An energy management system for a towed vehicle includes an energy harvesting system for harvesting electrical energy from the energy of the towed vehicle, an energy storage system for storing the harvested electrical energy, and a computer controller for controlling the release of the stored electrical energy to one or more components of the towed vehicle for operating the towed vehicle.

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.

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 apparatus (e.g., for a vehicle) includes a housing, an oscillation bearing, and a hollow rotor shaft. The housing has a first end and a second end, and includes a first end cap at the first end thereof and a second end cap at the second end thereof. The oscillation bearing is housed within the second end cap. The hollow rotor shaft extends through the housing from the first end to the second end, and has a first shaft end having an interior spline surface, and a second shaft end. The interior spline surface of the hollow rotor shaft is configured to receive a splined end of an internal rear drive shaft and a splined end of a front drive shaft.

The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailersuch as a Class 8 semi-trailerand/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).

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 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 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 generator and electrical motor includes a main axle assembly housing; a wheel axle that extends through the main axle assembly housing; a wheel statically coupled to each end of the wheel axle; a plurality of magnets coupled to a circumference of the wheel axle; a stator within the main axle assembly housing, the stator including a field winding that surrounds the wheel axle, such that rotation of the wheel axle induces a current in the field winding; and at least one vehicle mount on an exterior of the main axle assembly, the at least one vehicle mount configured for coupling to the vehicle.

An apparatus for providing a secondary power source for an electric vehicle and having at least one secondary electrical power storage unit for storing electrical energy for delivery to the electric vehicle as required to replace the primary power source, a power connection assembly to connect the at least one secondary power source to the electric vehicle and a control system to control supply to the electric vehicle.