A vehicle is configured to carry out external charging operation in which an in-vehicle battery is charged with electric power from a device outside the vehicle. The vehicle includes the in-vehicle battery, a charger and a control device. The charger is configured to output electric power from the device outside the vehicle to the in-vehicle battery. The control device is configured to control the charger so that the external charging operation is completed by time set by a user. Furthermore, the control device is configured to preferentially allocate a period of time during which the external charging operation is carried out in order of a priority time period set by the user, an immediate time period immediately after the priority time period and a preceding time period immediately before the priority time period.

This application is directed to methods and systems for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The system can include a generator configured to generate an electrical output based on a mechanical input responsive to a rotation of a driven mass. The system can include an ultracapacitor module configured to receive energy from the generator. The system can include an energy retainer configured to receive energy from the ultracapacitor module or from the generator. The system can include a traction motor configured to receive energy from the energy retainer or from the ultracapacitor module.

This application is directed to methods and systems for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The system can include a generator configured to generate an electrical output based on a mechanical input responsive to a rotation of a driven mass. The system can include an ultracapacitor module configured to receive energy from the generator. The system can include an energy retainer configured to receive energy from the ultracapacitor module or from the generator. The system can include a traction motor configured to receive energy from the energy retainer or from the ultracapacitor module.

A charge/discharge system includes: first and second electric chargers that supplies electric power to a motor generator and charges electric power generated by a motor generator; an electric power converter; and a controller. The controller controls the electric power converter such that electric power charged in the first electric charger is supplied to the motor generator, electric power charged in the second electric charger is charged in the first electric charger when a charging capacity of the first electric charger is lower than a second predetermined value. The driving force of the motor generator is reduced depending on the charging capacity when the charging capacity of the first electric charger is lower than the first predetermined value.

A device/method for the control of a charge operation and the State Of Charge (SOC) of an electrical Energy Storage System (ESS), e.g. a battery, that includes a multitude of cells is provided. The ESS is electrically connected to a propulsion system of a vehicle in order to power an Electric Motor. The method includes charging the ESS from an electrical power source, e.g., the grid, when the vehicle is at standstill, stopping the charging when the SOC level of the ESS is above a maintenance limit for the SOC level of the ESS, monitoring the battery and/or performing a service operation of the ESS after the ESS has been charged to a SOC level above the maintenance limit for the SOC level of the ESS, deliberately discharging the ESS to lower the SOC level. The SOC level of the ESS is reduced to a take-off limit for the SOC level of the ESS which is set in order to allow the vehicle to be controlled to use regenerative braking for charging of the ESS under subsequent driving when the vehicle is restarted and takes off.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for energy management. A system, such as a vehicle, includes a solar cell that generates energy in response to receiving light. The system includes an energy controller, which includes a processor and memory, that predicts an optimal time period for charging an energy storage unit based on information tracking discharging of the energy storage unit over time. The system includes trickle charging circuitry that provides the energy to the energy storage unit during the optimal time period, and the energy storage unit that stores the energy and discharges the energy to power at least one component, such as a vehicle propulsion mechanism.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for energy management. A system, such as a vehicle, includes a solar cell that generates energy in response to receiving light. The system includes an energy controller, which includes a processor and memory, that predicts an optimal time period for charging an energy storage unit based on information tracking discharging of the energy storage unit over time. The system includes trickle charging circuitry that provides the energy to the energy storage unit during the optimal time period, and the energy storage unit that stores the energy and discharges the energy to power at least one component, such as a vehicle propulsion mechanism.

A power supply management system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fee setting unit configured to set power fee unit prices (first power fee unit price and second power fee unit price for each time slot, and a notification unit configured to notify a consumer of information on the set power fee unit prices. The first power fee unit price is a power unit price for a household electrical load, and the second power fee unit price is a power unit price in a case of using a charge/discharge device to charge a vehicle-mounted storage battery. The fee setting unit is configured to set, by predicting a load factor of a transformer, a discount rate of the second power fee unit price to become higher (second power fee unit price to become lower) as the predicted load factor becomes lower. The second power fee unit price is determined on the basis of the first power fee unit price and the discount rate.

Systems, devices, and methods for an electrical switch including: an enclosure; a hinged armature disposed within the enclosure; a moveable contact electrically coupled to the hinged armature and disposed substantially parallel to the hinged armature; and a rib positioned between the hinged armature and an outer edge of the electrical switch, where the rib transfers external forces applied to the electrical switch to the enclosure by limiting movement of the hinged armature towards an outer edge of the electrical switch.

An interleaved switched mode power supply and control method therefor are disclosed. The interleaved switched mode power supply includes a first switched mode power supply; a second switched mode power supply; and a controller. The controller controls the first and second switched mode power supplies so that the controller and the first and second switched mode power supplies form an interleaved switched mode power supply with power factor correction. The controller modulates a switching frequency of each of the first and second switched mode power supplies such that the switching frequency varies based upon ripple current cancellation between the ripple current of the first switched mode power supply and the ripple current of the second switched mode power supply.