A mobile power system may include a bidirectional AC-DC converter configured to convert a grid AC signal to a power limited DC charging signal with a threshold level, a battery module configured to provide a DC power signal, and a controller coupled to the battery module and the bidirectional AC-DC converter and configured to selectively switch the bidirectional AC-DC converter between a first state and a second state. The first state may include, when a load power level is less than the threshold level, concurrently charging the battery module using the power limited DC charging signal and delivering the grid AC signal to a load. The second state may include, when the load power level is greater than the threshold level, concurrently converting the DC power signal with the bidirectional AC-DC converter into a battery AC signal for delivery to the load, and delivering the grid AC signal to the load.

A vehicle is provided that determines a need for communication with a third party vendor, retrieves the user rule from the memory (the user rule defining to which third party vendor the vehicle can send a first communication to address the need and defining a geographic location of the third party vendor relative to a current location of the vehicle, a monetary amount the vehicle can pay to a third party vendor for a product or service to address the need, and a time limit for the third party vendor to provide the product or service to address the need), based on the user rule, selects a third party vendor from among multiple possible third party vendors, and when determined by the user rule, automatically sends the first communication to the selected third party vendor to order the product or service and provides an authorization to the selected third party vendor to complete the order. The vehicle uses different communication protocols to provide the first communication and authorization to the selected third party vendor.

A system for monitoring electrical contacts for an overhead trolley line may include a wear sensor arranged such that an electrical contact on a vehicle or work machine for contacting the overhead trolley line is continually or periodically in its line of sight. The wear sensor may be configured to capture spatial data defining the surface profile of the electrical contact. The system may also include a data processing module configured to receive the spatial data and identify a defect in the electrical contact based on the spatial data.

A system for monitoring electrical contacts for an overhead trolley line may include a wear sensor arranged such that an electrical contact on a vehicle or work machine for contacting the overhead trolley line is continually or periodically in its line of sight. The wear sensor may be configured to capture spatial data defining the surface profile of the electrical contact. The system may also include a data processing module configured to receive the spatial data and identify a defect in the electrical contact based on the spatial data.

A DC-feeding-voltage calculating apparatus includes storage that stores train model information including information for controlling a regenerative power reducing amount in a train in an electrified section; feeding network model information including position information on a substation; and substation model information including control information on a substation voltage. On the basis of: the stored information; a voltage value, current values of feeders by train direction, the voltage and current values being measured in the substation; and first train information on a train including a wireless communication apparatus, an estimator estimates second train information on a train not including a wireless communication apparatus and outputs train operation information. A calculator, on the basis of the stored information and the train operation information, calculates a substation voltage setting value for controlling the substation voltage such that regenerative power is increased in a regenerative car in the electrified section.

A DC-feeding-voltage calculating apparatus includes storage that stores train model information including information for controlling a regenerative power reducing amount in a train in an electrified section; feeding network model information including position information on a substation; and substation model information including control information on a substation voltage. On the basis of: the stored information; a voltage value, current values of feeders by train direction, the voltage and current values being measured in the substation; and first train information on a train including a wireless communication apparatus, an estimator estimates second train information on a train not including a wireless communication apparatus and outputs train operation information. A calculator, on the basis of the stored information and the train operation information, calculates a substation voltage setting value for controlling the substation voltage such that regenerative power is increased in a regenerative car in the electrified section.

A locking device for securing a contact strip device of a current collector in a storage position, the contact strip device being movable between a storage and sliding contact position relative to a conductor rail. The locking device has a cam, a rotatably mounted shaft and an anti-rotation device, the cam disposed on the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and the cam movable from a release to locking position by rotation of the shaft, and the cam in the storage position of the contact strip device being able to be brought into contact at a first contact surface by being transferred to the locking position on the current collector in a manner that movement of the contact strip device is blocked relative to the conductor rail, and rotational movement of the shaft for securing the cam in the release or locking position being positively blocked of the anti-rotation device.

A locking device for securing a contact strip device of a current collector in a storage position, the contact strip device being movable between a storage and sliding contact position relative to a conductor rail. The locking device has a cam, a rotatably mounted shaft and an anti-rotation device, the cam disposed on the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and the cam movable from a release to locking position by rotation of the shaft, and the cam in the storage position of the contact strip device being able to be brought into contact at a first contact surface by being transferred to the locking position on the current collector in a manner that movement of the contact strip device is blocked relative to the conductor rail, and rotational movement of the shaft for securing the cam in the release or locking position being positively blocked of the anti-rotation device.

An electrified road transport system includes a contact line system having a plurality of masts with support cables and contact wires suspended thereon. The contact line system has structural modifications for reducing the horizontal and/or vertical positional tolerances of the contact wires. In the context of the structural modifications, section separators are fastened directly to masts or to cantilevers of the masts, skewed overhead lines are disposed in straight section segments and/or in curves, and the support cables and/or contact wires have smaller cross-sections and/or higher longitudinal tensile forces. A method for stabilizing a contact line system of an electrified road transport system is also provided.

A monitoring system for an electric vehicle that draws current from a conductor by means of a current collector (3, 7) that contacts a conductor (13) in operation of the vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of sensor modules distributed at spaced intervals throughout the current collector, wherein each sensor module comprises a plurality of FBG (Fibre Bragg Grating) sensors orientated so as to be at least generally co-planar with a surface of the current collector that conducts the conductor in operation of the vehicle, the sensors of each said module being arranged in a geometric pattern that compensates for temperature induced wavelength changes in the FBG sensors of each module; an optical source (15) for illuminating each said sensor module; means (19) for optically coupling said optical source to each said sensor module; and an optical signal interpretation module (17) configured to receive optical signals from each said sensor module via said optical coupling means, said optical signals being generated by said sensor modules in response to illumination of said sensor modules by said optical source, said interpretation module being configured to capable of determining from said optical signals a temperature-independent strain measurement for each said sensor module.