A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The charging and distribution machines may distribute portable electrical energy storage devices of particular performance characteristics and other attributes based on customer preferences and/or customer profiles. The charging and distribution machines may provide instructions to or otherwise program portable electrical energy storage devices stored within the charging and distribution machines to perform at various levels according to user preferences and user profiles.

A bicycle motor control system, configured to control a drive motor that is provided on a bicycle, comprises a controller configured to control a drive motor that is configured to selectively output driving force in accordance with a manual drive force, and cause the drive motor to stop when a detected manual drive force, sensed by a manual drive force sensor, falls below a predetermined force threshold value, which is set in accordance with a crank angle of a crankshaft.

An energy storage arrangement or configuration includes an energy store or storage device which can be connected to an electrical energy supply via a buck converter and a choke device. A boost converter is connected parallel with the energy store and the buck converter. The energy store is configured to be charged to a higher voltage level than the voltage level of the electrical energy supply. An energy storage system having multiple energy storage configurations and a method for operating an energy storage configuration are also provided.

The invention relates to a controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having an engine, electric propulsion means powered by energy storage means and electric generator means operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage means, the controller being operable to: receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid driving mode; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the energy storage means; determine which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the generator means to recharge the energy storage means and an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion means is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid driving mode, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of the instant state of charge of the energy storage means and a reference value of state of charge, the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid driving mode.

A vehicle including a powertrain system that includes an electric machine electrically connected to a power inverter is described, wherein the powertrain system is operative in an electric vehicle mode to generate propulsion torque. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a vehicle speed, and determining a preferred audible sound to be generated by the powertrain system when operating in the electric vehicle mode at the vehicle speed. A control signal for the power inverter is determined, and is associated with operating the powertrain system in the electric vehicle mode at the vehicle speed. The preferred audible sound is incorporated into the control signal for the power inverter, and the power inverter is controlled to operate the electric machine employing the control signal and the preferred audible sound.

A control method of a hybrid vehicle includes determining, by a controller, whether a target maintaining SOC has been set to a maximum level in a battery maintaining driving mode, determining, by the controller, whether a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, when the target maintaining SOC determined is a maximum level, calculating, by the controller, an estimated recovery energy which can be recovered by regenerative braking of the vehicle when a current vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined speed, and updating, by the controller, the target maintaining SOC by subtracting a subtraction SOC equivalent to the estimated recovery energy calculated from the target maintaining SOC.

Apparatus is provided comprising an electrical motor comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor comprising a plurality of rotor teeth and the stator comprising a plurality of stator teeth. The apparatus has a driver circuit to drive the electrical motor comprising a boost converter comprising a charge storage element and coupled to a first terminal of a coil winding on at least one of the plurality of stator teeth, and a buck converter comprising the same charge storage element and coupled to the same first terminal of the coil winding on the at least one of the plurality of stator teeth. An inductive element of the boost converter and the buck converter is provided by the coil winding of the at least one of the plurality of stator teeth, and the charge storage element is referenced to a supply node for coupling the second terminal of the coil winding to an electrical supply.

An electric power reception control unit of a vehicle generates an electric power transmission command for adjusting received electric power to an electric power reception command. The generated electric power transmission command is transmitted from the vehicle to a charging station via radio communication. An electric power transmission control unit of the charging station adjusts transmission electric power, which is transmitted from the charging station to the vehicle, to the electric power transmission command received from the vehicle. Responsiveness of electric power reception control carried out in the electric power reception control unit is lower than responsiveness of electric power transmission control carried out in the electric power transmission control unit.

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

A reluctance assisted external rotor permanent magnet machine provided with fewer magnets without scarifying performance is described herein. Torque ripple and cogging torque reductions are discussed.