Methods are provided for optimizing generation of water on-board a vehicle with reduced impact on fuel economy. Regenerative braking energy, and/or solar energy, in excess of what is required for charging a system battery, is used to operate a water extractor and save the captured energy as stored water. A proportion of the braking energy used to charge the battery versus operate the water extractor is adjusted as a function of operating conditions including a water level in a water reservoir on-board the vehicle.

A disc brake and a cooling controller, a control system and a control method, a brake disc of the disc brake includes a first basic plate and a second basic plate, jointed and forming a cavity. A fibrous body having a capillary structure is sandwiched between the first basic plate and the second basic plate, the fibrous body filling between the first basic plate and the second plate, and the fibrous body being formed in a ring shape and sleeves on an axle to receive cooling water from the axle and distribute the cooling water on inner walls of the first basic plate and the second basic plate. The cooling water is evenly distributed to prevent brake disc from fading under heat, and based on the disc brake, an additional automatic controlled cooling control system is provided to accurately control the amount of the cooling water, thereby saving water.

Methods are provided for optimizing generation of water on-board a vehicle with reduced impact on fuel economy. Regenerative braking energy, and/or solar energy, in excess of what is required for charging a system battery, is used to operate a water extractor and save the captured energy as stored water. A proportion of the braking energy used to charge the battery versus operate the water extractor is adjusted as a function of operating conditions including a water level in a water reservoir on-board the vehicle.

Methods are provided for optimizing usage of water harvested or generated on-board a vehicle. An amount of water selected for injection or spraying purposes, as well as an order of water injection responsive to various vehicle operating conditions, is varied based on the amount of water to be delivered, as well as a current water level relative to a predicted future water level. The method allows water usage benefits to be maximized particularly when water availability is limited.

A vehicle brake cooling system is provided. The vehicle brake cooling system is configured to actively cool brake elements affecting one or more wheels of the vehicle during the periods of vigorous or prolonged application of a vehicle's brakes to prevent overheating. The system is filled with a suitable coolant fluid which is pressurized to flow through a nozzle or a system of nozzles onto a brake element during active braking, cooling the brake element. Manual or automatic operation is disclosed, including use of temperature or pressure sensors. A method of use of a vehicle brake cooling system is also disclosed.

A brake cooling system, comprising a pressurized air source configured to supply compressed air. A flow passage extends from the pressurized air source to a vicinity of a brake assembly, and has an outlet directing the air towards the brake assembly. At least one de Laval nozzle is provided in the flow passage to increase speed and reduce temperature of air passed through the de Laval nozzle. A valve controls fluid communication between the air source and the de Laval nozzle. When the valve is closed, air is prevented from reaching the de Laval nozzle. When the valve is open, air is allowed to pass through the de Laval nozzle. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of a brake assembly. If the temperature is above a predefined limit, the valve becomes opened, and air is passed through one or series of de Laval nozzle and to the brake assembly.