Methods and systems are provided for an electric heavy-duty vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes a battery pack for supplying current to an electric motor of the vehicle, the battery pack arranged in a chassis of the vehicle and configured to form part of a floor of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a motor coupled to front wheels of the vehicle, the front wheels having hub assemblies housing drive shaft adapters configured to permanently couple the hub assemblies to drive shafts of the front wheels, and a cradle configured to be mounted with electrical sub-systems of the vehicle.

A vehicle power supply control device includes a plurality of area power supply slaves connected with respective different device groups configured with a plurality of different devices installed in a vehicle, and controlling power supplied to the devices in the connected device groups, a plurality of area power supply masters that are connected with respective different area power supply slaves and control power supplied to the connected area power supply slaves, and a vehicle power supply master connected with the area power supply masters and a battery of the vehicle and controlling power supplied to the area power supply masters from the battery.

A vehicle power supply control device includes a plurality of area power supply slaves connected with respective different device groups configured with a plurality of different devices installed in a vehicle, and controlling power supplied to the devices in the connected device groups, a plurality of area power supply masters that are connected with respective different area power supply slaves and control power supplied to the connected area power supply slaves, and a vehicle power supply master connected with the area power supply masters and a battery of the vehicle and controlling power supplied to the area power supply masters from the battery.

Illustratively, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle that includes an entrance to an interior compartment. A step assembly is located adjacent the entrance of the vehicle and includes at least one step and at least one riser. The at least one riser is attached to and substantially perpendicular to the at least one step. The step assembly also includes an opening that allows access behind the step assembly. A lid is provided that includes a hinge to allow selective movement of the lid between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the step assembly. A securement is attached to the underside surface of the lid to hold the lid to the step assembly. This securement, however, does not extend upward from the top surface of the lid.

Illustratively, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle that includes an entrance to an interior compartment. A step assembly is located adjacent the entrance of the vehicle and includes at least one step and at least one riser. The at least one riser is attached to and substantially perpendicular to the at least one step. The step assembly also includes an opening that allows access behind the step assembly. A lid is provided that includes a hinge to allow selective movement of the lid between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the step assembly. A securement is attached to the underside surface of the lid to hold the lid to the step assembly. This securement, however, does not extend upward from the top surface of the lid.

A heat insulating member includes a wall member. The wall member includes a high-density portion provided at one end edge in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the wall member and having density of above 0.45 g/cm.sup.3 and a low-density portion provided midway in the direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, having heat-insulating properties, and having density of 0.45 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The high-density portion is provided over the entire one end edge and the thickness of the high-density portion is thinner than that of the low-density portion.

A structure of an active mount is provided. The structure includes a case with an interior that is divided into upper and lower fluid chambers, a sealed hydro fluid flows based on a volume change of the upper fluid chamber due to deformation of an insulator, and flow characteristics of the hydro fluid are varied when power is applied to a driver. The structure further includes a generator that produces electricity based on behavior of the insulator. The generator is disposed within the case and the electricity produced by the generator is applied to the driver. Additionally, the generator autonomously produces electricity based on engine behavior and is mounted within an engine mount and, thus, supply of electricity from the outside is not required.

A structure of an active mount is provided. The structure includes a case with an interior that is divided into upper and lower fluid chambers, a sealed hydro fluid flows based on a volume change of the upper fluid chamber due to deformation of an insulator, and flow characteristics of the hydro fluid are varied when power is applied to a driver. The structure further includes a generator that produces electricity based on behavior of the insulator. The generator is disposed within the case and the electricity produced by the generator is applied to the driver. Additionally, the generator autonomously produces electricity based on engine behavior and is mounted within an engine mount and, thus, supply of electricity from the outside is not required.

According to one embodiment, a vehicle-use storage battery system includes a storage battery, a main circuit, a circuit breaker, a storage battery management unit, a first determiner, and a second determiner. The main circuit is electrically connected to the storage battery. The circuit breaker is disposed between the storage battery and the main circuit to make or break the electrical connection therebetween. The storage battery management unit manages an operating state of the storage battery. The first determiner determines whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker. The second determiner determines, on the basis of at least one of operating states of the storage battery management unit, the first determiner, and the circuit breaker, whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker.

According to one embodiment, a vehicle-use storage battery system includes a storage battery, a main circuit, a circuit breaker, a storage battery management unit, a first determiner, and a second determiner. The main circuit is electrically connected to the storage battery. The circuit breaker is disposed between the storage battery and the main circuit to make or break the electrical connection therebetween. The storage battery management unit manages an operating state of the storage battery. The first determiner determines whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker. The second determiner determines, on the basis of at least one of operating states of the storage battery management unit, the first determiner, and the circuit breaker, whether to break the electrical connection between the storage battery and the main circuit by means of the circuit breaker.