An energy management system for a recreational vehicle incudes a housing; a plurality of outputs, each output having an associated electrical parameter; and a circuit assembly arranged within the housing. The circuit assembly includes a power converter configured to receive AC power and supply DC power to one or more of the outputs; a plurality of relays, each relay being associated with a corresponding output; and a controller configured to configured to perform a load shedding operation in response to a first load condition being satisfied. The first load condition requires that a total parameter is equal to or above a first predetermined load threshold, the total parameter being a total value of the associated electrical parameters of the outputs. The load shedding operation sequentially opens any closed relays according to a predetermined opening scheme until the total parameter is below the first predetermined load threshold.

A control unit (56) for a vehicle (10) with an electric drive (12) and an electromechanically actuated brake unit (14) includes a high-voltage DC link (20) disconnectably connected to a first energy store (24) of the electric drive (12), a converter (18) connected to the high-voltage DC link (20) and operable bidirectionally, and an electric motor (16) connected to the converter (18) for driving a wheel (50) of the vehicle (10). A brake drive circuit (36) is connected to the high-voltage DC link (20), and another electric motor (34), is connected to the brake drive circuit (36). A function block (55) has an input (69) for receiving a voltage signal (68) indicative of the voltage of the high-voltage DC link (20), a first output (63) for outputting a converter drive signal (60), and a first closed-loop controller unit (66) for generating the converter drive signal (60).

Battery-powered electrified vehicles towing one or more trailers carrying additional rechargeable batteries results in a multi-battery system for which the act of charging the batteries becomes more challenging. A vehicle driver assistance system hereof aids a driver for identifying recharging stations meeting a desired recharging objective for the combined vehicle/trailer having a main battery and a secondary battery to be recharged. The system guides the driver to a parking location and provides instructions for obtaining a hookup to a recharging station.

The present invention relates to a wind powered, electrical power generating system for vehicles. The system uses inexhaustible and clean wind energy to produce electrical power for an electric vehicle. The system includes at least one wind turbine positioned to capture wind and coupled to an electromechanical generator for converting the wind into electrical power. The electrical power produced by the generator is stored in a battery pack, for providing electrical power to the DC motor of the vehicle. The battery pack includes three batteries, which either provide power to the DC motor, or are recharged by the generator, depending on their respective power levels. An auto change component swaps the first battery for the second battery, when the power level of the first battery falls below a predefined threshold value.

A driver assistance system aids a driver in charging one or more trailer-mounted batteries in a trailer being towed by an electrified passenger vehicle. Many existing charging facilities for electric vehicles have charging stalls with a layout configured to accommodate single vehicles. Charging facilities having drive-through or elongated charging stalls able to accommodate larger vehicles which are towing an electrified trailer are much scarcer. When attempting to charge a trailer-mounted battery in a charging stall meant for a single vehicle, it may be necessary to unhitch (i.e., decouple) the trailer while in the charging stall so that the passenger vehicle does not block the aisles of a charging station. Sensors in the vehicle perform a sensor sweep of a selected charging stall, and after unhitching, the trailer uses an independent drive system to park itself in the selected charging stall using driving commands which are calculated from the sensor sweep.

A trailer to be attached to a cycle such as a bicycle, or a trailer-cycle set includes a device for controlling the steering and speed or deceleration of the trailer according to input control commands, the controlling device being equipped with means for measuring signals representing the longitudinal force and transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer, the measuring means comprising sensors, including at least one deformation sensor for measuring the signal representing the longitudinal force applied by the cycle to the trailer and two sensors on the wheels of the trailer for measuring the signals representing the transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer.

The disclosure relates to a method for exchanging electrical energy between an energy-storage unit in a vehicle, operated by a vehicle operator, and an energy-user. The energy-storage unit has been configured to store electrical energy long-term. An electrical connection between the energy-storage unit and the energy-user can be configured to exchange energy. In accordance with the disclosure, there is provision that an exchange of energy from the energy-user into the energy-storage unit of the vehicle in a first energy-transmission direction, or from the energy-storage unit of the vehicle to the energy-user in a second energy-transmission direction, takes place, in order to provide an energy service by the vehicle operator. The exchange of energy takes place as a function of an energy price, set by the vehicle operator, for the energy service. The energy price is ascertained as a function of a storage-unit status of the at least one energy-storage unit.

A method includes controlling an electrified vehicle by modifying a state of charge (SOC) window associated with an energy storage device of the electrified vehicle in response to a reverse driving event or a trailer towing event.

An alarm system for detecting a gas leakage from a vehicle is provided. The alarm system includes a control unit and one or more gas leakage sensors configured to be temporarily arranged on or at the vehicle. The control unit is arranged to obtain information indicating locations of the one or more gas leakage sensors while temporarily arranged on or at the vehicle. The control unit is also arranged to identify, upon generate a warning alert signal in the alarm system, the location of a gas leakage sensor based on the obtained information as the gas leakage sensor detects a gas leakage.

A trailer can be configured to selectively provide powered wheels, energy recovery, and/or parasitic power source charging. A trailer-related trigger (drive activation trigger, an energy recovery trigger, or a parasitic charging trigger) can be detected. When a drive activation trigger is detected, one or more motors can be activated to power one or more wheels of the trailer, thereby providing extra pushing power. When an energy recovery trigger is detected, one or more power sources of the trailer can be charged by recovering energy from the trailer. When a parasitic charging trigger is detected, one or more power sources of the trailer can be charged using a portion of the power generated by a main vehicle operatively connected to the trailer.