Systems and methods are provided to modularizing a device. In various embodiments, the harness in provided that accommodates many different configurations of the modules. The harness may function as a single element that needs to be replaced and/or connected to accommodate different configurations of modules. The harness may be modular. In various embodiments, unused lines of the harness are capped. In various embodiments, the cap completes a circuit, so that the control system interprets the systems as functioning despite the unused line, whereas the control system may shutdown the system is the unused line is left uncapped. In various embodiments, the harness is used to send control signals to elements of parallel power systems that have high voltage systems that are electronically isolated from one another.

A service vehicle can have a service vehicle battery that can provide energy to, and/or receive energy from, a separate machine that is normally configured to operate based on energy provided by a battery of the machine. If a machine becomes unable to operate using the battery of the machine, the service vehicle can travel to the machine and use an energy transfer arm to transfer energy to the machine. In some situations, the service vehicle and the machine can travel together in a convoy formation, for instance to a maintenance station, while the service vehicle provides the machine with energy for driving operations of the machine.

A system can plan a route for a machine, such as an electric vehicle or other mobile machine, from a current location of the machine to a maintenance station where a service operation is to be performed on the machine. The service operation can be associated with a target state of charge (SoC) for a battery of the machine. The system can plan the route such that an expected energy consumption level, associated with traversal of the route by the machine, causes the SoC of the battery to satisfy the target SoC when the machine arrives at the maintenance station. The system can also dynamically adjust the route, charges of the battery, and/or machine operations performed along the route, during travel to cause the SoC of the battery to satisfy the target SoC when the machine arrives at the maintenance station.

Vehicle depots or yards adapted to charge multiple electric vehicles include multiple charging electrodes to simultaneously direct power to multiple electric vehicles. The charging electrodes may direct power to the electric vehicles from an utility grid or from a secondary power source.

A system for employing gravity to provide electrical power for mining operations in a mine includes a battery configured to power an electric vehicle. The vehicle includes a kinetic energy capture system that can charge the battery as the vehicle conveys a loaded vehicle down a ramp from an ore face to a chamber. Traveling down the ramp produces a surplus charge in the battery due to a weight differential between a loaded vehicle traveling down a ramp producing more energy via the kinetic energy capture system than energy used by the vehicle to convey the empty vehicle up the ramp to the ore face. A discharging device disposed in the chamber is configured to discharge the surplus energy out of the battery and into the mine's power grid. One or multiple trips between the ore face and the chamber may fully charge the battery.

The present invention relates to a method for switching power supply path of at least one electrical machine, said electrical machine being arranged to be selectively supplied power by a first power supply path and a second power supply path, respectively, by alternately opening and closing said power supply paths, said first and second power supply paths being arranged to connect a power supply source to a first connection terminal means of said electrical machine. The method includes, when switching from said first power supply path to said second power supply path: opening said first power supply path; by means of said electrical machine, controlling a terminal voltage of said first connection terminal means to substantially a power supply voltage of said second power supply path; and closing said second power supply path.

A motor vehicle electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of distribution sub-systems, an electrical power storage sub-system and a plurality of switching devices for selective connection of elements of and loads on the power distribution system to the electrical power storage sub-system. A state transition initiator provides inputs to control system operation of switching devices to change the states of the power distribution system. The state transition initiator has a plurality of positions selection of which can initiate a state transition. The state transition initiator can emulate a four position rotary ignition switch. Fail safe power cutoff switches provide high voltage switching device protection.

The invention relates to a work machine, in particular in the form of a dump truck or truck, having a diesel electric traction drive, wherein at least one alternator is or can be driven by at least one internal combustion engine of the work machine. In accordance with the invention, the current generation can also be reliably interruptible with a running internal combustion engine by interruption of the excitation circuit by means of a breaker switch.

A tactical transport cart manually navigable over both topographic and hydrographic terrains has a frame, a payload support on the frame, a hard point of attachment or connection on the frame or the payload support, a pair of wheels or other terrain-engaging transport propulsion members attached to the frame, a handle structure attached to the frame, at least one motor connected in driving relation to the transport propulsion members, a battery for providing motive power to the motor, and a control device connected between the battery and the motor for controlling supply of motive power to the motor. The frame, transport propulsion members and handle structure are cooperatively dimensioned and configured for movement of the cart over ground surfaces of topographic terrains and for partially and fully submerged movement over water-covered surfaces of hydrographic terrains.

A flexible charger network includes one or more chargers, each coupled to a processor, and is configured to perform the following operations: at power-up, a charger announces its presence to the network, and requests and awaits an acknowledgement by the network; and, if no acknowledgement is received from the network, that charger assumes a role of master of the network; or, if a response is received from the network, that charger acknowledges an existing master and assumes the role of slave within the network.