an electric motor 20, an ECU 25, and a brake operator 14. The electric motor 20 travels the motorcycle 1. The ECU 25 controls power supply to the electric motor 20. The brake operator 14 is operated by an occupant, and operates brake devices 3a and 4a. The ECU 25 switches a first mode and a second mode, according to an operation amount of the brake operator 14, when an operation amount of the brake operator 14 is equal to or more than a first threshold. The first mode is a mode for prohibiting power supply to the electric motor 20. The second mode is a mode for short-circuiting the electric motor 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a straddle-type electric vehicle. [Background Art]

[0002] In a scooter-type straddle-type electric vehicle whose prime mover is an electric motor, a configuration is known as an erroneous start prevention device, in which the vehicle cannot be started even if the accelerator is operated unless the brake is operated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-328970 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In recent years, as one type of control for electric motors, there are controls that do not drive the electric motor (cut off the power supply to the electric motor) even if the accelerator is opened when a brake operation is performed.

[0005] In this configuration, for example, when the vehicle stops by operating the brake on an uphill road surface, the power supply to the electric motor is turned off. Therefore, in the case of a vehicle with weak brake braking force, the vehicle may reverse (slide backward) against the intention of the occupant. Therefore, even when the power supply to the electric motor is turned off, it is required to suppress the reverse movement of the vehicle in accordance with the occupant's intention.

[0006] On the other hand, it is also required to provide an easy-to-use vehicle by reflecting the occupant's intention to intentionally reverse the vehicle by using the slope.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to realize vehicle control in a saddle-type electric vehicle that conforms to the rider's intentions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] As a means of solving the above problems, the saddle-type electric vehicle (1) of embodiment 1 of the present invention comprises an electric motor (20) for driving the vehicle, a control device (25) for controlling the power supply to the electric motor (20), and a brake operator (14) operated by a rider (R) to activate brake devices (3a, 4a). In this saddle-type electric vehicle (1), the control device (25) switches between a first mode in which the power supply to the electric motor (20) is prohibited and a second mode in which the electric motor (20) is short-circuited, depending on the amount of operation of the brake operator (14) when the amount of operation of the brake operator (14) is greater than or equal to a threshold.

[0009] The occupant's intention regarding vehicle braking differs depending on the amount the brake lever is operated. In the first mode, only the power supply to the electric motor is prohibited, resulting in a small braking force acting on the vehicle. In the second mode, the electric motor is short-circuited, resulting in a large braking force acting on the vehicle. The control device switches between the first and second modes depending on the amount the brake lever is operated. This makes it possible to control the vehicle in accordance with the occupant's intentions.

[0010] A saddle-type electric vehicle (1) according to aspect 2 of the present invention comprises an electric motor (20) for propelling the vehicle, a control device (25) for controlling the power supply to the electric motor (20), and a plurality of brake operators (14) operated by a rider (R) to activate brake devices (3a, 4a). In this saddle-type electric vehicle (1), the control device (25) switches between a first mode in which power supply to the electric motor (20) is prohibited and a second mode in which the electric motor (20) is short-circuited, depending on the number of brake operators (14) among the plurality of brake operators (14) whose operation amount is equal to or greater than a threshold.

[0011] The occupant's intention regarding vehicle braking differs depending on the number of brake controls operated. In the first mode, only the power supply to the electric motor is prohibited, resulting in a small braking force acting on the vehicle. In the second mode, the electric motor is short-circuited, resulting in a large braking force acting on the vehicle. The control device switches between the first and second modes depending on the number of brake controls operated. This makes it possible to control the vehicle in accordance with the occupant's intentions.

[0012] A third aspect of the present invention is a saddle-type electric vehicle (1) as described in aspect 1 or 2, wherein the control device (25) permits power supply to the electric motor (20) when the amount of operation of the brake lever (14) is less than a threshold. When the brake application is small, it is assumed that the occupant intends not to brake the vehicle. The control system allows power to be supplied to the electric motor, enabling the vehicle to move. Therefore, vehicle control can be achieved in accordance with the occupant's intentions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, in a saddle-type electric vehicle, it is possible to control the vehicle in accordance with the rider's intentions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a left side view of a saddle-type electric vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing a saddle-type electric vehicle stopped on an uphill road surface. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the general operation of the left and right brake controls on a saddle-type electric vehicle. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing multiple operating positions for the brake control. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing the main components of a saddle-type electric vehicle. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing the control method for a saddle-type electric vehicle according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]It is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a straddle-type electric vehicle according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, orientations such as front, rear, left, and right in the following description are the same as the orientations of the vehicle described below. In appropriate positions in the drawings used in the following description, an arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle, an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicating the upper side of the vehicle, and a line CL indicating the left-right center of the vehicle body are shown.

[0016] (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a scooter-type electric two-wheeled vehicle (motorcycle) 1 having a floor portion (low floor portion) 9 on which an occupant (driver) R places feet, as an example of a straddle-type electric vehicle. The electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 is not limited to a scooter-type vehicle having the floor portion 9, and may be a vehicle having a vehicle body with a knee grip portion held between both knees of the occupant R.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 includes a front wheel 3 that is a steered wheel, and a rear wheel 4 that is a driving wheel. The front wheel 3 can be steered by a bar handle (steering handle) 10. The rear wheel 4 is driven by, for example, an electric motor (motor) 20 configured as an in-wheel motor. The electric motor 20 generates driving force for traveling of the electric two-wheeled vehicle 1.

[0018] The electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 includes a floor portion 9 on which the occupant R seated on a seat 8 places feet, a front body FB connected to the front of the floor portion 9, and a rear body RB connected to the rear of the floor portion 9. A straddling space K1 is formed above the floor portion 9 to allow the occupant R to easily straddle the vehicle body.

[0019] For example, below the seat 8 and inside the rear body RB, a battery 21 that stores electric power supplied to the electric motor 20 is accommodated. For example, inside the floor portion 9, a PDU (Power Driver Unit) 22 that controls the electric power of the battery 21 and supplies the power to the electric motor 20 is accommodated. As shown in FIG. 5, battery cables 23 extend from the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 21, respectively. Each battery cable 23 is connected to the PDU 22. A three-phase cable 24 extends from the PDU 22, and this three-phase cable 24 is connected to the electric motor 20, which is a three-phase AC motor.

[0020] The PDU 22 includes an inverter that converts direct current supplied from the battery 21 into three-phase alternating current and supplies the current to the electric motor 20. The electric motor 20 performs power running operation in accordance with control by the PDU 22 to cause the electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 to travel. When the electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 decelerates, the electric motor 20 performs regenerative braking, and recovers the kinetic energy of the vehicle body to the battery 21 as electric energy. The inverter includes upper-stage switching elements and lower-stage switching elements that respectively constitute three-phase arms of the electric motor 20.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, for example, inside the front body FB, an ECU (Electric Control Unit) 25, which is a control device that controls the overall functions of electrical components of the electric two-wheeled vehicle 1, is accommodated. The ECU 25 controls permission and prohibition of power supply from the battery 21 to the electric motor 20 and controls short-circuiting of the electric motor 20 by controlling the PDU 22. Note that the short-circuit state of the electric motor 20 refers to a state where three phases are short-circuited by turning all upper-stage switching elements of the three phases of the inverter on and all lower-stage switching elements off, or turning all lower-stage switching elements on and all upper-stage switching elements off. In the short-circuit state, when the electric motor 20 attempts to rotate, negative torque in the rotation stopping direction is generated by counter electromotive force, so a large braking force is applied to the vehicle.

[0022] The functional components included in the ECU25 are realized, for example, by a hardware processor (computer) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage unit (a storage device equipped with a non-transient storage medium), or it may be stored on a removable storage medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM and installed in the storage unit when the storage medium (non-transient storage medium) is mounted on a drive device.

[0023] Furthermore, for example, a tilt sensor (such as an acceleration sensor 26, including an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)) that detects the tilt angle of the vehicle body in the front, rear, left, and right directions is housed inside the front body FB. As shown in Figure 5, the acceleration sensor 26 is connected to the ECU 25 in a manner that enables information transmission, and a vehicle speed sensor 27 that detects the vehicle speed of the electric motorcycle 1, a brake sensor 28 that detects brake operation on the electric motorcycle 1, and an accelerator sensor 29 that detects accelerator operation on the electric motorcycle 1 are also connected in a manner that enables information transmission. The vehicle speed of the electric motorcycle 1 may also be detected by a motor angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the electric motor 20.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, a pair of left and right grip sections 12 are positioned on both the left and right sides of the handlebar 10, each gripped by the rider R with their left and right hands. The handlebar 10 is covered by a handle cover 11, except for the left and right grip sections 12. An accelerator control element (accelerator grip) 12R is attached to the right grip section 12 for the rider R to open and close the accelerator.

[0025] In front of the left and right grip sections 12, a pair of left and right brake levers 14L and 14R are positioned, which the occupant R operates by gripping them with the hands that are holding the left and right grip sections 12. In this embodiment, the left and right brake levers 14L and 14R may be collectively referred to as the left and right brake levers 14.

[0026] The brake lever 14 is operated by gripping it with the hands that are holding the left and right grip portions 12, causing it to rotate backward (towards the grip portion 12) around its base end (inward in the vehicle width direction). This gripping operation activates the brake devices 3a and 4a, which are individually mounted on the front and rear wheels 3 and 4, as shown in Figure 1, thereby braking the rotation of the front and rear wheels 3 and 4, and consequently the forward and backward movement of the electric motorcycle 1.

[0027] For example, the right brake control 14R is for front wheel braking (for front brake operation), and the left brake control 14L is for rear wheel braking (for rear brake operation). The functions of the left and right brake controls 14 are not limited to those described above; for example, the front and rear brakes may be linked in a predetermined ratio by operating only one of the left or right brake controls 14. The front and rear brake devices 3a and 4a can be operated individually and independently according to operation and control.

[0028] The electric two-wheeled vehicle 1 may also be configured to include a brake control (brake pedal) operated by the rider R with their foot placed on the footrest. In this case, for example, it would be a combination of one brake lever 14 (for example, the right brake lever 14R) and one brake pedal (for example, the right brake pedal).

[0029] The brake sensor 28 (see Figure 5) detects the amount of operation of the brake lever 14 (brake operation amount). The brake operation amount is detected from, for example, the rotation angle of the brake lever 14, the amount of operation of an operating force transmission member such as an operating cable, or the load applied to the operating force transmission member. For example, in the case of a hydraulic brake, the brake operation amount may be detected from the hydraulic pressure generated by the master cylinder, etc. The brake sensor 28 outputs a signal corresponding to the brake operation amount to the ECU 25. The ECU 25 operates the brake devices 3a and 4a according to the brake operation amount. The ECU 25 also controls the electric motor 20 according to the brake operation amount as described below.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, when the brake lever 14 (the left brake lever 14L is shown as an example in Figure 4) is in its initial position P0, the brake operation amount is 0. When the brake operation amount is less than the first threshold described below, the ECU 25 permits power supply to the electric motor 20. In addition, if the accelerator lever 12R is operated, the ECU 25 supplies power from the battery 21 to the electric motor 20.

[0031] When the brake lever 14 is operated to the first position P1, the brake operation amount reaches the first threshold. If the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold, it corresponds to the presence of a brake input. For example, if the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold, the brake lights illuminate. The ECU 25 prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor 20 (first mode) when the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold. The ECU 25 does not supply power to the electric motor 20 even if the accelerator lever 12R is operated when the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold. The ECU 25 also prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor 20 when the accelerator lever 12R is operated, if the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold.

[0032] When the brake lever 14 is operated to the second position P2, the brake operation amount reaches the second threshold. If the brake operation amount is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the ECU 25 executes a short circuit (three-phase short circuit, second mode) of the electric motor 20. The electric motor 20 generates torque in the opposite direction to the rotation direction (short circuit brake) due to the short circuit. If the brake operation amount is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the ECU 25 continues the short circuit of the electric motor 20 and does not supply power to the electric motor 20, even if the accelerator lever 12R is operated.

[0033] The control method of the electric motor 20 by the ECU 25 will be described. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the control method of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the first embodiment. The process in Figure 6 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle when the main switch of the electric motorcycle 1 is ON.

[0034] In step S40, the ECU 25 detects the amount of brake operation. Based on the signal input from the brake sensor 28, the ECU 25 detects the amount of brake operation, which is the amount of operation of the brake lever 14. In step S42, the ECU25 determines whether the brake operation amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold. The ECU25 determines whether the brake operation amount detected in step 40 is greater than or equal to the first threshold that has been stored in advance.

[0035] If the brake operation amount is less than the first threshold (step S42 is NO), the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, the ECU 25 permits power supply from the battery 21 to the electric motor 20. However, the ECU 25 will not supply power to the electric motor 20 unless it detects operation of the accelerator control 12R. When the ECU 25 detects operation of the accelerator control 12R, it supplies power to the electric motor 20. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 starts moving.

[0036] When the amount of brake operation is less than the first threshold, the amount of brake operation is small. In this case, it is considered that the rider R intends not to brake the electric motorcycle 1. If the ECU 25 permits power supply to the electric motor 20, the electric motorcycle 1 becomes able to move according to the amount of accelerator operation. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0037] If the amount of brake operation is greater than or equal to the first threshold (step S42 is YES), proceed to step S44. In step S44, the ECU 25 disables the supply of power from the battery 21 to the electric motor 20 (first mode). If the amount of brake operation is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the ECU 25 will not supply power to the electric motor 20 even if it detects operation of the accelerator control 12R.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, when the electric motorcycle 1 is on a slope, the brake lever 14 may be operated beyond the first threshold. When the brake operation amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold but less than the second threshold, the brake operation amount is moderate. In this case, it is considered that the rider R intends to use the slope to move the electric motorcycle 1 slowly (forward or backward). When the ECU 25 prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 does not apply driving force to the electric motorcycle 1. However, since the electric motor 20 is rotatable, it also applies almost no braking force to the electric motorcycle 1. Only a small braking force from the brake devices 3a and 4a acts on the electric motorcycle 1. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 moves slowly on the slope due to its own weight. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0039] Furthermore, while the electric motorcycle 1 is in motion, the brake control element 14 may be operated above a first threshold. When the brake operation is moderate, it is assumed that the rider R intends to coast the electric motorcycle 1. When the ECU 25 prohibits power supply to the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 does not apply driving force to the electric motorcycle 1, but it also applies almost no braking force. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 continues to travel by coast (due to inertia). This makes it possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0040] Next, in step S46, the ECU25 determines whether the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the second threshold. If the brake operation amount is less than the second threshold (step S46 is NO), the process shown in Figure 6 is terminated. If the brake operation amount is equal to or greater than the second threshold (step S46 is YES), the process proceeds to step S48. In step S48, the ECU 25 performs a short circuit (second mode) of the electric motor 20.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, when the electric motorcycle 1 is on a slope, the brake operator 14 may be operated beyond the second threshold. When the brake operation amount is above the second threshold, the brake operation amount is large. In this case, it is considered that the rider R intends to stop the electric motorcycle 1 on the slope. When the ECU 25 short-circuits the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 applies a large braking force to the electric motorcycle 1 through the short-circuit brake. The electric motorcycle 1 is also subjected to a large braking force from the brake devices 3a and 4a. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 comes to a stop on the slope. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0042] Furthermore, while the electric motorcycle 1 is in motion, the brake control element 14 may be operated beyond the second threshold. When the brake operation is large, it is assumed that the rider R intends to stop the electric motorcycle 1 from moving. When the ECU 25 short-circuits the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 applies a large braking force to the electric motorcycle 1. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 comes to a rapid stop. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions. This concludes the description of the control method for the saddle-type electric vehicle of the first embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0043] As detailed above, the electric motorcycle 1 of the first embodiment includes an electric motor 20, an ECU 25, and a brake lever 14. The electric motor 20 propels the electric motorcycle 1. The ECU 25 controls the power supply to the electric motor 20. The brake lever 14 is operated by the rider R to activate the brake devices 3a and 4a. When the amount of operation of the brake lever 14 is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the ECU 25 switches between a first mode and a second mode (executes alternately) according to the amount of operation of the brake lever 14. The first mode is a mode that prohibits the power supply to the electric motor 20. The second mode is a mode that short-circuits the electric motor 20.

[0044] The rider R's intention regarding the braking of the electric motorcycle 1 differs depending on the amount of operation of the brake lever 14. In the first mode, only the power supply to the electric motor 20 is prohibited, so the braking force acting on the electric motorcycle 1 is small. In the second mode, the electric motor 20 is short-circuited, so the braking force acting on the electric motorcycle 1 is large. The ECU 25 switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the amount of operation of the brake lever 14. This makes it possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intention.

[0045] The ECU 25 permits power supply to the electric motor 20 when the amount of operation of the brake lever 14 is less than a first threshold. When the brake operation is small, it is assumed that the rider R intends not to brake the electric motorcycle 1. The ECU 25 allows power to be supplied to the electric motor 20, enabling the electric motorcycle 1 to run. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0046] (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of a saddle-type electric vehicle will now be described. In the second embodiment, the control of the electric motor 20 by the ECU 25 differs from that of the first embodiment. Descriptions of the second embodiment that are the same as those of the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0047] The electric motorcycle 1 has multiple brake controls 14, for example, two brake controls 14, such as a left brake lever 14L for braking the rear wheel and a right brake lever 14R for braking the front wheel. The number of brake controls 14 whose brake operation amount is equal to or greater than a first threshold is called the number of brake operations (or number of brake inputs). The number of brake operations may also be the number of brake controls 14 whose brake operation amount is equal to or greater than a second threshold. The ECU 25 controls the electric motor 20 according to the number of brake operations, as described below.

[0048] If the number of brake operations is 0, the ECU 25 allows power to be supplied to the electric motor 20. If the number of brake operations is 1, the ECU 25 prohibits power supply to the electric motor 20 (first mode). If the number of brake operations is 2, the ECU 25 short-circuits the electric motor 20 (second mode).

[0049] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the control method for a saddle-type electric vehicle according to the second embodiment. The process shown in Figure 7 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle when the main switch of the electric motorcycle 1 is ON.

[0050] In step S50, the ECU25 detects the number of brake operations. The ECU25 detects the number of brake control elements 14 whose brake operation amount is equal to or greater than a first threshold as the number of brake operations. In step S52, the ECU25 determines whether there is a brake operation (brake input). The ECU25 determines that there is a brake operation if there is one or more brake operations.

[0051] If the number of brake operations is 0 (step S52 is NO), proceed to step S53. In step S53, the ECU 25 permits power supply from battery 21 to electric motor 20. When the number of brake operations is 0, the number of brake operations is small. In this case, it is considered that the rider R intends not to brake the electric motorcycle 1. If the ECU 25 permits power supply to the electric motor 20, the electric motorcycle 1 becomes able to move. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0052] If the number of brake operations is one or more (step S52 is YES), proceed to step S54. In step S54, the ECU 25 performs a first mode (prohibiting the supply of power from the battery 21 to the electric motor 20).

[0053] As shown in Figure 2, when the electric motorcycle 1 is on a slope, the brake control 14 may be operated. When the number of brake operations is one or more but less than two, the number of brake operations is considered moderate. In this case, it is thought that the rider R intends to use the slope to move the electric motorcycle 1 slowly (forward or backward). When the ECU 25 prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 does not apply driving force to the electric motorcycle 1, but it also applies almost no braking force. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 moves slowly on the slope due to gravity. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0054] Furthermore, the brake control element 14 may be operated while the electric motorcycle 1 is in motion. When the number of brake operations is moderate, it is assumed that the rider R intends to coast the electric motorcycle 1. When the ECU 25 prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 does not apply any driving force to the electric motorcycle 1, but it also applies almost no braking force. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 continues to travel by coast (due to inertia). This makes it possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0055] Next, in step S56, the ECU25 determines whether the number of brake operations is 2. If the number of brake operations is less than 2 (step S56 is NO), the process shown in Figure 7 is terminated. If the number of brake operations is 2 (step S56 is YES), the process proceeds to step S58. In step S58, the ECU 25 performs a short circuit (second mode) of the electric motor 20.

[0056] As shown in Figure 2, when the electric motorcycle 1 is on a slope, the brake control 14 may be operated. When there are two brake operations, the number of brake operations is large. In this case, it is assumed that the rider R intends to stop the electric motorcycle 1 on the slope. When the ECU 25 short-circuits the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 applies a large braking force to the electric motorcycle 1 through the short-circuit brake. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 comes to a stop on the slope. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0057] Furthermore, the brake control element 14 may be operated while the electric motorcycle 1 is in motion. When the number of brake operations is large, it is assumed that the rider R intends to stop the electric motorcycle 1 from moving. When the ECU 25 short-circuits the electric motor 20, the electric motor 20 applies a large braking force to the electric motorcycle 1. As a result, the electric motorcycle 1 comes to a rapid stop. Therefore, it is possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions. This concludes the description of the control method for the saddle-type electric vehicle of the second embodiment shown in Figure 7.

[0058] As detailed above, the electric motorcycle 1 of the second embodiment includes an electric motor 20, an ECU 25, and a plurality of brake controls 14. The electric motor 20 propels the electric motorcycle 1. The ECU 25 controls the power supply to the electric motor 20. The plurality of brake controls 14 are operated by the rider R to activate the brake devices 3a and 4a. The ECU 25 switches between a first mode and a second mode (executes alternately) depending on the number of brake controls 14 whose operation amount is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The first mode is a mode that prohibits the power supply to the electric motor 20. The second mode is a mode that short-circuits the electric motor 20.

[0059] The rider R's intention regarding the braking of the electric motorcycle 1 differs depending on the number of times the multiple brake controls 14 are operated. In the first mode, only the power supply to the electric motor 20 is prohibited, so the braking force acting on the electric motorcycle 1 is small. In the second mode, the electric motor 20 is short-circuited, so the braking force acting on the electric motorcycle 1 is large. The ECU 25 switches between the first mode and the second mode depending on the number of times the multiple brake controls 14 are operated. This makes it possible to control the electric motorcycle 1 in accordance with the rider R's intentions.

[0060] The saddle-type electric vehicle of this embodiment may also be applied to saddle-type electric vehicles other than electric two-wheeled vehicles. The saddle-type electric vehicle includes all vehicles on which the driver straddles the vehicle body, and includes not only electric two-wheeled vehicles (including electric bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). Furthermore, the configuration in the above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] R Crew 1. Electric two-wheeled vehicle (saddle-type electric vehicle) 3a, 4a Brake device 14 Brake control 20 Electric motor (electric motor) 25 ECU (Control Unit)

Claims

1. A saddle-type electric vehicle (1) comprising an electric motor (20) for propelling the vehicle, a control device (25) for controlling the power supply to the electric motor (20), and a brake operator (14) operated by a rider (R) to activate brake devices (3a, 4a), The control device (25) executes a first mode in which, depending on the amount of operation of the brake lever (14), power supply to the motor (20) is prohibited when the amount of operation of the brake lever (14) is greater than or equal to a first threshold corresponding to the presence of a brake input, and executes a second mode in which the motor (20) is short-circuited when the amount of operation of the brake lever (14) is greater than or equal to a second threshold which is greater than the first threshold. The control device (25) permits power supply to the electric motor (20) when the amount of operation of the brake lever (14) is less than the first threshold. A saddle-type electric vehicle.

2. In a saddle-type electric vehicle (1) comprising an electric motor (20) for propelling the vehicle, a control device (25) for controlling the power supply to the electric motor (20), and a plurality of brake actuators (14) operated by a rider (R) to activate brake devices (3a, 4a), The control device (25) switches between a first mode, which prohibits the supply of power to the electric motor (20), and a second mode, which short-circuits the electric motor (20), depending on the number of brake operators (14) among the plurality of brake operators (14) whose operation amount is equal to or greater than a threshold, in a saddle-type electric vehicle.

3. The control device (25) permits power supply to the electric motor (20) when the amount of operation of the brake lever (14) is less than the threshold. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2.

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