A motor vehicle is configured to include a first battery; a second battery; a first converter configured to step-down an electric power of the first power line and supply the stepped-down electric power to a second power line with which the second battery is connected; a third battery; a solar charging device configured to generate electric power using sunlight and supply the generated electric power to the third battery; and a second converter configured to transmit electric power accompanied with a change in a voltage between the second power line and a third power line with which the third battery is connected. The motor vehicle of this configuration is configured to provide permission for relief charging that is charging of the third battery using an electric power on a first power line side, when a voltage of the second battery is not lower than a predetermined voltage.

A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine to regulate electrical power at a bus to maintain a first voltage on the bus and operating the second electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus. The method includes operating the vehicle drive in a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus and operating the second electric machine to regulate electrical power at the bus to maintain a second voltage on the bus. A sum of the electrical power regulated by the first electric machine, the electrical power losses, and the electrical power consumed by the second electric machine is zero in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode.

A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine to regulate electrical power at a bus to maintain a first voltage on the bus and operating the second electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus. The method includes operating the vehicle drive in a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine to consume electrical power from the bus and operating the second electric machine to regulate electrical power at the bus to maintain a second voltage on the bus. A sum of the electrical power regulated by the first electric machine, the electrical power losses, and the electrical power consumed by the second electric machine is zero in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode.

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, an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. 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, an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. 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.

An electric vehicle allows a user to experience changes in acceleration g-force, as with a conventional power plant, including: a transmission that sets a gearshift position based on a gearshift position command value to be supplied, and reduces a rotation speed of a motor with the gear ratio based on the gearshift position to rotationally drive wheels; a user operation unit that outputs the gearshift position command value and a speed control amount, based on user operation; and a controller that sets a DC voltage command value or an AC voltage command value to an operation-based value corresponding to the gearshift position and the speed control amount, and, on the condition that operation on the user operation unit satisfies a predetermined condition, sets the DC voltage command value or the AC voltage command value to a value higher than the operation-based value for causing a change in acceleration.

An electric vehicle allows a user to experience changes in acceleration g-force, as with a conventional power plant, including: a transmission that sets a gearshift position based on a gearshift position command value to be supplied, and reduces a rotation speed of a motor with the gear ratio based on the gearshift position to rotationally drive wheels; a user operation unit that outputs the gearshift position command value and a speed control amount, based on user operation; and a controller that sets a DC voltage command value or an AC voltage command value to an operation-based value corresponding to the gearshift position and the speed control amount, and, on the condition that operation on the user operation unit satisfies a predetermined condition, sets the DC voltage command value or the AC voltage command value to a value higher than the operation-based value for causing a change in acceleration.

A method of operating a first electric machine and a second electric machine in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in: a first operating mode by operating the first electric machine in a voltage mode and the second electric machine in a torque mode; and a second operating mode by operating the first electric machine in the torque mode and the second electric machine in the voltage mode.