A drive device, having a first electric machine operable as a generator and a second electric machine operable as a motor, which are electrically connected to one another, so that the second electric machine is operable using electric energy provided by the first electric machine, wherein an energy accumulator for temporarily storing electric energy is electrically connected to the first electric machine and the second electric machine. It is provided in this case that the first electric machine and the second electric machine are electrically directly connected to one another via an intermediate circuit, wherein the energy accumulator is electrically connected to the intermediate circuit via a switch arrangement both directly and also indirectly via a voltage converter. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for operating a drive device.

A vehicle power supply system configured to be charged by an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that performs charging with a voltage equal to or more than a predetermined lower limit voltage. The vehicle power supply system includes a battery having a rated voltage lower than the lower limit voltage; a capacitor electrically connected in series to the battery, wherein a sum of the rated voltage of the battery and a rated voltage of the capacitor is greater than the first voltage; and an interface configured to receive electric power from the EV charging station. The vehicle power supply system also includes circuitry configured to receive electric power from the EV charging station, and charge the battery and the capacitor using the received electric power.

A vehicle power supply system configured to be charged by an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that performs charging with a voltage equal to or more than a predetermined lower limit voltage. The vehicle power supply system includes a battery having a rated voltage lower than the lower limit voltage; a capacitor electrically connected in series to the battery, wherein a sum of the rated voltage of the battery and a rated voltage of the capacitor is greater than the first voltage; and an interface configured to receive electric power from the EV charging station. The vehicle power supply system also includes circuitry configured to receive electric power from the EV charging station, and charge the battery and the capacitor using the received electric power.

A hybrid propulsion system can include an electric motor configured to convert electrical energy into motion, a battery configured to store electrical energy and operatively connected to the electric motor to provide a battery output to the electric motor and a generator configured to convert non-electrical energy into electrical energy, the generator operatively connected to the electric motor to provide a generator output to the motor simultaneously with the battery output. The system can include a controller operatively connected to the generator and configured to control the generator output of the generator as a function one or more of a state of the battery or the battery output.

An electric power system for a vehicle provided with a storage assembly comprising a first storage system with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel and a second storage system arranged in series to the first system and with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel; wherein the storage assembly is designed to supply power with a dual voltage; and wherein the electric power system comprises, furthermore, a DC/DC converter, which is designed to transfer the electric charge from the second storage system to the first storage system, and vice versa, and integrated in a BMS device for the management of said storage assembly, which is designed to carry out the balancing of the electrochemical cells of the second storage system and to estimate the state of charge and the state of health of the two storage systems.

An electric power system for a vehicle provided with a storage assembly comprising a first storage system with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel and a second storage system arranged in series to the first system and with a number of electrochemical cells connected to one another in series and/or in parallel; wherein the storage assembly is designed to supply power with a dual voltage; and wherein the electric power system comprises, furthermore, a DC/DC converter, which is designed to transfer the electric charge from the second storage system to the first storage system, and vice versa, and integrated in a BMS device for the management of said storage assembly, which is designed to carry out the balancing of the electrochemical cells of the second storage system and to estimate the state of charge and the state of health of the two storage systems.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, and an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, and an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and at least selectively coupled to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator is electrically coupled to the first motor/generator by an electrical power transmission system. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A vehicle is operable in three modes of operation. The vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In each of the three modes of operation, whenever the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.

A vehicle is operable in three modes of operation. The vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In each of the three modes of operation, whenever the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.