A utility cart includes a stored energy device that can be in the form of a Lithium Ion battery pack. The battery pack can include a main power output useful to drive high voltage components as well as the electric motor for motive power. The battery pack can also include one or more auxiliary outputs useful to provide auxiliary power to various other components. The auxiliary outputs can be either low and/or high voltage outputs. An auxiliary DC/DC output can be used to step down high voltage of the Lithium ion battery pack to lower voltages. A motor controller supply can also be provided as an auxiliary output to provide some power to a motor controller.

An electric vehicle (1) has a battery (2) in an underfloor arrangement. The battery (2) is arranged in a battery space (4) that is delimited by body members (5, 6, 7, 8) of a body (3). The battery space (4) also is delimited at a bottom side of the electric vehicle (1) by way of a protective plate (9). The battery (2) has a connection element (10, 11) at least on a side oriented toward one of the body members (7, 8), and the body member (7, 8) has a recess (12, 13) in which the connection element (10, 11) is arranged.

An electric vehicle (1) has a battery (2) in an underfloor arrangement. The battery (2) is arranged in a battery space (4) that is delimited by body members (5, 6, 7, 8) of a body (3). The battery space (4) also is delimited at a bottom side of the electric vehicle (1) by way of a protective plate (9). The battery (2) has a connection element (10, 11) at least on a side oriented toward one of the body members (7, 8), and the body member (7, 8) has a recess (12, 13) in which the connection element (10, 11) is arranged.

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

An autonomous electric vehicle comprises a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor and a battery status prediction module to predict, based on event data from a mobile device of a user of the vehicle, whether the vehicle will be parked at a destination and a time period when the vehicle will be parked. The battery status prediction module predicts a predicted battery status at the end of the time period based on a temperature profile for the time period obtained from a remote weather server. The battery status prediction module determines if the predicted battery status at the end of the time period will have at least a minimum battery capacity to travel a distance to a charging station determined by the battery status prediction module from the destination and a location of the charging station.

An autonomous electric vehicle comprises a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor and a battery status prediction module to predict, based on event data from a mobile device of a user of the vehicle, whether the vehicle will be parked at a destination and a time period when the vehicle will be parked. The battery status prediction module predicts a predicted battery status at the end of the time period based on a temperature profile for the time period obtained from a remote weather server. The battery status prediction module determines if the predicted battery status at the end of the time period will have at least a minimum battery capacity to travel a distance to a charging station determined by the battery status prediction module from the destination and a location of the charging station.

A bicycle component is provided other than a rear derailleur and a drive unit. The bicycle component includes an electrical part, a rechargeable power source and a non-contact charging portion. The rechargeable power source is electrically connected to the electrical part. The non-contact charging portion is configured to wirelessly receive external electric power and to supply the external electric power to the rechargeable power source. A non-contact charging method is also provided for charging the rechargeable power source of the bicycle component.

A bicycle component is provided other than a rear derailleur and a drive unit. The bicycle component includes an electrical part, a rechargeable power source and a non-contact charging portion. The rechargeable power source is electrically connected to the electrical part. The non-contact charging portion is configured to wirelessly receive external electric power and to supply the external electric power to the rechargeable power source. A non-contact charging method is also provided for charging the rechargeable power source of the bicycle component.

A method for determining charging profiles for device batteries of battery-operated devices. In one instance, the method includes selecting device batteries having the same usage-related load and the same aging state; dividing the selected device batteries into groups; assigning different charging profiles to the groups of device batteries, wherein the charging profiles indicate for a charging operation a maximum permissible charging current depending on a charge level range; operating the device batteries of all groups with the respectively assigned charging profiles for a predetermined period of time, so that charging operations are executed depending on the respectively assigned charging profile; detecting a change in the average aging state for each group of device batteries between the beginning of the predetermined time period and the end of the predetermined time period; and adjusting the charging profile depending on the change in the average aging state.