Energy saving and sustainability have become hot topics nowadays. Electric transportation applications, such as electric vehicles, always pursue higher energy efficiency other than applications with secured power sources. Therefore, lots of research and development work have been carried out to pursue the energy efficiency, such as redesign the motor itself and/or, use electronic techniques. This invention deploys electronic techniques to pursue higher efficiency. To prove the idea and solutions, 2 prototypes using 2-phase and 3-phase PMBLDC motors have been built for the purpose. They disclose the methods to catch the residual energy from an armature and send it back to the rechargeable power sources without affecting the motor's running driven by switching manner. The implementation is simple and cheap. By recycling the residual energy, it extends the run time of battery systems, achieving higher energy efficiency. The benefit is huge, but not limited to, in economical and environmental fields.

Energy saving and sustainability have become hot topics nowadays. Electric transportation applications, such as electric vehicles, always pursue higher energy efficiency other than applications with secured power sources. Therefore, lots of research and development work have been carried out to pursue the energy efficiency, such as redesign the motor itself and/or, use electronic techniques. This invention deploys electronic techniques to pursue higher efficiency. To prove the idea and solutions, 2 prototypes using 2-phase and 3-phase PMBLDC motors have been built for the purpose. They disclose the methods to catch the residual energy from an armature and send it back to the rechargeable power sources without affecting the motor's running driven by switching manner. The implementation is simple and cheap. By recycling the residual energy, it extends the run time of battery systems, achieving higher energy efficiency. The benefit is huge, but not limited to, in economical and environmental fields.

A vehicle includes a boost converter configured to bypass or to convert a stack voltage and output the bypassed or converted stack voltage as a first voltage in response to a first control signal, a first switching unit configured to be switched in response to a first switching signal to form a main path to supply the first voltage to a battery, a buck converter configured to convert and output a level of the first voltage to the battery as a second voltage in response to a second control signal, a second switching unit configured to be switched in response to a second switching signal to form a bypass path to supply the second voltage to the battery, and a controller configured to inspect a level of voltage charged in the battery and generate the first and second control signals and the first and second switching signals based thereon.

A vehicle includes a boost converter configured to bypass or to convert a stack voltage and output the bypassed or converted stack voltage as a first voltage in response to a first control signal, a first switching unit configured to be switched in response to a first switching signal to form a main path to supply the first voltage to a battery, a buck converter configured to convert and output a level of the first voltage to the battery as a second voltage in response to a second control signal, a second switching unit configured to be switched in response to a second switching signal to form a bypass path to supply the second voltage to the battery, and a controller configured to inspect a level of voltage charged in the battery and generate the first and second control signals and the first and second switching signals based thereon.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system can include a control system for reducing or eliminating regenerative braking during a traction control or anti-lock braking event.

One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system can include a control system for reducing or eliminating regenerative braking during a traction control or anti-lock braking event.

A boundary layer ingestion-open rotor system for use with an aircraft having a fuselage, wings, and an empennage includes an open rotor assembly, one or more energy storage systems, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The open rotor assembly includes fan blades connected to and extending radially from a rotor hub, and a linkage assembly connecting the hub to the fuselage aft of the empennage within a predefined boundary layer of airflow around the fuselage. The energy storage systems are connectable to the rotor hub. In response to an electronic control signal, the system(s) selectively energize the open rotor assembly to cause rotation of the hub to occur within the boundary layer. The ECU selectively generates the electronic control signals to energize the open rotor assembly during one or more predetermined flight operating phases of the aircraft, e.g., cruise, takeoff, landing, and descent.

A boundary layer ingestion-open rotor system for use with an aircraft having a fuselage, wings, and an empennage includes an open rotor assembly, one or more energy storage systems, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The open rotor assembly includes fan blades connected to and extending radially from a rotor hub, and a linkage assembly connecting the hub to the fuselage aft of the empennage within a predefined boundary layer of airflow around the fuselage. The energy storage systems are connectable to the rotor hub. In response to an electronic control signal, the system(s) selectively energize the open rotor assembly to cause rotation of the hub to occur within the boundary layer. The ECU selectively generates the electronic control signals to energize the open rotor assembly during one or more predetermined flight operating phases of the aircraft, e.g., cruise, takeoff, landing, and descent.