A rail installation has an overhead line in the region of a stop and at least one rail vehicle with a current collector for making contact with the overhead line. The overhead line has a central part having a limited, predefined length and an adjoining end portion. The central part has a substantially constant predefined height above a rail. The end portion has a height that increases outward from the central part. The current collector of the rail vehicle is raised and matched to the overhead line such that, as the rail vehicle enters the stop, sliding strips of the current collector have a height above the rail that is at least equal to the substantially constant height of the central part of the overhead line, and that is at most equal to the greatest height of the raised first end portion of the overhead line above the rail.

In a method for operating a production plant having a vehicle and at least one charging point, and in a production plant having a vehicle for carrying out the method: in a first method step, the vehicle drives to the charging point; in a second method step, the vehicle is rotated, in particular with the aid of the omnidirectional drive or the differential drive; in a third method step, the vehicle moves on; and electrical energy is inductively transmitted from the charging point to the vehicle during the second method step.

In a method for operating a production plant having a vehicle and at least one charging point, and in a production plant having a vehicle for carrying out the method: in a first method step, the vehicle drives to the charging point; in a second method step, the vehicle is rotated, in particular with the aid of the omnidirectional drive or the differential drive; in a third method step, the vehicle moves on; and electrical energy is inductively transmitted from the charging point to the vehicle during the second method step.

Electrified roadway systems include a roadway, and vehicles configured to operate on the roadway. The roadway has a base, and two electrically-conductive rails mounted on the base. One of the rails is electrically connected to a source of electric power, and the other rail is electrically connected to an electrical ground. The vehicles include non-electrically-conductive tires, and an electric motor mechanically connected to, and configured to rotate at least one of the tires to propel the vehicle along the roadway. The vehicles draw electric power from the roadway via two electrical pickups. The electrical pickups are configured to move between a deployed position at which the pickups contact the respective rails, and a retracted position at which the pickups are out of contact with the rails.

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

A method is for maintenance of a ground-level power supply for a transport vehicle. The device includes: a power supply rail, a detector of spatial coordinates of a vehicle; and a power supply shoe. The device and the shoe equip the same vehicle. The supply shoe includes a vibration sensor. The method includes measuring vibrations of the shoe and simultaneously detecting spatial coordinates of the vehicle during the movement of the vehicle along the rail, followed by comparing measured vibrations of the shoe with a threshold value, and determining spatial coordinates corresponding to vibrations above the threshold value.

A method is for maintenance of a ground-level power supply for a transport vehicle. The device includes: a power supply rail, a detector of spatial coordinates of a vehicle; and a power supply shoe. The device and the shoe equip the same vehicle. The supply shoe includes a vibration sensor. The method includes measuring vibrations of the shoe and simultaneously detecting spatial coordinates of the vehicle during the movement of the vehicle along the rail, followed by comparing measured vibrations of the shoe with a threshold value, and determining spatial coordinates corresponding to vibrations above the threshold value.

An installation for recharging an energy storage means, such as a battery of an electric vehicle, by conduction of energy from an electric power source to the energy storage means, where the battery is electrically connected to an on-board device and provided with a plurality of electric contacts, and on the ground, a ground device, combined with the on-board device, is connected to the electric power source and includes a plurality of electric contacts, each electric contact of the ground device being able to be put into contact with a corresponding contact of the on-board device, and the installation being able to safely apply an electric recharging power issued by the electric power source to the battery, where the plurality of electric contacts of the on-board device and of the ground device exclusively includes a phase contact and neutral contact.

An installation for recharging an energy storage means, such as a battery of an electric vehicle, by conduction of energy from an electric power source to the energy storage means, where the battery is electrically connected to an on-board device and provided with a plurality of electric contacts, and on the ground, a ground device, combined with the on-board device, is connected to the electric power source and includes a plurality of electric contacts, each electric contact of the ground device being able to be put into contact with a corresponding contact of the on-board device, and the installation being able to safely apply an electric recharging power issued by the electric power source to the battery, where the plurality of electric contacts of the on-board device and of the ground device exclusively includes a phase contact and neutral contact.