A locomotive comprises a DC power bus, traction motors, batteries, and a charging source, but has no prime mover engine. Each traction motor includes armature and field windings connected in parallel across the DC power bus. The batteries provide power to the DC power bus when in a motoring mode, and receive power from the DC power bus when in a charging mode and a dynamic braking mode. The charging source is connected across the DC power bus to provide charging power to the batteries when in the charging mode. The traction motors also provide charging power to the batteries when in the dynamic braking mode. The power from the charging source is less than the power that would be provided by a prime mover engine. The charging source provides no power to the traction motors when in the charging mode.

A locomotive has a power bus that provides power to components of the locomotive when operating in a motoring mode or a charging mode. A plurality of batteries, one or more traction motors, and a charging source are all connected to the power bus. The batteries are operable to provide power to the power bus when operating in the motoring mode, and to receive power from the power bus when operating in the charging mode. The traction motors are operable to receive power from the power bus when the locomotive is operating in the motoring mode. The charging source intermittently provides charging power to the power bus to charge the batteries when the locomotive is operating in the motoring mode or in the charging mode. The charging source is selectively activated and deactivated based at least in part on the state of charge of the batteries.

A locomotive has a power bus that provides power to components of the locomotive when operating in a motoring mode or a charging mode. A plurality of batteries, one or more traction motors, and a charging source are all connected to the power bus. The batteries are operable to provide power to the power bus when operating in the motoring mode, and to receive power from the power bus when operating in the charging mode. The traction motors are operable to receive power from the power bus when the locomotive is operating in the motoring mode. The charging source intermittently provides charging power to the power bus to charge the batteries when the locomotive is operating in the motoring mode or in the charging mode. The charging source is selectively activated and deactivated based at least in part on the state of charge of the batteries.

The kinetic energy converter is coupled to a bogie of a pneumatic propulsion vehicle for a transportation system of passengers and cargo. The kinetic energy converter (6) is mounted in at least one of the axle sets (4) of the bogie structure (1). The kinetic energy converter (6) is comprised of an electric generator provided with a housing (10) where an electric generator rotor (16) spins, provided with a rotor pulley (15) moved by a belt (11) driven by a freewheel pulley (14) mounted on a drive shaft (13) provided with shaft ends (25) which are mounted onto wheel hubs (24) of the bogie structure (1). The axle set (4) is comprised of guide tubes (7) whose internal ends have flanges (8) which are connected to the supports (9) of the electric generator housing (10).

The kinetic energy converter is coupled to a bogie of a pneumatic propulsion vehicle for a transportation system of passengers and cargo. The kinetic energy converter (6) is mounted in at least one of the axle sets (4) of the bogie structure (1). The kinetic energy converter (6) is comprised of an electric generator provided with a housing (10) where an electric generator rotor (16) spins, provided with a rotor pulley (15) moved by a belt (11) driven by a freewheel pulley (14) mounted on a drive shaft (13) provided with shaft ends (25) which are mounted onto wheel hubs (24) of the bogie structure (1). The axle set (4) is comprised of guide tubes (7) whose internal ends have flanges (8) which are connected to the supports (9) of the electric generator housing (10).