A system and method generate a trip plan for a trip of a vehicle system along a route. The usage of an engine or fuel cell during the trip is determined based on engine operational parameters, energy storage device operational parameters, and one or more objectives of the trip desired to be achieved. The usage of the energy storage device during the trip is also determined based on the engine operational parameters, the energy storage device operational parameters, and the one or more objective, including when to charge or discharge the energy storage device during the trip.

Systems to wirelessly power transfer to a tailgate are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a transmitting circuit in a body of the vehicle configured to transmit power via wireless capacitive transfer. The example vehicle also includes a receiving circuit in a tailgate of the vehicle configured to receive power via wireless capacitive transfer.

Methods and systems are provided for a coupling device for a tractor and a trailer. In one example, a system, comprising a tractor comprising an engine, a motor, and an electrical energy storage device, a trailer comprising a battery bank and a power distribution unit, and a coupling configured to fixedly couple the trailer to the tractor and to electrically couple the power distribution unit to the electrical energy storage device.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for jump starting an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, an electric vehicle includes battery charging circuitry electrically connected to a high voltage storage system and a low voltage storage system mounted in the vehicle. The high voltage storage system may be configured to drive a motor for propelling the vehicle. The low voltage storage system may be configured to drive a contactor electrically connected between the high voltage storage system and a drive train of the vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle may include an electrical connection that is easily accessible and configured to supply power from an external power source to the low voltage system. The electrical connection may be integrated into a standard trailer wiring system.

A method, for a trailer brake control device of a vehicle trailer with an electric drive, includes receiving at least one acceleration request signal with a requested positive acceleration or a requested negative acceleration and further receiving a status signal with at least one status variable of the electric drive of the vehicle trailer. The method also includes generating, with a controller of the trailer brake control device, at least one brake actuation signal for at least one friction brake of the vehicle trailer and a torque request signal for the electric drive, each based on the at least one acceleration request signal and the status signal. Furthermore, the method includes outputting the brake actuation signal and the torque request signal via at least one output and/or at least one interface of the trailer brake control device.

A battery network management system (1) for swappable batteries (5) used in vehicles (9), the system (1) comprising: at least one swappable battery (5) to discharge electrical power to drive a vehicle (9); and a charging station (3) to receive the swappable battery (5). The charging station (3) charges the swappable battery (5) based on a first condition that the swappable battery (5) is authenticated by an authentication system (7); and a first code (8) is associated with the swappable battery (5) to attest the swappable battery (5) was charged by the charging station (3) based on the first condition. The at least one swappable battery (5) discharges electrical power to drive a vehicle (9) based on a second condition that: the swappable battery (5) is received in the vehicle (9) that is authenticated by the authentication system (7); and the authentication system (7) authenticates the first code (8).

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 trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, 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.

Through-the-road (TTR) hybrid designs using control strategies such as an equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) or an adaptive ECMS are implemented at the supplemental torque delivering electrically-powered drive axle (or axles) in a manner that follows operational parameters or computationally estimates states of the primary drivetrain and/or fuel-fed engine, but does not itself participate in control of the fuel-fed engine or primary drivetrain. BSFC type data particular to the paired-with fuel-fed engine allows an ECMS implementation (or other similar control strategy) to adapt to efficiency curves for the particular fuel-fed engine and to improve overall efficiencies of the TTR hybrid configuration.

A semitrailer includes a wheel and an electric machine for driving the wheel, wherein the electric machine is configured so as to be operable as an electromotive brake in a braking state.

A mobile power system may include an AC-DC converter configured to convert a grid AC signal to a power limited DC charging signal, and a DC-AC converter coupled to the AC-DC converter. The mobile power system may have a battery module configured to provide a DC power signal, and a switching circuit coupled between the battery module, and the AC-DC converter and the DC-AC converter. The switching circuit may include a first switch, and a first diode coupled in parallel to the first switch. The mobile power system also may include a controller coupled to the battery module and the switching circuit and configured to selectively switch the switching circuit between a first state, a second state, and a third state based upon a threshold voltage value from the battery module.