The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for analyzing health of vehicle batteries. Vehicle batteries tend to degrade over time. The described systems, devices, and methods quantify this degradation (or quantify remaining health of the battery) by comparing average energy used to charge or discharge the battery by a charge level unit to a nominal quantity of energy used to charge or discharge a battery in optimal health by a charge level unit. Charge data for previous charge events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified charge events based on at least one of a number of metrics. Usage data for previous usage events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified usage events or subgroups of usage event based on at least one of a number of metrics.

The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for analyzing health of vehicle batteries. Vehicle batteries tend to degrade over time. The described systems, devices, and methods quantify this degradation (or quantify remaining health of the battery) by comparing average energy used to charge or discharge the battery by a charge level unit to a nominal quantity of energy used to charge or discharge a battery in optimal health by a charge level unit. Charge data for previous charge events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified charge events based on at least one of a number of metrics. Usage data for previous usage events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified usage events or subgroups of usage event based on at least one of a number of metrics.

This disclosure details systems and methods for supporting and protecting vehicle underbody-mounted battery packs. An exemplary electrified vehicle may include a frame, a battery support structure mounted to the frame, and a battery pack. The battery pack is supported relative to the frame by the battery support structure but is not itself directly coupled to the frame. The battery support structure may be configured to provide an under-frame mounting configuration, cross member positioning, skid plate positioning for battery pack protection, weight optimized sub-components, unique shapes for ground clearances, etc.

A drive system comprises a DC-DC converter that is arranged to receive an input voltage from a battery having a nominal battery voltage. The DC-DC converter has a first mode of operation in which the DC-DC converter generates a regulated output voltage from the input voltage and supplies the regulated output voltage to a load, and a second mode of operation in which the DC-DC converter is by-passed such that the input voltage from the battery is supplied to the load. A controller is arranged to compare the input voltage to a threshold voltage that is less than the nominal battery voltage. The controller operates the DC-DC converter in the first mode when the input voltage is less than the threshold voltage, and operates the DC-DC converter otherwise.

A vehicle underbody structure includes a pair of rockers that are provided on both vehicle width direction sides of a vehicle underbody and extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a battery that is disposed centrally in a vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed above a vehicle floor and on the lower side of a seat, a fuel tank that is disposed in the vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed under the vehicle floor and further toward a rear side of the vehicle than the battery, and a waste pipe that is coupled to a drive unit provided at a vehicle front side of the battery and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction between the battery and one of the rockers.

Systems and methods may coordinate and provide bidirectional energy transfer events between electrified vehicles and other vehicles, devices, and/or structures. A power outage map can automatically be generated in response to a power outage condition of a grid power source. Both a power outage zone and a predicted power outage zone may be identified within the power outage map. A notification, alternative drive route recommendation, etc. may be sent to users of the bidirectional energy transfer system who are operating their vehicles near the power outage zone or the predicted power outage zone.

Systems and methods for dynamic charger reservations are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an initial reservation for an electric vehicle to receive a charge from a charging entity at a first place at a first time. The method also includes calculating an estimated time of arrival and an arrival state of charge of at a reservation time. The method further includes detecting a grid event that changes the first cost for the charging entity. The method yet further includes generating a revised reservation for the electric vehicle. The method includes generating an initial compensation offer based on the estimated time of arrival and the arrival state of charge. The method also includes providing the revised reservation and the initial compensation offer to a user. The method further includes updating the initial reservation to the revised reservation in response to receiving a confirmation from the user.

Systems and methods for flexible charger reservations are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes providing, from a charging entity, a user a flexible charger option for charging an electric vehicle at a first place at a first time. The flexible charger option is associated with a flexible charger compensation offer including a user benefit. The method includes generating an initial reservation for the user at the first place and the first time. The initial reservation is associated with a first cost for the charging entity. The method includes providing the user with the user benefit in response to the user selecting the flexible charger option. The method includes detecting a grid event that changes the first cost for the charging entity. The method includes generating a revised reservation for the electric vehicle associated with a second cost for the charging entity that is less than the first cost.

Stations for a drone are described as well as a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property using one or more drones. The drone is launched from a docking station and configured to navigate the property to perform operations to monitor the property. The docking station is located at an area of the property. The docking station includes a landing surface that is parallel to a particular area of the property that supports the docking station. A positioning surface of the docking station slopes toward the landing surface. The positioning surface, including its slope, is configured to receive the drone and guide the drone toward the landing surface.

An electrified tractor includes a vehicle body, a working machine, an electric motor, a battery, an inverter that controls input-output electric power of the battery. The electrified tractor includes a control device that controls the inverter. The control device executes a restriction process, a charging rate calculation process and a relaxation process. In the restriction process, the control device controls the inverter such that the input and output of the battery is restricted within a prescribed electric power range, when a state of the battery satisfies a restriction condition. In the charging rate calculation process, the control device calculates a charging rate of the battery when it is assumed that a work is finished in a farming field, as an estimated charging rate. In the relaxation process, the control device expands the prescribed electric power range, when the estimated charging rate is higher than a first prescribed charging rate.