A motor vehicle comprises a motor configured to input and output power for driving; an inverter configured to drive the motor; a power storage device configured to transmit electric power to and from the motor; a system main relay configured to connect and disconnect the power storage device with and from a power line on an inverter-side; and a control device configured to enable the motor vehicle to be driven with turning on the system main relay according to a predetermined procedure in response to a system on-operation. The motor vehicle does not perform failure diagnosis of the inverter when an abnormality signal of the inverter is generated before a predetermined time after the system main relay is turned on in response to the system on-operation, while performing the failure diagnosis when the abnormality signal of the inverter is generated after the predetermined time.

An improved power system architecture for a hybrid electric vehicle includes a power control unit including a motor inverter, a generator inverter, and a DC-to-DC converter, and vehicle power management (VPM) circuitry directly connected to each of the motor inverter, generator inverter, and DC-to-DC converter. In this arrangement, communication timing is greatly reduced, thereby allowing for feedforward control of the motor inverter, generator inverter, and DC-to-DC converter. The feedforward control enables the VPM circuitry to predict current influx or draw by a motor and determine the corresponding currents to provide to or from the generator and battery prior to or simultaneously with the actual current influx or draw by the motor. This improves vehicle dynamics and responsiveness, as well as enables complete recapture of braking currents and eliminates the need for a brake chopper resistor, thereby improving overall vehicle efficiency.

A solid-state high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) bus voltage controller to provide active power flow control in a hybrid electric aircraft power supply system. The HVDC bus voltage controller includes an active voltage controller and an active rectifier unit configured to control the HVDC bus voltage using the PWM control technique. In one implementation, the active rectifier unit includes high-power and high-frequency semiconductor switches with fast turn-off capabilities. The active voltage controller sends an HVDC bus reference voltage to the active rectifier unit. The low-level controller inside the active rectifier unit is configured to control the HVDC bus voltage to match the HVDC bus reference voltage.

A solid-state high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) bus voltage controller to provide active power flow control in a hybrid electric aircraft power supply system. The HVDC bus voltage controller includes an active voltage controller and an active rectifier unit configured to control the HVDC bus voltage using the PWM control technique. In one implementation, the active rectifier unit includes high-power and high-frequency semiconductor switches with fast turn-off capabilities. The active voltage controller sends an HVDC bus reference voltage to the active rectifier unit. The low-level controller inside the active rectifier unit is configured to control the HVDC bus voltage to match the HVDC bus reference voltage.

There is provided a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system and method for operating same. The method comprises providing, to a first electric motor and a second electric motor, alternating current (AC) electric power from a generator, the generator receiving rotational power from a thermal engine, providing, to the first electric motor and the second electric motor, AC electric power from at least one motor inverter, the at least one motor inverter configured to convert DC electric power from a DC power source into AC electric power, and selectively driving the first and second electric motors from the generator, the at least one motor inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the first electric motor drives a first rotating propulsor and the second electric motor drives a second rotating propulsor.

An aircraft comprising a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a first sub-assembly having a first electric propulsor assembly and a first thermal propulsor assembly, the first thermal propulsor assembly having a first thermal engine, a first generator and a first rotating propulsor, the first electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a first location and the first thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a second location. The system also comprises a second sub-assembly having a second electric propulsor assembly and a second thermal propulsor assembly, the second thermal propulsor assembly having a second thermal engine, a second generator and a second rotating propulsor, the second electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a third location and the second thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a fourth location.

An aircraft comprising a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a first sub-assembly having a first electric propulsor assembly and a first thermal propulsor assembly, the first thermal propulsor assembly having a first thermal engine, a first generator and a first rotating propulsor, the first electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a first location and the first thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a second location. The system also comprises a second sub-assembly having a second electric propulsor assembly and a second thermal propulsor assembly, the second thermal propulsor assembly having a second thermal engine, a second generator and a second rotating propulsor, the second electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a third location and the second thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a fourth location.

Methods and systems for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system mounted to an aircraft. The method comprises driving a first rotating propulsor from a first electric motor operatively connected to a generator, driving a second rotating propulsor from a second electric motor operatively connected to the generator, and driving a third rotating propulsor from a thermal engine, the thermal engine operatively connected to the generator and configured to drive the generator.

Methods and systems for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The method comprises providing alternating current (AC) electric power to a first electric motor to drive a first rotating propulsor, providing the first electric motor with AC electric power from at least one motor inverter operatively coupled to a direct current (DC) power source, detecting a failure in a path to the first electric motor, and selectively rearranging a first switching arrangement between the generator, the at least one motor inverter, and the first electric motor.

There is described a method and system for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The method comprises modulating AC electric power applied to a first electric propulsor or a second electric propulsor from at least one motor inverter to synchronize the frequency of the first electric propulsor or the second electric propulsor with the frequency of a generator.