A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user, or displayed on a collection, charging and distribution machine. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map on a user's mobile device relative to the user's current location. The user may use their mobile device select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device. The system nay also warn the user that the user is near an edge of the pre-determined area having portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines. Reservations may also be made automatically based on information regarding a potential route of a user.

An electric powered vehicle includes: a motor; an inverter configured to convert electric power from a battery to drive the motor; a transmission configured to shift the rotation output of the motor at a variable transmission gear ratio; and a controller configured to control the inverter to control the driving of the motor and to control a change in the shift gear stage, and to perform high surge region avoidance control for changing the gear ratio of the transmission to change a motor rotation speed while maintaining a vehicle speed and changing an operation point outside a high surge region, when the operation point of the motor enters the high surge region where the inverter is controlled by a PWM overmodulation control system, and the high surge region is defined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined rotation speed and equal to or less than predetermined torque.

A vehicle system includes a sensor that measures an engine block heating characteristic associated with an engine block heater. A processing device is programmed to determine an operating state of the engine block heater based on the engine block heating characteristic measured. A communication device is programmed to transmit a message that includes the operating state of the engine block heater.

A vehicle battery exchange system includes a base, a gripper, a retrieval actuator that retractably and extensibly connects the gripper to the base, and a vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus that is operatively connected at least with the retrieval actuator and is configured to cause extension of the retrieval actuator to a battery-engaging position of the gripper in response to registration of a vehicle alignment feature to the vehicle alignment feature sensing apparatus, and to cause retraction of the retrieval actuator to a battery-removing position of the gripper in response to latching engagement of the gripper with a battery that is mounted in a vehicle at a pre-defined location relative to the vehicle alignment feature that is in registration to the alignment feature sensing apparatus.

Propulsion unit for an electric pedal assisted cycle (EPAC) comprising an electric machine having a stator and a rotor, rotatable about a motor axis, said rotor (16) being operatively connected to a crank pin, defining a crank axis, mechanically connected to the pedals, wherein the propulsion unit comprises at least an electronic unit for operating and controlling the functioning of the electric machine, wherein the propulsion unit comprises at least a pair of housings defining a containment space which houses the electric machine and at least partially the crank pin, wherein the propulsion unit comprises transmission means of the motion from the rotor to the crank pin, wherein the electronic unit is contained and supported inside said containment space by an intermediate support element

An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.

A battery control system connected to a battery, which controls charge/discharge at the battery, includes: a current detection unit that measures a current value by detecting a charge/discharge current flowing through the battery; a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage at the battery; a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature at the battery; an effective current value calculation unit that calculates, based upon the current value measured by the current detection unit, an effective current value in a predetermined time window; a time ratio calculation unit that determines a time ratio indicating a ratio of a length of time over which the effective current value has been in excess of a predetermined allowable value during a predetermined specified time period; and a charge/discharge restriction unit that restricts the charge/discharge current based upon the time ratio determined by the time ratio calculation unit.

An electric vehicle charging system in described that includes an electrical energy source that includes a base with a plurality of electrical signal connectors to receive a first electrical signal, a second electrical signal and a ground signal, an adapter having a plurality of outlet connectors configured to electrically connect to at least some of the plurality of electrical signal connectors, wherein the adapter can be placed in a plurality of positions on the base to correctly orient the base to any of plurality of outlet connector orientations, and a locking ring adapted to engage the base to removable fix the adapter to the base in one of the four positions. The system can include a thermistor assembly to sense thermal energy in the source and if thermal energy exceeds a threshold to output a signal. The system can include a charging cord for an electric vehicle having a proper orientation when engaging the source, wherein the adapter is in a correct orientation with the base being in the proper orientation when connected to the socket-outlet.

In an electric vehicle having a primary battery powered source of energy with a primary electric motor driven and connected to one or more ground engagement wheels of the electric vehicle, has a device called a sprocket used for collecting energy form the inner rim edge of the rear wheel of the electric vehicle. This sprocket mechanism device collects this energy then transfers that energy to alternators one and two on its mounted framework in the trunk compartment by way of a chain. The two alternators with its sitting pilot voltages, then transfer it by required electrically conductive cables sending energy to the battery bank source thus completing the on board charging system cycle.

It is described a rechargeable battery pack (20) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (1), comprising: —at least one electric connection member (23) to a powertrain group (5) of the electric or hybrid vehicle (1); —a plurality of mutually electrically connected cells (30); —at least one first circuit block (40) integrated in the rechargeable battery pack (20) and comprising a receiver (41) of satellite geo-localization signals and a processing unit (42) of said signals, which is operatively connected to said receiver (41) and adapted to detect a piece of information of geographic positioning of the rechargeable battery pack (20) in a geo-referenced system.