A DC/DC conversion device that includes three-level power conversion circuits in a plurality of phases. The DC/DC conversion device includes voltage detectors 21 and 22 that detect at least two voltages (Efc and EfcL) of an input DC voltage, a first divided voltage, and a second divided voltage; and a voltage control unit 3 that controls an output voltage of three-level power conversion circuits 12a and 12b. At least one phase (the power conversion circuit 12b) of the three-level power conversion circuits 12a and 12b operates as an imbalance-reduction phase that executes imbalance-reduction control such that one (EfcL) of the first and second divided voltages is divided into half of the input DC voltage Efc.

A DC/DC conversion device that includes three-level power conversion circuits in a plurality of phases. The DC/DC conversion device includes voltage detectors 21 and 22 that detect at least two voltages (Efc and EfcL) of an input DC voltage, a first divided voltage, and a second divided voltage; and a voltage control unit 3 that controls an output voltage of three-level power conversion circuits 12a and 12b. At least one phase (the power conversion circuit 12b) of the three-level power conversion circuits 12a and 12b operates as an imbalance-reduction phase that executes imbalance-reduction control such that one (EfcL) of the first and second divided voltages is divided into half of the input DC voltage Efc.

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

A vehicle control system determines an upper non-zero limit on deceleration of a vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle down a grade being traveled up on by the vehicle. The upper non-zero limit on deceleration is determined by the controller based on a payload carried by the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a grade of a route being traveled upon by the vehicle. The controller is configured to monitor the deceleration of the vehicle, and to automatically prevent the deceleration of the vehicle from exceeding the upper non-zero limit by controlling one or more of a brake or a motor of the vehicle. The controller also is configured to one or more of actuate the brake or supply current to the motor of the vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving up the grade at a non-zero speed.

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

A power conversion unit performs an AC mode or DC mode conversion operation in which AC or DC power is converted to power driving a motor in order to supply a load. In response to the output of a sequence test signal instructing execution of a sequence test, a power source output switching switch shuts off the supply of a power from a power source to the power conversion unit. When the sequence test signal has been output and the supply of power to the power conversion unit has been shut off by means of the power source output switching switch, a control unit controls the AC mode or DC mode in order to cause the power conversion unit to execute a conversion operation corresponding to the power supplied to the power conversion unit in accordance with the switching history of sequence test signal output and non-output.

A power conversion unit performs an AC mode or DC mode conversion operation in which AC or DC power is converted to power driving a motor in order to supply a load. In response to the output of a sequence test signal instructing execution of a sequence test, a power source output switching switch shuts off the supply of a power from a power source to the power conversion unit. When the sequence test signal has been output and the supply of power to the power conversion unit has been shut off by means of the power source output switching switch, a control unit controls the AC mode or DC mode in order to cause the power conversion unit to execute a conversion operation corresponding to the power supplied to the power conversion unit in accordance with the switching history of sequence test signal output and non-output.

An electric vehicle control device includes a power conversion device, an auxiliary power source device, a charging device, an electricity storage device, and a controller. The power conversion device receives power supplied from an overhead line in an electrified section to perform power conversion, and supplies driving power to a vehicle driving motor. The controller connects the electricity storage device with the charging device and causes the charging device to charge the electricity storage device in the electrified section, and causes the electricity storage device to supply stored power of the electricity storage device to at least the power conversion device, instead of the power from the overhead line in a non-electrified section.