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.

An electric drive module that includes an electric motor, a differential assembly, and a transmission that transmits rotary power between the electric motor and the differential assembly. The transmission has first and second reductions. The first reduction has a drive gear, which is rotatable about a first axis, and a pair of first reduction gears that are each meshingly engaged to the drive gear rotatable about a respective second axis. The second axes are spaced apart from one another and are parallel to the first axis. The second reduction has a driven gear and a pair of second reduction gears. The driven gear is rotatable about a third axis that is parallel to the first axis. Each of the second reduction gears is being meshingly engaged to the driven gear and non-rotatably coupled to an associated one of the first reduction gears.

A bidirectional power converter includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a main reactor, a plurality of sub-circuits and a controller. The sub-circuits each include an upper switching element, a lower switching element, two diodes, and a sub-reactor. The controller sequentially controls the sub-circuits such that: the lower switching element is turned on and turned off and then the upper switching element is turned on and turned off in each of the sub-circuits, while a current is flowing from the first terminal toward the second terminal; and the upper switching element is turned on and turned off and then, the lower switching element is turned on and turned off in each of the sub-circuits, while the current is flowing from the second terminal toward the first terminal.

Vehicles, powertrains for vehicles, and methods of mounting powertrains to chassis of vehicles are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of wheels, and a powertrain. The chassis extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end arranged opposite the first end. The plurality of wheels are coupled to the chassis between the first end and the second end and configured for rotation about a rotational axis. The powertrain is mounted to the chassis transverse to the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The powertrain is configured to drive rotation of the plurality of wheels about the rotational axis in use of the vehicle.

An electrically powered vehicle having a generally rectangular appearance includes a rear seat disposed in a rear of a cabin of the vehicle; a main battery disposed under a floor in a center of the cabin; a power unit compartment disposed below the rear seat; a driving motor disposed in the power unit compartment; a PCU disposed above the driving motor; an ECU disposed above the PCU; and an auxiliary battery disposed in the power unit compartment.

To obtain a power conversion device capable of reducing a loss of the power conversion device to improve fuel efficiency and electricity efficiency of an electrically driven vehicle. Provided is a power conversion device (1), which is to be mounted to a vehicle (VCL) configured to travel by using a drive motor (M1) as a motive power source. The power conversion device (1) includes inverters (100, 200) each configured to control the drive motor (M1) by having a plurality of switching elements (Q101 to Q106, Q201 to Q206) subjected to switching control. In the power conversion device (1), each of the plurality of switching elements (Q101 to Q106, Q201 to Q206) is formed of a wide band gap semiconductor.

A luggage compartment of an electric traction vehicle has a floor, an electric/electronic unit for recharging a battery pack, and a support structure provided with a frame that supports such electric/electronic unit in a fixed position; the support structure has an attachment portion which is arranged in front of the frame, is fixed to the floor and is joined to the frame by means of a deformable portion, adapted to bend about an axis which is horizontal and transverse to a travel direction of the vehicle; the floor is provided with a pushing element having a support surface, on which a lower surface of the frame rests at a point which is higher than the bending axis of the deformable portion.

A vehicle drive device includes a rotary electric machine, an inverter, and a case. The case includes a main body portion and a cover portion. The main body portion houses the rotary electric machine and at least a part of the inverter. The cover portion is joined to the main body portion so as to cover an opening portion of the main body portion. The inverter includes a cooler, a first unit that is fixed to the cooler so as to be along a first reference plane, and a second unit that is fixed to the cooler so as to be along a second reference plane. The cooler is fixed to the main body portion.

A drive unit includes a drive source, a case which is connected to the drive source and accommodates an electric motor, a control device which is mounted on an upper surface of the case and controls the electric motor, and an auxiliary machine placed on an upper surface of the drive source. The drive source and the control device are connected by a reinforcing member, and the reinforcing member is arranged so as to surround at least a part of the auxiliary machine in a top view. According to the drive unit, the vibration of the control device can be suppressed, and the auxiliary machine is protected while the number of parts is reduced.

A drive motor includes an inverter housing mounted therein, which couples an inverter housing to the top or side of a drive motor frame, wherein the inverter coupling bracket includes an inverter housing surface-contacting frame in which support gaps of first and second floor frames, surface-contacting the circumferential surface of a flange coupled to one end of the drive motor frame and the circumferential surface of a bracket coupled to the other end of the drive motor frame in the longitudinal direction, are integrally formed, and an arc-shaped drive motor frame circumferential surface-contacting portion is formed on the lower surface of the inverter housing surface-contacting frame, fixing pieces inclined inward are formed at the left and right ends of the first and second floor frames, respectively, and a fixing protruding piece is formed at each of the front and rear ends of the inverter housing surface-contacting frame.