eTELLIGENT LO RANGE CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

A method for operating an electric vehicle for traversing off-road terrain includes operating the vehicle both in a normal operating mode and an electric low range operating mode. A control unit receives inputs from sensors that determine vehicle operating conditions, such as vehicle speed, grade of terrain, accelerator position, and brake pedal position. The method adjusts motor torque or the maximum allowable motor as a function of the determined vehicle operating conditions, to provide improved electric vehicle operation in a low range mode, including the increasing motor torque at different rates relative to the normal mode, allowing a greater maximum allowable torque, increasing torque to overcome obstacles, and increasing torque to ascend or descend.