System and method for supplying auxiliary power to an electrified vehicle

Abstract

A power supply system for an electrified vehicle may include a primary power source and an auxiliary power source configured to selectively supply power in place of or in addition to the primary power source. At least one electrical connector is configured to connect the auxiliary power source to the power supply system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power supply system for an electrified vehicle, comprising:
 a high voltage battery;   a portable generator configured to selectively supply power in place of or in addition to the high voltage battery during operation of the electrified vehicle; and   a plurality of electrical connectors each having a different power rating,   wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors is configured to connect the portable generator to the power supply system.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable generator is configured to selectively offload an energy demand from the high voltage battery during the operation, and wherein during the operation, power is provided to drive a wheel of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors is disposed near a rear end of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors is disposed under a hood of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable generator is disposed on a shelving assembly mountable to a trailer hitch of the electrified vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a cluster display configured for a user of the electrified vehicle to select a specific load to place on the portable generator during the operation. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the cluster display includes a display unit and an input device. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a control unit configured to automatically offload a portion of an energy demand from the high voltage battery to the portable generator once the portable generator is connected to the at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , comprising an accessory system initially powered by the high voltage battery and subsequently powered by the portable generator without assistance from the high voltage battery while the portion of the energy demand is offloaded to the portable generator. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the accessory system is a climate control system. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the accessory system is a lighting system. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the accessory system is a consumer device powering station. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the portable generator is a gasoline driven generator. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a load to place on an auxiliary power source of an electrified vehicle in response to the load being inputted at a cluster display located inside a passenger compartment of the electrified vehicle;   offloading a portion of an energy demand of a primary power source of the electrified vehicle to the auxiliary power source during an operation of the electrified vehicle,   wherein, during the operation, power is being provided to drive a wheel of the electrified vehicle;   powering an accessory system with the portion of the energy demand offloaded to the auxiliary power source; and   automatically reducing the load placed on the auxiliary power source in response to a fault condition of the auxiliary power source.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the primary power source is a high voltage battery and the auxiliary power source is a portable generator. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the accessory system is a climate control system, a lighting system, or a consumer device powering station. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the accessory system includes a climate control system, a lighting system, and a consumer device powering station. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the accessory system is initially powered by the primary power source during the operation but is not powered by the primary power source while the portion of the energy demand is offloaded to the auxiliary power source. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the accessory system is activated in response to turning on the accessory system at a location inside the passenger compartment of the electrified vehicle.