An electrically driven, movable underground vehicle and a method for operating the same, includes a chassis with at least two driven drive wheels, an electrical trailing cable for connection to an electrical supply network, an electric drive motor, which is electrically connected to the trailing cable, for driving the drive wheels, and an energy storage unit. The vehicle further includes an auxiliary drive motor with a subsequent hydraulic fluid transmission, a switchgear assembly and a processor for controlling the supply of the electric drive motor and the electric auxiliary drive motor with electrical energy. The drive motor directly drives the drive wheels while bypassing the hydraulic fluid transmission. Also, the energy provided by the energy storage unit is sufficient for driving the drive wheels and for temporarily moving the load-haul-dump machine independently of the supply network.

A control apparatus is used with a vehicle including an engine, a storage battery, and an electrical load. The control apparatus works as an automatic engine stop and restart system and calculates a SOC lower limit that is a minimum value of state of charge (SOC) of the battery required to continue to stop the engine in an idle stop mode. The control apparatus also calculates an amount of electric power expected to be consumed by the electrical load during the idle stop mode and determines an idle stop enable SOC at which the idle stop mode is entered and which is selected to be the sum of the SOC lower limit and a SOC of the battery which at least compensates for the consumed amount of electric power. This ensures chances to stop the engine in the idle stop mode and improves fuel economy.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce fuel consumption. A controller is configured to execute a first determination to determine that a required power is less than a reference power, and a second determination to determine that a condition to start an engine is satisfied. If the answers of the first determination and the second determination are YES, a target power of the engine is set to a predetermined power which is greater than the required power, and which can be generated by consuming smaller amount of fuel. Then, the generator is driven by the engine being operated to achieve the predetermined power, and an electric power generated by the generator to be accumulated in a battery is set to a value calculated based on a difference between the target power and the required power.

Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: identify a speed reduction ratio in a driving force transmission mechanism; estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under a condition that the average torque output by the engine and an engine speed are constant, to set the countertorque such that, as the speed reduction ratio becomes smaller, the absolute value of the countertorque becomes larger.

A system and method for actuating a vehicle operation power mode that include receiving sensor data from at least one sensor of a vehicle. The system and method also include determining if at least one vehicle operation requirement is met based on analysis of the sensor data and actuating an electric powered operation mode of the vehicle based on determining that the at least one operation requirement is met. The system and method further include controlling the vehicle to be powered by electrical power supplied by an electric battery of the vehicle based on the actuation of the electric powered operation mode.

An electric waterborne transport system is disclosed which includes a plurality of electric power generators deployed over a waterbody, the plurality of electric power generators generating electricity from a renewable energy source, and a power line suspended above a surface of the waterbody and spanning between two distant destinations, the power line receiving electricity from the plurality of electric power generators and transmitting the electricity to a cargo ship to propel the cargo ship to travel along the power line.

A system for monitoring electrical contacts for an overhead trolley line may include a wear sensor arranged such that an electrical contact on a vehicle or work machine for contacting the overhead trolley line is continually or periodically in its line of sight. The wear sensor may be configured to capture spatial data defining the surface profile of the electrical contact. The system may also include a data processing module configured to receive the spatial data and identify a defect in the electrical contact based on the spatial data.

According to an embodiment, a power supply system for an electric motor car includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a conversion unit. The first terminal is electrically connected to one of a power storage device and an overhead wire provided within a formation of electric motor cars. The second terminal is electrically connected to a lead wire together with a plurality of electric motors within the formation, a host power supply device, an external power supply device different from the host power supply device. The conversion unit receives first electric power supplied from the plurality of electric motors and the external power supply device via the second terminal and causes a direct current (DC) voltage to be generated at the first terminal according to a regenerative operation of the conversion unit to charge the power storage device in a first operation state and receives second electric power supplied from one of the power storage device and the overhead wire via the first terminal, converts a part of the second electric power into third electric power according to a powered operation of the conversion unit, and outputs the third electric power from the second terminal in a second operation state, thereby converting electric power.

According to an embodiment, a power supply system for an electric motor car includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a conversion unit. The first terminal is electrically connected to one of a power storage device and an overhead wire provided within a formation of electric motor cars. The second terminal is electrically connected to a lead wire together with a plurality of electric motors within the formation, a host power supply device, an external power supply device different from the host power supply device. The conversion unit receives first electric power supplied from the plurality of electric motors and the external power supply device via the second terminal and causes a direct current (DC) voltage to be generated at the first terminal according to a regenerative operation of the conversion unit to charge the power storage device in a first operation state and receives second electric power supplied from one of the power storage device and the overhead wire via the first terminal, converts a part of the second electric power into third electric power according to a powered operation of the conversion unit, and outputs the third electric power from the second terminal in a second operation state, thereby converting electric power.

A DC-DC converter of the present invention, located between an end at a low potential and an end at a high potential with different DC potentials, for transmitting DC power from the end at the low potential to the end at the high potential or from the end at the high potential to the end at the low potential, comprising: a buck-boost circuit equipped with a buck switch and a boost switch connected in series at the end at the high potential; and a controller for adjusting periods of turning on the buck switch and the boost switch depending on transmission direction and transmission rate of DC power for a requirement; wherein, if the DC power is transmitted from the end at the low potential to the end at the high potential, the controller may turn on the boost switch for a first section and turn on the buck switch for a second section shorter than the first section during the turn-off period of the boost switch.