A management server is configured to perform a process including: setting a basic fee of a first monthly fee when a utilization manner is battery lease; setting discount rates based on the weight, capacity, manufacturer, degree of initial deterioration, amount of power consumption, number of times of performing quick electric charging, utilization region, and utilization period of the battery; determining the first monthly fee; setting a basic fee of a second monthly fee when the utilization manner is vehicle lease; setting discount rates based on the weight of the battery, a utilization region of the vehicle, and a utilization period; determining the second monthly fee; and determining a total monthly fee.

In a vehicle drive system using a motor for cruising, the connection node of serially-connected first and second batteries is grounded. The operation of an inverter is controlled so that the motor drive voltage is higher than the output voltage of each of the first and second batteries. A battery unit is configured so that third and fourth batteries each in a form of a cartridge are removably loaded, and the loaded third battery is connected in parallel with the first battery and the loaded fourth battery is connected in parallel with the second battery.

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for active alignment control of a contact element (110) of a charging device (104) for a vehicle (1) for driving on an electrical road system (ERS) comprising a charging surface (3) configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle via the charging device. The arrangement comprises the charging device (104) comprising a base (106), a linkage arm (108), and an electrical contact element (110) and a pivot joint (107) arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis (105). A control unit is configured to activate an actuator module to align said contact element (110) with said trajectory of said charging surface based on trajectory data and an angle between the vehicle heading and the charging surface. The invention further relates to a method and to a vehicle.

A method for bringing a vehicle closer to a vehicle-external primary charging unit configured to inductively charge the vehicle, where the vehicle includes a secondary charging unit, a camera system and a display device, includes the steps of a) capturing a real-time image of a vehicle environment using the camera system, wherein the primary charging unit is included in the real-time image, b) displaying the real-time image on the display device, and c) inserting at least one guide line into the real-time image. The direction and/or curvature of the guide line coincides with a steering angle lock of the vehicle such that the guide line corresponds to the trajectory of the vehicle in the case of the steering angle lock. The position of the at least one guide line in the real-time image of the vehicle environment is selected such that the guide line indicates a movement curve of the secondary charging unit of the vehicle. The method further includes indicating the movement curve of the secondary charging unit relative to the primary charging unit based on a movement of the vehicle by repeating steps a) to c).

Provided is a robot system. The robot system includes a guide rail, a slider configured to move along the guide rail, a first source disposed the slider to move together with the slider, a rotation arm configured to rotate by the first driving source, and a vehicle service robot installed the rotation arm to move by the rotation arm.

Systems and methods for managing usage of charging stations. In one embodiment, a system may include a request module, a membership module, and a schedule module. The request module receives a reservation request from an account associated with vehicle. The membership module determines a membership benefit associated with the reservation request. The membership benefit is based on a membership level of the account. The schedule module schedules a charging session based on the reservation request and the membership benefit.

An ECU controls charging of a power storage device such that an SOC of the power storage device does not exceed a prescribed upper control limit. When an electrically powered vehicle moves in a downhill direction with an MG generating travel torque in an uphill direction on an uphill road (downhill-movement state), the ECU allows charging in which the SOC exceeds the upper control limit. Further, when a request to stop a system of the vehicle is made with the SOC exceeding the upper control limit, the ECU performs a discharge process of discharging the power storage device.

An apparatus for paying a wireless charging fee for an electric vehicle while being driven may include: an electric power receiver configured to perform wireless charging of an electric vehicle; a toll fee payment processor configured to perform a fee collection processing with respect to the electric vehicle in response to a toll fee payment request from a gantry; and a controller configured to generate information on an accumulated charging amount of the electric vehicle before the electric vehicle passes through the gantry in response to the toll fee payment request from the gantry and transmit the information on the accumulated charging amount to the toll fee payment processor.

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.

Various embodiments of a two-stage on-board battery charger that can generate a wide range of output voltages is described herein. Generally, the battery charger employs a first stage buck and boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter, and a second stage DC-DC converter. The buck and boost PFC converter is capable of generating variable intermediate DC-link voltages which allow the on-board battery charger to efficiently generate the wider range of output voltages.