Disclosed is an autonomous battery pod. The autonomous battery pod for harnessing kinetic energy of rotating wheels to produce electrical energy while the autonomous battery pod is movably coupled with a train is provided. The autonomous battery pod includes a turbine adapted for producing electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through a plurality of extendable wheels connected with the turbine using a plurality of gearbox; and a plurality of batteries electrically coupled with the turbine, adapted for storing produced electrical energy using harnessed kinetic energy through the plurality of extendable wheels connected to the turbine.

A plug unit for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The plug unit includes a low voltage plug connected to or disconnected from a low voltage circuit formed by a low voltage battery and a low voltage component, and allows a current to flow between the low voltage battery and the low voltage component when the low voltage plug is connected to the circuit. A high voltage plug connected to or disconnected from a high voltage circuit formed by a high voltage battery and a high voltage component, and allows a current to flow between the high voltage battery and the high voltage component when the high voltage plug is coupled to the circuit. Further, a main base having the high voltage plug mounted thereon, allows current flow in the circuits when the base is mounted and obstructs the current flowing in the high voltage circuit when the base is demounted.

Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.

A hybrid vehicle may be a series hybrid or a parallel hybrid vehicle. One embodiment of a parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a front drive coupled to the transmission through a prop shaft, a rear drive coupled to the transmission, a traction motor drivingly coupled to the prop shaft, and a battery to operate the traction motor.

An unmanned aerial vehicle coupling apparatus for drone coupling. The unmanned aerial vehicle coupling apparatus includes a processor-based monitoring device to monitor values for each of a plurality of functions provided by a unmanned aerial vehicle and to detect when a value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a vehicle selector to receive travel routes from each of a plurality of secondary vehicles and to select a secondary vehicle based on a travel route of the secondary vehicle when the value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and a coupling mechanism to fasten and unfasten the unmanned aerial vehicle to the secondary vehicle.

According to one embodiment, a storage system includes storage devices configured to execute communication by using an identifier, a converter configured to convert the identifier of the storage devices, a controller configured to execute communication with the storage devices via the converter by using the identifier converted by the converter, convert a DC power output from the storage devices into a DC power of a predetermined magnitude and output the DC power, and charge the storage devices with the DC power of the predetermined magnitude, an AC/DC converter configured to convert the DC power output from the controller into an AC power, convert an AC power supplied from a distribution system into a DC power and supply the DC power to the controller, and a controller configured to control the controller and the AC/DC converter.

A method for estimating energy consumption of a motor vehicle during a given journey, including: a) cutting the journey into portions of journey, b) allocating a setpoint speed to each portion of journey, as a function of at least one characteristic of the portion, c) estimating, for each portion of journey, an evolution of speed of the vehicle as a function of time, the speed being estimated as a function of at least one characteristic of the portion of journey and as a function of a predetermined driving behavior associated with the setpoint speed of the portion, to establish for a whole of the journey an estimation of the evolution of the speed of the vehicle as a function of time, d) estimating the energy consumption of the vehicle during the journey, as a function of the evolution of the estimated speed.

A vehicle electrical system has at least one vehicle distribution branch and at least one energy storage device. The system additionally has at least one switching device which is able to assume a first switching position and a second switching position. The at least one energy storage device is electrically connected to the at least one vehicle distribution branch in the first switching position. Furthermore, the at least one energy storage device is electrically separated from the at least one vehicle distribution branch in the second switching position. A control device controls the switching device by way of a control signal that can be generated by a pulse length modulator. A pulse width of the control signal can be adapted according to a momentary supply voltage of the switching device or a momentary temperature of the switching device.

Apparatus for inductively transmitting power, which apparatus comprises a primary unit with a primary coil and a secondary unit with a secondary coil, and in which the primary coil induces a magnetic transmission field in a transmission area between the primary unit and the secondary unit, and which has an even number of detector coil elements which are wound in opposite directions in pairs and form a detector pair.

A system and method for operating a fuel-cell system, which is attached to at least one further component via a cooling and/or lubricating circuit. A water-based, oil-free coolant and lubricant is used, and a flushing procedure for the fuel cell is initiated when a contamination of the fuel cell by the water-based, oil-free coolant and lubricant is detected.