An electric power supply system configured to supply electric power to an electrical load device in accordance with a current requirement. The electric power supply system includes an engine configured to output rotational power, a generator configured to receive the rotational power and to supply a current to the electrical load device. The generator includes a rotor, and a stator including a winding and a stator core with the winding wound thereon, a magnetic circuit for the winding passing through the stator core, and a supply current adjustment device configured to adjust magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit for the winding, to thereby change an inductance of the winding to adjust the supplied current. The electric power supply system further includes a control device configured to control the engine to adjust the output rotational power and to control the supply current adjustment device to adjust the inductance of the winding.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, an electromotive driving unit mounted on the vehicle body, an engine operable with a liquid fuel, a generator that generates electric power, and a control device including a power generation control unit and an electric power output unit. The power generation control unit outputs a signal for controlling the engine and the generator, the electric power output unit outputting electric power generated by the generator to the electromotive driving unit. The control device in combination with the engine and the generator constitutes a physically integrated unit that is mountable to and dismountable from the vehicle body. The control device is configured to output a store visit promotion signal to an informing device while the physically integrated unit is mounted on the vehicle body, to prompt a visit to a store where the physically integrated unit is replaceable.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, an electromotive driving unit mounted on the vehicle body, an engine operable with a liquid fuel, a generator that generates electric power, and a control device including a power generation control unit and an electric power output unit. The power generation control unit outputs a signal for controlling the engine and the generator, the electric power output unit outputting electric power generated by the generator to the electromotive driving unit. The control device in combination with the engine and the generator constitutes a physically integrated unit that is mountable to and dismountable from the vehicle body. The control device is configured to output a store visit promotion signal to an informing device while the physically integrated unit is mounted on the vehicle body, to prompt a visit to a store where the physically integrated unit is replaceable.

A propulsion apparatus for an electric vehicle including both a drive motor and a generator configured to recover energy from the vehicle drivetrain. The invention also relates to an energy supply and storage system suitable for use with a propulsion apparatus having a drive motor and generator, and to an electric vehicle having a powertrain including such a propulsion apparatus.

A propulsion apparatus for an electric vehicle including both a drive motor and a generator configured to recover energy from the vehicle drivetrain. The invention also relates to an energy supply and storage system suitable for use with a propulsion apparatus having a drive motor and generator, and to an electric vehicle having a powertrain including such a propulsion apparatus.

A power conversion device control system includes a power conversion device configured to supply electric power to a rotary electric machine, and a control device configured to control the power conversion device, wherein the control device controls the power conversion device through synchronous control in which a carrier frequency of the power conversion device is proportional to a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine when a temperature of a permanent magnet provided in the rotary electric machine is higher than a predetermined threshold value, and controls the power conversion device through non-synchronous control in which a carrier frequency of the power conversion device is not proportional to a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine when a temperature of the permanent magnet is the predetermined threshold value or less.

A power conversion device control system includes a power conversion device configured to supply electric power to a rotary electric machine, and a control device configured to control the power conversion device, wherein the control device controls the power conversion device through synchronous control in which a carrier frequency of the power conversion device is proportional to a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine when a temperature of a permanent magnet provided in the rotary electric machine is higher than a predetermined threshold value, and controls the power conversion device through non-synchronous control in which a carrier frequency of the power conversion device is not proportional to a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine when a temperature of the permanent magnet is the predetermined threshold value or less.

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 DC link capacitor in a drive system for an electric vehicle is quickly discharged using only local action within an inverter module and without any extra components to dissipate the charge. The inverter has a phase leg comprising an upper switching device and a lower switching device coupled across the capacitor. A gate driver is coupled to the phase leg to alternately switch the switching devices to ON state according to a PWM signal during pulse-width modulation of the drive system. The gate driver is configured to discharge the link capacitor during a discharge event by simultaneously activating the upper and lower switching devices to transitional states. Thus use of transitional states ensures that the switching devices provide an impedance that dissipates the capacitor charge while protecting the devices from excessive temperature.