Systems and methods for powering an airborne transport vehicle from a ground power supply are provided. One system is a hovercraft power system having a ground power supply coupled with at least one on-board DC-DC power converter, wherein the on-board DC-DC power converter is positioned on-board a hovercraft. The hovercraft power system further includes a power cord tethered to the hovercraft, wherein the power cord is capable of delivering at least 100 kilowatts (kW) of power from the ground power supply to the hovercraft. The hovercraft power system also includes a tether dispenser configured to dispense or retract the power cord tethered to the hovercraft.

A power supply device for a rail vehicle has a traction battery, a traction intermediate circuit, an on-board network, a bidirectional charging device, which is connected between the traction battery and the on-board network, and a first switching unit between the traction battery and the traction intermediate circuit for switching between a charging operation and a discharging operation of the traction battery. There is also described a power supply provision device, a method for discharging a traction battery of a power supply device, a method for charging a traction accumulator of a power supply device, and a rail vehicle.

A power supply device for a rail vehicle has a traction battery, a traction intermediate circuit, an on-board network, a bidirectional charging device, which is connected between the traction battery and the on-board network, and a first switching unit between the traction battery and the traction intermediate circuit for switching between a charging operation and a discharging operation of the traction battery. There is also described a power supply provision device, a method for discharging a traction battery of a power supply device, a method for charging a traction accumulator of a power supply device, and a rail vehicle.

A drive system having a plurality of drive units that each have a converter and preferably one motor, wherein the drive system includes an energy supply system that supplies electric energy to the drive units, and a control system that includes a control computer and at least one control line, where the control system transmits control instructions to the drive units, and where the energy supply system and the drive units are releasably connected together via a first respective connection connector, preferably via a plug connection, and the control system and the drive units are releasably connected together via a second respective connection connector, preferably via a plug connection.

A drive system having a plurality of drive units that each have a converter and preferably one motor, wherein the drive system includes an energy supply system that supplies electric energy to the drive units, and a control system that includes a control computer and at least one control line, where the control system transmits control instructions to the drive units, and where the energy supply system and the drive units are releasably connected together via a first respective connection connector, preferably via a plug connection, and the control system and the drive units are releasably connected together via a second respective connection connector, preferably via a plug connection.