Systems, methods, and vehicles for closed-loop control of regenerative braking. The system includes, in one implementation, a regenerative braking subsystem and a vehicle controller. The vehicle controller is configured to command the regenerative braking subsystem to apply a first amount of regenerative braking torque. The vehicle controller is also configured to determine a current vehicle deceleration while the first amount of regenerative braking torque is applied. The vehicle controller is further configured to determine a difference between the current vehicle deceleration and a target vehicle deceleration. The vehicle controller is also configured to set a second amount of regenerative braking torque to reduce the difference between the current vehicle deceleration and the target vehicle deceleration. The vehicle controller is further configured to command the regenerative braking subsystem to apply the second amount of regenerative braking torque.

An electric power system includes an inverter device coupled with a motor. The inverter device receives from the motor electric energy generated by dynamic braking of the motor. An energy storage device is coupled with the inverter device, and a variable resistive component is disposed between the inverter device and the energy storage device. The variable resistive component controls a direction of conduction of the electric energy from the inverter device toward the energy storage device, a resistive grid, or a system load. The variable resistive component controls the direction of conduction of the electric energy from the inverter device based on a first amount of the electric energy conducted from the inverter device, a transfer rate of the electric energy conducted from the inverter device, or one or more characteristics of the energy storage device.

In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.

A rail-guided vehicle system connecting between vertically-spaced floors includes a descending rail to enable a travel vehicle to move downward. The descending rail has a helical structure and includes a rail in a first section where energy is generated when a brake included in the travel vehicle works and a rail in a second section where energy that has been generated when a travel vehicle traveled in the first section is consumed.

A rail-guided vehicle system connecting between vertically-spaced floors includes a descending rail to enable a travel vehicle to move downward. The descending rail has a helical structure and includes a rail in a first section where energy is generated when a brake included in the travel vehicle works and a rail in a second section where energy that has been generated when a travel vehicle traveled in the first section is consumed.

A driveline for a vehicle includes a set of electric machines with variable regeneration efficiency level. The driveline includes a cooling system connected to each electric machine to remove heat generated by each electric machine. The driveline includes a control system adapted to receive status information of a current status of the driveline and for at least one, preferably each one, of the electric machines: receive braking torque information indicative of a requested braking torque to be produced by the electric machine; in response to the braking torque and the status information, determine a target relation between the electric energy and the thermal energy produced by the electric machine; control the electric machine to obtain the requested braking torque and the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy, and control the cooling system in response to the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy.

A driveline for a vehicle includes a set of electric machines with variable regeneration efficiency level. The driveline includes a cooling system connected to each electric machine to remove heat generated by each electric machine. The driveline includes a control system adapted to receive status information of a current status of the driveline and for at least one, preferably each one, of the electric machines: receive braking torque information indicative of a requested braking torque to be produced by the electric machine; in response to the braking torque and the status information, determine a target relation between the electric energy and the thermal energy produced by the electric machine; control the electric machine to obtain the requested braking torque and the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy, and control the cooling system in response to the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy.

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.

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.

A brake controller of a machine can be configured to determine brake power associated with braking operations, such as operations to slow the machine or maintain a speed of the machine. The brake controller can allocate the brake power among systems such as a battery system, a resistive grid, auxiliary systems, a mechanical brake system, and/or other systems, based on a defined priority order of the systems. For example, the brake controller can prioritize using a regenerative brake system to charge a battery system during a braking operation up to a currently-available capacity of the battery system, and allocating any remaining brake power to a lower-priority system. The mechanical brake system can be the lowest-priority system, such that use of the mechanical brake system can be avoided unless an amount of brake power exceeds capacities of higher-priority systems to consume the brake power.