The invention relates to a method for reducing the overall power consumption of a parked vehicle, whereby said vehicle comprises a DC power network including two batteries connected in series and an equalizer circuit, whereby the equalizer circuit includes a DC/DC converter for converting an input voltage corresponding to the sum of the voltages of the two batteries into an output voltage to be applied to a first battery of the two batteries. The method consists in i) activating the DC/DC converter only when the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a first level below the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery; and u) keeping the DC/DC converter active until the State of Charge (SoC) of the first battery reaches a second level above the State of Charge (SoC) of the second battery.

The invention relates to a charging contact unit (100, 1100) for a vehicle, for integrating beneath a road surface, with a charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) designed to interact with a contact device on the lower side of a vehicle, the contact making and the contact separation being carried out by a relative movement of the charging contact element carrier head and the contact device in a contacting direction (6), the charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) being movable inside the charging contact unit and/or rotatable or pivotable about the contacting direction (6) in order to compare incorrect positioning in either one or a plurality of directions extending transversely to the contacting direction (6). The invention also relates to a contact system and a road covering.

The invention relates to a charging contact unit (100, 1100) for a vehicle, for integrating beneath a road surface, with a charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) designed to interact with a contact device on the lower side of a vehicle, the contact making and the contact separation being carried out by a relative movement of the charging contact element carrier head and the contact device in a contacting direction (6), the charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) being movable inside the charging contact unit and/or rotatable or pivotable about the contacting direction (6) in order to compare incorrect positioning in either one or a plurality of directions extending transversely to the contacting direction (6). The invention also relates to a contact system and a road covering.

An innovative power electronic control system suitable for various applications, such as for electric vehicles is provided. The system, in some embodiments, is configured for the purposes of on-board AC fast charging (e.g., single phase or multi-phase) when an object is not in use (e.g., a vehicle is stationary) and use as a drive (e.g., for a vehicle, an EV drivetrain) when in motion. The innovative power electronic control system enables, among others, the ability to obtain fast-charging from existing grid infrastructure.

An innovative power electronic control system suitable for various applications, such as for electric vehicles is provided. The system, in some embodiments, is configured for the purposes of on-board AC fast charging (e.g., single phase or multi-phase) when an object is not in use (e.g., a vehicle is stationary) and use as a drive (e.g., for a vehicle, an EV drivetrain) when in motion. The innovative power electronic control system enables, among others, the ability to obtain fast-charging from existing grid infrastructure.

A control method of a heat pump system for a vehicle may include a first cooling apparatus having a first radiator, a first water pump, an electrical component, a valve, and a branch line, which are connected by a first coolant line and circulate a first coolant by the first water pump to the electrical component; a second cooling apparatus including a second radiator and a second water pump connected by a second coolant line; and an air conditioning apparatus including a compressor, a heater, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger which are connected by a refrigerant line circulated with a refrigerant.

A control method of a heat pump system for a vehicle may include a first cooling apparatus having a first radiator, a first water pump, an electrical component, a valve, and a branch line, which are connected by a first coolant line and circulate a first coolant by the first water pump to the electrical component; a second cooling apparatus including a second radiator and a second water pump connected by a second coolant line; and an air conditioning apparatus including a compressor, a heater, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger which are connected by a refrigerant line circulated with a refrigerant.

A fuel cell system includes an air pump configured to supply air to a fuel cell, and a discharge flow rate determination unit which determines a discharge flow rate of the air pump when warming up the fuel cell, in accordance with a speed of a vehicle in which the fuel cell and the air pump are installed, or a required drive output of the vehicle. The discharge flow rate determination unit increases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and decreases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is less than the predetermined threshold value.

A fuel cell system includes an air pump configured to supply air to a fuel cell, and a discharge flow rate determination unit which determines a discharge flow rate of the air pump when warming up the fuel cell, in accordance with a speed of a vehicle in which the fuel cell and the air pump are installed, or a required drive output of the vehicle. The discharge flow rate determination unit increases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and decreases the discharge flow rate in the case that the speed or the required drive output is less than the predetermined threshold value.

Methods and systems are provided for a heat exchanger. In one example, the heat exchanger may dissipate energy generated by a battery module and may include a first plate and a second plate arranged in opposed facing relation to one another. A plurality of flow passages may be formed between the first and second plates, the plurality of flow passages including at least one multipass fluid flow passage with at least three longitudinally-extending legs.