A vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine coupled to the engine and configured to convert the mechanical power to electrical power. The vehicle also includes a battery to exchange electrical power with the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to receive user inputs indicative of a desired storage duration and a storage location and monitor a battery state of charge (SOC) while the vehicle is stored. The controller is also programmed to prompt a remote user to approve an engine auto-start in response to the SOC depleting to less than a predetermined threshold during storage, and to auto-start the engine to generate power to recharge the battery in response to remote user approval. The controller is further programmed to inhibit the auto-start of the engine in response to the vehicle being stored in an enclosed storage location.

A vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine coupled to the engine and configured to convert the mechanical power to electrical power. The vehicle also includes a battery to exchange electrical power with the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to receive user inputs indicative of a desired storage duration and a storage location and monitor a battery state of charge (SOC) while the vehicle is stored. The controller is also programmed to prompt a remote user to approve an engine auto-start in response to the SOC depleting to less than a predetermined threshold during storage, and to auto-start the engine to generate power to recharge the battery in response to remote user approval. The controller is further programmed to inhibit the auto-start of the engine in response to the vehicle being stored in an enclosed storage location.

A power flywheel motor is generally disclosed. In use, a flywheel assembly includes at least one motor-generator and a housing adapted to receive the flywheel assembly. The flywheel assembly is rotatable in the housing about a central axis. The motor-generator is configured to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy associated with a rotation of the flywheel assembly.

A method for operating at least one electromechanical actuator of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuator is designed to convert mechanical power into electrical power during operation of the motor vehicle in stochastic feed-in processes as a function of a feed-in efficiency predetermined by a feed-in operating point of the actuator, which electrical power is fed into an energy storage device of the motor vehicle, includes detecting the start of a feed-in process by a means of detection and, at the start of the feed-in process, setting a feed-in operating point of the actuator, wherein the feed-in efficiency is 50% or less.

A self powered system for EV's using kinetic energy from the non motorized wheels. Rotation/Motion from the non motorized wheels is transferred via shafts to gearboxes which increases the rotational speed, this energy is then transferred via high speed shafts into alternators. The alternators then converts this energy to electricity which is sent to the vehicles 12 v battery, the ignition, and to DC/DC converters. The DC/DC converters increases the voltage output to charge the high voltage battery. The system also contains a separate charge port with an AC/DC converter for additional charging options. Electricity stored in the high voltage battery goes through DC/AC inverter(s) to power the electric motor(s). The electric motor(s) then turns the differential creating propulsion via the remaining wheel(s).

A flywheel assembly 10 comprises at least one flywheel mass support 14 that has a shaft 19 that extends along a rotational axis 18 about which the support 14 can rotate in use and a flywheel mass 12. The support 14 comprises a plurality of openings 24 that are each offset from the rotational axis 18. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of openings 16 that are each arranged to align with a corresponding opening in the support. The flywheel mass 12 is coupled to the support 14 so that the mass 12 can rotate with the support 14 in use. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of generally planar flywheel mass elements sandwiched together to form a stack of elements by fixing elements 23 that extend through the aligned openings in the mass elements and the support 14.

A flywheel assembly 10 comprises at least one flywheel mass support 14 that has a shaft 19 that extends along a rotational axis 18 about which the support 14 can rotate in use and a flywheel mass 12. The support 14 comprises a plurality of openings 24 that are each offset from the rotational axis 18. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of openings 16 that are each arranged to align with a corresponding opening in the support. The flywheel mass 12 is coupled to the support 14 so that the mass 12 can rotate with the support 14 in use. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of generally planar flywheel mass elements sandwiched together to form a stack of elements by fixing elements 23 that extend through the aligned openings in the mass elements and the support 14.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.