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.

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of modules that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

A vehicle brake control apparatus includes a vibration detector configured to detect a predetermined vibration state in a frictional brake device, a power regeneration execution determination unit configured to determine, in a case where the predetermined vibration state is detected by the vibration detector, whether to permit execution of power regeneration by a power generating device or to limit the execution, a pressing force controller configured to change, in a case where the execution of the power regeneration is limited by the power regeneration execution determination unit, a pressing force of a friction material in the frictional brake device, and a driving force cooperative controller configured to adjust a driving force of a vehicle to suppress fluctuation in forward acceleration or backward acceleration of the vehicle associated with a change in the pressing force by the pressing force controller.

A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, responsive to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a first threshold for a predetermined time period or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle being greater than a second threshold, transition the powertrain from a nominal driving mode to a performance driving mode. The controller is also programmed to, responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the nominal mode, maintain a power output of the electric machine at a driver demanded power defined by the accelerator pedal position. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the performance driving mode, reduce a power output of the electric machine to less than the driver demanded power.

On satisfaction of conditions to shift to scavenging control in response to a stop request of an engine, a hybrid vehicle performs engine power limitation control that limits the power output from the engine with an engine upper limit power as an upper limit.

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of modules that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

In a vehicle (10) comprising a first rotating electric machine (3) that serves as a driving source for running the vehicle (10) and that exchanges electric power with a battery (6), and an engine (2) that serves as the driving source, a first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is disposed on a first power transmission path from the first rotating electric machine (3) to a driving wheel, and a second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is disposed on a second power transmission path from the engine (2) to the driving wheel. A first running mode in which the vehicle (10) is driven by power of the engine (2) in a state where the second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is engaged, and another running mode in which the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is engaged and the second connecting/disconnecting mechanism (30) is disengaged are set for the vehicle (10). A control unit (5) includes: a connecting/disconnecting mechanism controller (5D) that disengages the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the first running mode; and a rotating electric machine controller (5E) that variably controls a standby rotation speed (Nw) of the first rotating electric machine (3) when the first connecting/disconnecting mechanism (20) is disengaged.

A control device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The control device is basically provided with a controller. The controller is configured to be connected to at least one component of the human-powered vehicle such that the controller is free from executing normal activation of the at least one component in accordance to a first input in a first mode. The controller is configured to operate at least one of an actuator and an indicator in accordance to the first input in a second mode. The first mode is switched into the second mode in accordance to a second input different from the first input.

Self-propelled vehicles that include swiveling caster wheels and independent drive wheels are disclosed. The self-propelled vehicles are selectively steered in a caster wheel steering mode or a drive wheel steering mode. The vehicle includes a steering position sensor to measure the position of the steering system. A control unit varies the rotational speed of first and second drive wheels based at least in part of the signal from the steering position sensor.

Embodiments described herein relate to the field of transport, particularly motor vehicles. A motor with predictive adjustment is described, as well as a motor controller of a vehicle, which is capable of automatically adjusting a physical parameter of a motor, such as the width of the air gap of an electric motor. A motor of a vehicle can include at least one physical parameter capable of being adjusted according to characteristic data predicted from the current path of the vehicle based on data provided by at least one vehicle motor sensor. Thus, the motor can be automatically adjusted according to characteristic data predicted from the current path based on the data of a motor sensor for optimizing the use of the motor, with respect to a parameter such as power consumption, transmission efficiency, or rotor warming, regardless of the route.