Patent attributes
Discharge systems for electric vehicles and electric vehicles having discharge systems. In one implementation, a discharge system for an electric vehicle includes a step-down power converter configured to step down an input voltage to an output voltage; discharge circuitry coupled to the output of the step-down power converter, wherein the discharge circuitry is reversibly driveable to load the step-down power converter; an input component configured to receive input that originated from a human user or a sensor of the electric vehicle, wherein the input indicates that the electric vehicle is to shutdown; and discharge drive circuitry configured to drive the discharge circuitry to load the step-down power converter in response to the indication that the electric vehicle is to shutdown.