Sharon M Phillips

US Patent:

20120016546, Jan 19, 2012

Filed:

Jul 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/181657

Inventors:

Ole K. Nilssen - Barrington IL, US
James P. Phillips - Lake in the Hills IL, US
Sharon E.J. Phillips - Lake in the Hills IL, US

International Classification:

B60W 20/00
B60W 10/08
B60W 10/06

US Classification:

701 22, 180 65265, 903902

Abstract:

A system and method for supplying back-up electric power to a house or other building from a hybrid vehicle. Switches in the vehicle and in the house can place the vehicle in a mode where it receives charging power from the house, or where it can supply power into the main electrical distribution system of the house. These switches can be controlled from a control module in the house that can sense or cause the vehicle to sense if there is adequate ventilation in the environment to start the internal combustion engine (ICE) in the vehicle. The control module or the vehicle can cause a garage door to open or ventilation fans or vents to open. If the ICE can be started, the generator/battery can supply most if not all of the power needed by the house until the outage is over. If there is inadequate ventilation, the control system can cause only the battery in the vehicle to supply limited power to the house, typically only to critical circuits. When main power is restored, the system can revert back automatically. The ICE can be turned off anytime there is inadequate ventilation or an abnormal condition.