A propulsion control device includes: a first wire connectable to a power line supplied with direct-current power or a ground line connected to a reference potential; a second wire connectable to the power line or the ground line; and a brake chopper circuit in which a first switching element to which a first diode is connected in parallel and a second switching element to which a second diode is connected in parallel are connected in series, and in the brake chopper circuit, one end of the first switching element is connected to the first wire, another end of the first switching element is connected to one end of the second switching element at a connection point, another end of the second switching element is connected to the second wire, and the connection point is connected to the first wire or the second wire via a brake resistor.

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 a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle.

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 a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle.

A vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, has an electrodynamic braking apparatus with at least one brake resistor. The at least one brake resistor forms a portion of the vehicle body shell that is permanently closed and over which air flows on the exterior, in particular, during travel of the vehicle. In the alternative, the brake resistor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the permanently closed portion. The brake resistor conducts away heat outwardly to the environment via the permanently closed portion. There is also described a brake resistor for a vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, which is configured accordingly.

A vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, has an electrodynamic braking apparatus with at least one brake resistor. The at least one brake resistor forms a portion of the vehicle body shell that is permanently closed and over which air flows on the exterior, in particular, during travel of the vehicle. In the alternative, the brake resistor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the permanently closed portion. The brake resistor conducts away heat outwardly to the environment via the permanently closed portion. There is also described a brake resistor for a vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, which is configured accordingly.

An energy conversion device for a vehicle is particularly suited for a rail vehicle. The energy conversion device has, in at least one mode, a unit which operates as a generator unit and has at least one synchronous machine, and which has at least one energy discharge unit which is provided for discharging at least a portion of an electrical energy generated by the generator unit, and has at least one resistor unit. The novel energy discharge unit has at least one control unit which is provided to set operating modes from a set of operating modes in which the resistor unit makes available a different resistance value in each case.

An energy conversion device for a vehicle is particularly suited for a rail vehicle. The energy conversion device has, in at least one mode, a unit which operates as a generator unit and has at least one synchronous machine, and which has at least one energy discharge unit which is provided for discharging at least a portion of an electrical energy generated by the generator unit, and has at least one resistor unit. The novel energy discharge unit has at least one control unit which is provided to set operating modes from a set of operating modes in which the resistor unit makes available a different resistance value in each case.

An apparatus for dissipating braking energy generated by the operation of a vehicle brake. The apparatus includes a heating element configured to receive electric current generated by operation of the vehicle brake, the heating element arranged in a chamber for containing liquid. The apparatus is configured such that liquid contained in the chamber is heated in response to operation of the vehicle brake.

A vehicle unit comprising a vehicle control unit, VCU, an electrical energy storage system, and at least one electric machine arranged for regenerative braking, wherein the electric machine generates an electrical output current during regenerative braking, wherein the control unit is arranged to obtain a desired energy absorption capability value of the vehicle unit and to control an energy dissipation from the EESS to maintain an energy absorption capability of the EESS above the desired energy absorption capability value.

An electric regenerative braking system is provided for capturing kinetic energy as electrical potential energy during vehicle braking (also referred to as a braking event). The electric regenerative braking system captures the kinetic energy from a shaft of the vehicle using an electric motor to generate electrical potential energy from the kinetic energy. The generated electrical potential energy is supplied to an energy accumulator that increases in electrical resistance as more electrical potential energy is stored. The electrical potential energy stored in the energy accumulator is used to charge a battery. The electric regenerative braking system uses a controller having a variable resistor to control a braking torque of the electric motor. That is, the controller modulates a resistance of the variable resistor based on the resistance of the energy accumulator, such that the resistance of the variable resistor is reduced as the resistance of the energy accumulator increases.