A tractor trailer system includes a tractor and a trailer. The tractor includes a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device. The trailer is connected to the tractor, and includes a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) having a TRU controller, an electrical TRU component, and a TRU Power Unit. The TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.

In a system that shares a battery with an external device, the system includes a power storage device connected to the battery via a power supply line. The system includes a switch provided on the power supply line, and a control unit. The control unit controls on-off switching operations of the switch to selectively establish an electrical conduction between the battery and the power storage device or interrupt the electrical conduction therebetween. The battery has a battery voltage thereacross, and the power storage device has a power-storage voltage thereacross. The battery charges the power storage device while the electrical conduction is established so that the power-storage voltage follows the battery voltage. The control unit turns off the switch when the battery voltage is in a predetermined insufficient voltage state to prevent electrical power charged in the power storage device from being discharged to the battery.

An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.

Systems and methods of providing fault protection on direct current (DC) feeds to various engine or generator set components are provided. In some embodiments, generator set includes a ground fault device arranged between a DC power distribution circuit and a subsystem of the generator set. The ground fault device is configured to detect a fault condition based on a comparison of a first current in a first wire with a second current in a second wire between the DC power distribution circuit and the subsystem. In response to detecting the fault condition, the ground fault device is configured to disconnect the subsystem.

An example apparatus includes a level shifter having a first supply input, a gate driver having a second supply input coupled to the first supply input and adapted to be coupled to a cathode of a diode, the gate driver having an output adapted to be coupled to a control terminal of a switch, and a current source circuit having an input and an output, the input adapted to be coupled to a power supply and the output adapted to be coupled to the first supply input, the second supply input and to a capacitor.

An automotive battery draw monitor for monitoring the parasitic draw on an automotive battery. The invention uses a shunt and a multi-meter to measure the voltage drop between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable. The invention is contained within a housing and powered via a power cable that connects the multi-meter to the positive terminal of the battery. The invention is grounded using a ground wire connected to the shunt.

A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, are configured in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the discharge of stored energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic in order to restore charge to the battery as needed.

An electrical power system for a delivery vehicle is provided. The power system is used in connection with a delivery vehicle having an engine, and also having a liftgate powered by an electric motor. The electrical power system includes a first battery, a second battery, and an alternator. The electrical power system also includes a super capacitor. The super capacitor has a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, wherein each of the first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank comprises ultra-capacitor cells placed in series. The first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank reside in parallel. In addition, the first battery and the second battery reside in parallel with the second capacitor bank. Together, the first battery, the second battery and the second capacitor bank supply power to the liftgate motor. Finally, the first capacitor bank is in electrical communication with the alternator and supplies power, with the alternator, to a relay start for the delivery vehicle to start the engine.

The invention relates to a method for predicting an engine-start performance of an electrical energy storage system, in particular a motor vehicle starter battery. The method comprises the following method steps: generating engine-start data which are characteristic of the electrical energy storage system; evaluating the generated engine-start data; and outputting a result of the evaluation, which result relates to a prediction with respect to the engine-start performance of the electrical energy storage system. According to the invention, provision is made in particular for a vehicle make, a vehicle model and/or a vehicle variant of a vehicle to be started by the electrical energy storage system to be taken into account in order to evaluate the generated engine-start data.

A engine starting method is carried out to start an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first hub, a second hub, and a damper. The damper connects the first hub and the second hub in a power transmission path between the engine and a generator capable of power generation and powered travel. The engine starting method determines whether or not the engine needs to be started, begins to crank the engine via the generator when the engine needs to be started, performs a first ignition when torque fluctuation caused by torsion in the first hub and the second hub is in a range of being absorbable by the damper during the cranking, and suppresses engine torque generated by the first ignition below engine torque generated by second and subsequent ignitions.