A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine includes at least one wheel contacting a ground surface, a battery powered electric motor, control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a sped of the driver, at least one pedal attached to a pedal axle and tiltable in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to the pedal axle, and at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal. The control circuitry is configured to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal, and to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.

An exemplary vehicle assembly includes, among other things, inner and outer panels of a cargo bed, and a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery. The heat exchange module is disposed within a chamber between the inner and outer panels. An exemplary thermal management method includes, among other things, managing thermal energy within a traction battery by exchanging thermal energy between a first fluid and a second fluid at a heat exchange module. The heat exchange module is disposed within a chamber between inner and outer panels of a cargo bed.

A vehicle driven by an electric motor includes a drive unit (16) with at least one electric motor (18), with at least one energy storage device (22) permanently installed in the vehicle and an actuating unit (24) for controlling the flow of energy between the at least one electric motor (18) and the at least one energy storage device (22) permanently installed in the vehicle. An interface (30) has with at least one terminal area (32, 34, 36) for a replaceable energy storage device (38, 40).

A vehicle is proposed to control regeneration and reuse of captured energy in a through-the-road hybrid configuration. The vehicle comprises a vehicle frame, an energy store, and a controller. The vehicle frame is configured for over-the-roadway travel under a power of plural drive axles. At least one of the plural drive axles is coupled via a primary drivetrain to a fuel-fed engine to drive at least a pair of wheels. At least one other of the plural drive axles is an electrically-powered drive axle configured to supply supplemental torque to additional wheels. The energy store is configured to supply the electrically-powered drive axle with electrical power in a first mode of operation and receive energy recovered using the electrically-powered drive axle in a second mode of operation. The controller is coupled between the electrically-powered drive axle and one or more sensor inputs to transition between different modes of operation.

A semitrailer includes a wheel and an electric machine for driving the wheel, wherein the electric machine is configured so as to be operable as an electromotive brake in a braking state.

A trailer mountable power storage and distribution system is provided. The power storage and distribution system includes a battery assembly and an auxiliary component assembly. The battery assembly includes a housing configured to be mounted to a chassis assembly of a trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly is configured to be mounted to the chassis assembly of the trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly has a thermal management component and a power distribution module. The thermal management component is configured to remove heat from the battery assembly. The power distribution module is configured to electrically connect the battery assembly to a load disposed on a tractor configured to tow the trailer unit.

One variation of a system includes a bogie including: a chassis; a first set of latches configured to transiently engage a first subset of engagement features, in a first array of engagement features on a left rail and in a second array of engagement features on a right rail of the trailer, to retain the bogie below a floor of the trailer; a driven axle suspended from the chassis; and a motor coupled to the driven axle and configured to output torque to the driven axle and regeneratively brake the driven axle. The system further includes a battery assembly: including a second set of latches configured to transiently engage a second subset of engagement features, in the first array of engagement features and in the second array of engagement features, to retain the battery assembly adjacent the bogie; and configured to receive electrical energy from the motor.

A tractor trailer battery system having a battery compartment containing one or more battery units which house one or more battery cells, electrical leads from the battery units to a trailer mounted controller in electrical communication with a cab mounted controller which is in electrical communication an electric motor or hybrid engine system. The battery system allows for either the trailer mounted controller or the cab mounted controller to provide principal communication to the electric motor or hybrid engine system.