Systems and methods for diverting airflow around a vehicle during forward motion are disclosed, having at least one inlet orifice, at least one duct, the at least one duct in fluid communication with the at least one inlet orifice, at least one outlet orifice, and a tailcone assembly having a rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly abutting the rear surface of the vehicle, the outlet located on the rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly defining an internal cavity, the at least one internal cavity in fluid communication with the at least one outlet orifice and the at least one duct. Further improvements adapted to encourage laminar flow about a land vehicle when in motion are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for diverting airflow around a vehicle during forward motion are disclosed, having at least one inlet orifice, at least one duct, the at least one duct in fluid communication with the at least one inlet orifice, at least one outlet orifice, and a tailcone assembly having a rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly abutting the rear surface of the vehicle, the outlet located on the rearwardly facing, convexly projecting rounded surface, the tailcone assembly defining an internal cavity, the at least one internal cavity in fluid communication with the at least one outlet orifice and the at least one duct. Further improvements adapted to encourage laminar flow about a land vehicle when in motion are also disclosed.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles that may include determining whether to initiate a configuration change protocol to implement a configuration change for modifying the exterior shape of a body of the vehicle in response to a planned or predicted future operating mode, event or environment. Also, determining whether an occupancy status of the vehicle conflicts with an occupancy status allowed for in a configuration called for by a configuration change input or indication. Further, modifying the exterior shape of the body of the vehicle in accordance with the configuration change input or indication in response to determining that the occupancy status of the vehicle does not conflict with the configuration change input or indication, wherein modifying the exterior shape of the body of the vehicle includes modifying a configuration of at least one exterior vehicle part.

Various embodiments include methods and vehicles that may include determining whether to initiate a configuration change protocol to implement a configuration change for modifying the exterior shape of a body of the vehicle in response to a planned or predicted future operating mode, event or environment. Also, determining whether an occupancy status of the vehicle conflicts with an occupancy status allowed for in a configuration called for by a configuration change input or indication. Further, modifying the exterior shape of the body of the vehicle in accordance with the configuration change input or indication in response to determining that the occupancy status of the vehicle does not conflict with the configuration change input or indication, wherein modifying the exterior shape of the body of the vehicle includes modifying a configuration of at least one exterior vehicle part.

A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two supports are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the supports remote from the other support such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the supports on the support base. A locking device selectively locks each support to the support base in a first position where the wheel assemblies are furthest from each other and a second position where the wheel assemblies are closer to each other.

A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two supports are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the supports remote from the other support such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the supports on the support base. A locking device selectively locks each support to the support base in a first position where the wheel assemblies are furthest from each other and a second position where the wheel assemblies are closer to each other.

The invention relates to a stackable transport trolley, in particular a stackable shopping trolley, comprising a chassis and a basket; the chassis includes a support frame and a frame of rods which is arranged on the support frame, the frame of rods supporting the basket.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.