Methods and systems are provided for electrical power distribution. In one example, a system includes plurality of electric consumers comprising one or more operating modes with different levels of power consumption, an energy storage and an electric machine arranged in the vehicle and configured to provide energy to the energy storage device or power to the electric consumers and torque to wheels of the vehicle, a power allocating device coupled to the energy storage device and the plurality of electric consumers, and a controller configured to maintain two indices for allocating power to the plurality of electric consumers, wherein a first index comprises a first power allocation strategy based on power from only the energy storage device and a second index comprises a second power allocation strategy based on power from the energy storage device and the electric machine.

Methods and systems are provided for electrical power distribution. In one example, a system includes plurality of electric consumers comprising one or more operating modes with different levels of power consumption, an energy storage and an electric machine arranged in the vehicle and configured to provide energy to the energy storage device or power to the electric consumers and torque to wheels of the vehicle, a power allocating device coupled to the energy storage device and the plurality of electric consumers, and a controller configured to maintain two indices for allocating power to the plurality of electric consumers, wherein a first index comprises a first power allocation strategy based on power from only the energy storage device and a second index comprises a second power allocation strategy based on power from the energy storage device and the electric machine.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a controller that switches a vehicle between an HEV traveling mode and an EV traveling mode. When the output current of a DC-to-DC converter becomes equal to or higher than a threshold, the controller decreases the output current by decreasing the output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter through output regulation control. The controller makes switching between a normal setting in which the threshold for the output regulation control is set to a reference threshold and a boost setting in which the threshold is set to a boost threshold higher than the reference threshold. The controller prohibits the boost setting when a power margin for boosting becomes equal to or lower than a first power margin value in the HEV traveling mode and when the power margin for the boosting becomes equal to or lower than a second power margin value in the EV traveling mode.

A downsized differential assembly having a simple structure, which can be mounted easily on automobiles. The differential assembly comprises a set of first to third gears arranged coaxially while being allowed to rotate relatively to one another. A first eccentric gear meshes with the first gear, a second eccentric gear meshes with the second gear, and a third eccentric gear meshes with the third gear, while being supported by an eccentric member in such a manner as to rotate around an eccentric axis which is offset from a rotational axis. Gear ratios between the first to third gears and the first to third eccentric gears are set to different values so that rotational speeds of the first gear and the second gear are reduced slower than that of the eccentric member.

An excavator includes a lower traveling body; an upper turning body turnably mounted to the lower traveling body; an actuator configured to drive a driven part including the lower traveling body and the upper turning body; and a power storage device mounted in the upper turning body and configured to serve as an energy source for driving the actuator. The power storage device includes a plurality of power storage modules stacked in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of power storage modules including a power storage part and a housing configured to house the power storage part. The housings of power storage modules among the plurality of power storage modules that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, are coupled to each other.

A drive unit includes an electric drive motor for driving and an electric generator motor in a series hybrid vehicle. Each of the motors includes a helical cooling passage helically surrounding an outer periphery of its stator. The first and second electric motors are housed in an outer housing such that the rotor axes are parallel. The helical cooling passages of the motors are connected in series via a connecting passage. The coolant outlet of the upstream helical cooling passage is connected to the connecting passage. The coolant inlet of the downstream helical cooling passage is connected to the connecting passage. The coolant outlet of the upstream helical cooling passage and the coolant inlet of the downstream helical cooling passage are arranged at end portions on the same side in a direction of the rotor axes.

In a vehicle drive system using a motor for cruising, the connection node of serially-connected first and second batteries is grounded. The operation of an inverter is controlled so that the motor drive voltage is higher than the output voltage of each of the first and second batteries. A balance circuit balances the charged amounts of the first and second batteries by performing charge/discharge control between the first and second batteries.

A system includes a thermal engine operatively connected to drive a propeller. An electric motor is operatively connected to the thermal engine to drive the propeller together with the thermal engine. An external input system is configured to accept input and output a thrust command. A protection function module is configured to enforce limits on the thermal engine, electric motor, and propeller. A low select module is operatively connected to receive input from the external input system and form the protection function module and to output the lower of input from the protection function module and external input system to the thermal engine, the electric motor, and the propeller.

A system includes a thermal engine operatively connected to drive a propeller. An electric motor is operatively connected to the thermal engine to drive the propeller together with the thermal engine. An external input system is configured to accept input and output a thrust command. A protection function module is configured to enforce limits on the thermal engine, electric motor, and propeller. A low select module is operatively connected to receive input from the external input system and form the protection function module and to output the lower of input from the protection function module and external input system to the thermal engine, the electric motor, and the propeller.

A vehicle includes a high-voltage system circuit including a high-voltage battery; a low-voltage system circuit including a low-voltage battery and an updater; a DC-DC converter coupled between the two circuits; and a controller that controls the two circuits and the DC-DC converter. The updater updates a program of an update-target device. The DC-DC converter reduces in voltage output electric power of the high-voltage battery and then supplies the electric power to the low-voltage system circuit. The controller determines whether the update-target device is a certain device relating to electric power supply from the high-voltage battery. If the update-target device is the certain device, the low-voltage battery is charged with the output electric power of the high-voltage battery, the certain device stops operating, and the updater updates the program of the certain device by using the output electric power of the low-voltage battery.