In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for operating a vehicle system comprising a motor, a battery, and a controller. The vehicle system is configured to provide at least one of regenerative braking wherein the motor operates to charge the battery and propulsion wherein the motor uses electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle. The method includes, at the controller, determining an effective motor power at a motor speed and a motor torque. The effective motor power is determined based at least in part on a calculated motor power and an electrical power loss of the motor corresponding to the motor speed and the motor torque. The method further includes causing the motor to apply the motor torque to a wheel of the vehicle upon the effective motor power satisfying an operating condition of the vehicle system.

A trailer for towing a power vehicle is provided and generally includes a frame and a self propelled tandem wheel assembly. The frame includes an undercarriage chassis, and the self propelled tandem wheel assembly is positioned under the undercarriage chassis. The self propelled tandem wheel assembly includes a rear wheel assembly and a front wheel assembly, and the rear wheel assembly and the front wheel assembly are equally positioned to support the undercarriage chassis.

An electric vehicle includes a lateral self-stabilization system and may further include a fore-aft self-stabilization system. The lateral self-stabilization system may include a controller configured to cause an actuator to laterally tilt a frame of the vehicle based on sensed information relating to an orientation of the vehicle, or portion thereof, about a roll axis. The frame of the vehicle may include any suitable structure configured to be laterally tilted by the actuator relative to an axle of the vehicle. The fore-aft stabilization system may include a motor controller configured to drive a motor of the vehicle based on sensed information relating to a pitch angle of the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle is a robotic vehicle.

A vehicle drive unit for a vehicle for omnidirectional driving of the vehicle. The vehicle drive unit includes a vehicle platform, a drive platform, and at least two wheels arranged on the drive platform, one drive unit being provided per wheel to drive the wheel. A controllable self-locking steering actuator is arranged between the drive platform and the vehicle platform. The steering actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and is used to rotate the vehicle platform and the drive platform relative to one another, the steering actuator allowing a temporary blocking of the rotation. At least three pivoting wheels are arranged on the vehicle platform for vehicle stabilisation, each being rotatable about its own wheel axis and about its own vertical axis. A vehicle having a vehicle drive unit is also provide.

Provided is a wheel bearing apparatus with a generator that can have a simplified structure to reduce costs and is capable of preventing electrolytic corrosion. The wheel bearing apparatus with a generator includes a wheel bearing and a generator. The generator includes a stator attached to a fixed wheel and a motor rotor attached to a rotating wheel and is of an outer-rotor type in which the stator is located on an outer periphery of the wheel bearing, and the motor rotor is located radially outside of the stator. The wheel bearing apparatus with the generator further includes at least one conducting unit that conducts a current between the fixed wheel and the rotating wheel.

A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator and a rotor and a drive hub. The rotor is moveable relative to the stator and a gap is defined between the rotor and the stator. A lubricant is disposed within the gap to support the rotor relative to the stator and provide a bearing mechanism. The drive hub is coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the drive hub. The drive hub may be connected to the rotor via a coupler member that is torsionally stiff and axially and radially compliant. The stator may be fixed relative to a connection structure that extends radially within the stator. The connection member may support the drive hub for rotation. Lubricant is supplied via a passageway extending through the connection member into a chamber that includes the gap.

Motorized wheel structure includes a motor unit equipped with a stator case, a motor reduction unit operatively connected to the motor unit, and a fixing bracket for fastening the motorized wheel structure to an external device. The motorized wheel structure envisages that the motor reduction unit is equipped at one own end with a substantially circular coupling seat in which a first coupling area and a second coupling area are defined, the fixing bracket is equipped with an annular portion removably coupled in correspondence with the first coupling area of the coupling seat and the stator case is installed passing through the annular portion of the fixing bracket and is removably coupled in correspondence with the second coupling area of the coupling seat.

A personal vehicle system including a control system and at least one wheel motor coupled to the personal vehicle system and subject to control by the control system. A control system for a personal vehicle system including steps for calibrating the control system, where the control system includes a sensor system having load sensors incorporated into the personal vehicle system and also having lean forward and lean backward outputs, a user interface that prompts a user to lean forward and backward and allows a user to input a sensitivity value, and an electronic hardware component for calculating a normalization value where the wheel motor current is controlled as a function of the normalization value.

The invention relates to an in-wheel motor (100) comprising a rotor (110A, 110B) coaxially surrounding a stator (102), the stator comprising electromagnets (104), the electromagnets in working producing heat, the heat at least in part removed from the stator by gas, characterized in that the motor comprises an electric fan (150) internal to the rotor for displacing the gas.

Electric vehicles include adjustable battery positions and/or adjustable track widths for controlling vehicle stability. In some examples, an electric vehicle comprises a positioning mechanism configured to move the battery pack relative to the support structure (e.g., operable as the vehicle's frame) to change the vehicle's COG. The battery pack can be moved in response to other vehicle operations, e.g., COG changes caused by adding/moving loads, changes to the route grade, and the like. The battery pack can be slidably coupled to the support structure. In some examples, an electric vehicle comprises a track adjustment mechanism configured to move the vehicle's wheel axle relative to the support structure, along the wheel axle center axis, thereby changing the track width. The wheel axle can be coupled to a hub motor. In some examples, the battery is moved, and/or the track width is changed during the vehicle's operation.