A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user, or displayed on a collection, charging and distribution machine. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map on a user's mobile device relative to the user's current location. The user may use their mobile device select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device. The system nay also warn the user that the user is near an edge of the pre-determined area having portable electrical energy storage device collection, charging and distribution machines. Reservations may also be made automatically based on information regarding a potential route of a user.

Provided is an electric power system capable of rapidly slowing an electric motor and quickly discharging a capacitor when an abnormality occurs. If an abnormality detection device detects an abnormality, a control device of an electric power system performs a switching control that alternately switches between an upper arm three-phase short-circuit control that sets all upper arms to a conductive state and sets all lower arms to a non-conductive state, and a lower arm three-phase short-circuit control that sets all upper arms to a non-conductive state and sets all lower arms to a conductive state. When switching between the two short-circuit controls, a conduction overlap period in which the conductive state of said upper arms and the conductive state of said lower arms overlap may be generated.

An inverter device includes a connection device and a housing in which an inverter circuit, a switching device and a control device are accommodated. The inverter circuit is connected to a direct current (DC) circuit and to an electric machine via the connection device, and the switching device is connected to the DC circuit and to resistor via the connection device. The inverter circuit is actuated by the control device to operate the electric machine, and the switching device is actuated by the control device to selectively energize one of the resistor or the DC circuit via the inverter circuit.

A method for energy management of an electric energy storage of an electric vehicle comprising at least one electric machine. The method includes determining a potential regenerative charging amount for the electric energy storage during an upcoming braking cycle for the electric vehicle; before reaching the braking cycle, generating driving torque using at least one electric machine while at the same time generating a braking torque using a brake generating device to discharge the electric energy storage sufficient to receive the potential regenerative charging amount at the upcoming braking cycle, wherein the generated driving torque corresponds to the sum of a demanded driving torque and the generated braking torque.

An electric energy dissipating system for a vehicle. An air flow producing unit provides a pressurized air flow through a fluid conduit. A polyphase electric machine runs on a predefined number of phases. The air flow producing unit is mechanically connected to, and operated by, the electric machine. An electric brake resistor arrangement is located downstream of the air flow producing unit, and comprises one resistor unit for each one of said phases. An electric power system is configured to receive electric power generated by an electric traction motor during braking of the vehicle. The power system comprises an inverter which converts a DC input into a polyphase AC output. The electric machine and the resistor arrangement are electrically connected to the inverter in parallel, such that each phase of the AC output of the inverter is connected to a respective phase of the electric machine and to a respective resistor unit, in parallel.

An electric energy dissipating system for a vehicle. An air flow producing unit provides a pressurized air flow through a fluid conduit. A polyphase electric machine runs on a predefined number of phases. The air flow producing unit is mechanically connected to, and operated by, the electric machine. An electric brake resistor arrangement is located downstream of the air flow producing unit, and comprises one resistor unit for each one of said phases. An electric power system is configured to receive electric power generated by an electric traction motor during braking of the vehicle. The power system comprises an inverter which converts a DC input into a polyphase AC output. The electric machine and the resistor arrangement are electrically connected to the inverter in parallel, such that each phase of the AC output of the inverter is connected to a respective phase of the electric machine and to a respective resistor unit, in parallel.

A braking controller arrangement, a drive system, a vehicle, and a method of control. The braking controller arrangement includes a link circuit, a first semiconductor, a second semiconductor, a third semiconductor, a fourth semiconductor, and a resistor. The link circuit is electrically connected to terminals of a battery. The semiconductors are configured to be operated with a duty cycle of 50%.

A system comprising resistive circuit legs coupled with and disposed between (a) a converter that converts electric current for a motor of a powered system and (b) a source of electric current for powering the motor, each of the circuit legs including a braking resistor coupled with the converter, a contactor coupled with the braking resistor such that the braking resistor is between the converter and the contactor, and a semiconductor switch coupled with the contactor such that the contactor is between the semiconductor switch and the braking resistor, where, during a regenerative braking mode of operation of the powered system, the regenerated energy from the motor is conducted to the braking resistor and dissipated as heat.

A system comprising resistive circuit legs coupled with and disposed between (a) a converter that converts electric current for a motor of a powered system and (b) a source of electric current for powering the motor, each of the circuit legs including a braking resistor coupled with the converter, a contactor coupled with the braking resistor such that the braking resistor is between the converter and the contactor, and a semiconductor switch coupled with the contactor such that the contactor is between the semiconductor switch and the braking resistor, where, during a regenerative braking mode of operation of the powered system, the regenerated energy from the motor is conducted to the braking resistor and dissipated as heat.

In a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system, phase currents can be used to calculate a current that produces no shaft torque and only motor losses and a current that only produces shaft torque. These currents can be controlled to be resupplied into the motor drive system to a desired amount on a continuous basis to maintain a DC energy storage device voltage at a desired safe level. The calculated currents are resupplied to the motor drive system such that voltage levels within the DC energy storage device that approach a voltage maximum limit are transferred to the motor in the form of current that is dissipated by the motor without losing efficiency and control of driving a load with the motor.