On both sides under a floor of an electric vehicle, side members are provided, each in a closed cross sectional shape. Collars and the like are provided in the side members. On a lower side of a lower wall of each of the side members, cross members which are fixed by using the collars or the like are provided. Between the side members on both sides, a main battery is provided and supported by the cross members. In the vicinity of a lower side of a doorway of the electric vehicle, a cutout part is formed such that a height of a portion of an upper wall of the side member is relatively lowered. On an upper surface of the cutout part, a reinforcing member is provided. A ramp passes through a space on an upper side of the cutout part.

There is provided an amphibious vehicle for use on land and water comprising lateral floaters which increases the stability of the vehicle when in water. While on land, the lateral floaters may be retracted within the body of the vehicle to reduce the width of the vehicle.

A steering unit for a vehicle, notably a bus. The steering unit is coupled with a suspension system and comprises: a support formed by a passenger platform and a wheel housing, a longitudinal axis, a steering knuckle with an in-wheel engine defining a transversal rotation axis which is arranged transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis, an actuator mechanism adapted for pivoting the steering knuckle. The steering knuckle further comprises a lever which is linked to the actuator mechanism and which includes a transversal portion extending transversally along the in-wheel engine. The steering unit is adapted for an articulated bus with at least two bodies, said bodies each exhibits four or eight identical and independent steering units.

Systems and methods for dictating motion for bi-directional vehicles is provided. The method includes obtaining passenger and map data. The passenger data identifies an orientation of a passenger and the map data identifies route attributes for one or more route segments. The method includes determining one or more motion constraints for a bi-directional vehicle and map constraints for a routing the bi-directional vehicle based on the passenger data and the map data. The motion constraints can identify a vehicle orientation with which the bi-directional vehicle can travel. The map constraints can identify one or more route segments restricted from travel by the bi-directional vehicle. The method includes generating a constrained route based on the motion and map constraint(s). The constrained route can include permitted route segments and movements for the bi-directional vehicle. The method can include initiating the motion of the bi-directional vehicle based on the constrained route.

An endframe of a gangway, the endframe configured to be connected to an endframe of a different gangway or to a car of a multi-car vehicle, the endframe comprising a beam, a connector attached to the beam, the connector being configured to connect the beam to a beam of an endframe of a different gangway or to connect the beam to a car of a multi-car vehicle or to connect the beam to a connector attached to a beam of an endframe of a different gangway or to connect the beam to a connector attached to a car of a multi-car vehicle, wherein a contact surface formed by a part of the beam and a groove arranged in the beam, wherein the groove has an opening and walls that delimit the groove, wherein one of the walls delimiting the groove is a backward facing wall, wherein the backward facing wall faces away from the contact surface, wherein the connector has a protrusion that is arranged inside the groove.

A low-floor electric bus includes a plurality of battery packs mounted under the floor of such that the floor inside the bus between a front axle and a rear axle of the bus is substantially flat. Each battery pack may include an enclosure and multiple battery modules positioned within the enclosure. And, each battery module may include a plurality of battery cells electrically connected together.

A low-floor electric bus includes a plurality of battery packs mounted under the floor of such that the floor inside the bus between a front axle and a rear axle of the bus is substantially flat. Each battery pack may include an enclosure and multiple battery modules positioned within the enclosure. And, each battery module may include a plurality of battery cells electrically connected together.

An articulation system (1) for interconnecting first and second vehicle units of an articulated road vehicle comprises a central element (2) including a vertical cylinder with left and right arcuate walls (4) extending between two facing openings. First and second interconnecting structures (5) are joined to the central element (2) and are adapted to be respectively attached to the first and second vehicle units on opposed sides of the central element (2). Each interconnecting structure has a pitch joint member (5a) and a yaw joint member (5b). The pitch joint member (5a) has a frame (7) perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding one of the first and second vehicle units and a pitch hinge mechanism (6) at a floor level to interconnect with the corresponding one of the first and second vehicle units. The yaw joint member (5b) has a frame (8) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding one of the first and second vehicle units and left and right arcuate walls juxtaposed to the left and right arcuate walls (4) of the vertical cylinder and rotatable therearound. The frame (7) of the pitch joint member (5a) and the frame (8) of the yaw joint member (5b) are juxtaposed and mechanically linked to jointly form a planar roll joint mechanism.

A steering control unit and to a method of controlling the steering of a multi-unit vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a plurality of vehicle parts movably connected to one another and a plurality of steerable axle units. A first axle control unit is in conjunction with a first steerable axle unit and at least one second axle control unit is in conjunction with at least one second steerable axle unit. The steering control system has a central control module that is connected to the axle control units via a common data line for exchange of steering angle data. The axle control units have data interfaces for communication via the data line. The data interfaces transfer mutually identical data formats, whereby the steering control system is set up in a modular manner with a variable number of axle control units that can be integrated.

A steering control unit and to a method of controlling the steering of a multi-unit vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a plurality of vehicle parts movably connected to one another and a plurality of steerable axle units. A first axle control unit is in conjunction with a first steerable axle unit and at least one second axle control unit is in conjunction with at least one second steerable axle unit. The steering control system has a central control module that is connected to the axle control units via a common data line for exchange of steering angle data. The axle control units have data interfaces for communication via the data line. The data interfaces transfer mutually identical data formats, whereby the steering control system is set up in a modular manner with a variable number of axle control units that can be integrated.