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 highly efficient, utility scale energy storage system employs large masses transported uphill to store energy and downhill to release energy. An electric powered cable winch or chain drive shuttles the masses between two storage yards of different elevations separated by a steep incline on rail vehicles supported by track and operated by an automated control system.

A vehicle auxiliary power supply that is mounted on a railway vehicle, includes a three-phase inverter circuit that converts DC power or AC power input from an overhead line to desired AC power to supply the AC power to a load, and is connected in parallel with a VVVF inverter device that drives a propulsion motor, wherein a blocking diode that prevents backflow from a side of the three-phase inverter circuit to a side of the overhead line is provided between the overhead line and the three-phase inverter circuit, and a SiC Schottky barrier diode is applied to the blocking diode.

A vehicle auxiliary power supply that is mounted on a railway vehicle, includes a three-phase inverter circuit that converts DC power or AC power input from an overhead line to desired AC power to supply the AC power to a load, and is connected in parallel with a VVVF inverter device that drives a propulsion motor, wherein a blocking diode that prevents backflow from a side of the three-phase inverter circuit to a side of the overhead line is provided between the overhead line and the three-phase inverter circuit, and a SiC Schottky barrier diode is applied to the blocking diode.

A monorail vehicle includes two bogie assemblies supporting different ends of a chassis. Each bogie assembly includes guide wheels rotatably connected to a bogie frame, a wheel assembly for rolling along a top of a guide beam, and a drive unit. The drive unit includes an electric motor attached to the bogie frame via a mounting flange that is located within a first lateral half of the body, a brake unit, and a planetary gear assembly coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. The planetary gear assembly is located on a first side of the electric motor and the wheel assembly is mounted to an output of the planetary gear assembly. The drive unit is attached whereupon the wheel assembly may be dismounted from the drive unit in a direction of a second lateral half of the body without dismounting the drive unit from the bogie frame.

A monorail vehicle includes two bogie assemblies supporting different ends of a chassis. Each bogie assembly includes guide wheels rotatably connected to a bogie frame, a wheel assembly for rolling along a top of a guide beam, and a drive unit. The drive unit includes an electric motor attached to the bogie frame via a mounting flange that is located within a first lateral half of the body, a brake unit, and a planetary gear assembly coupled to a rotor of the electric motor. The planetary gear assembly is located on a first side of the electric motor and the wheel assembly is mounted to an output of the planetary gear assembly. The drive unit is attached whereupon the wheel assembly may be dismounted from the drive unit in a direction of a second lateral half of the body without dismounting the drive unit from the bogie frame.

The first power converter is connected with a circuit connected with an overhead line, and an intermediate link, and mutually converts power. The second power converter is connected with the intermediate link, and a circuit electrically connected with an induction motor, and mutually converts power. The auxiliary power-supply device receives power from the intermediate link, and supplies power to a load. The operation controller controls the operation/deactivation of the first power converter based on acceleration and speed of a vehicle, auxiliary source power, and a restriction value for regenerative power to the overhead line in such a way that the power to be supplied to the auxiliary power-supply device becomes equal to or larger than the auxiliary source power, and the regenerative power flowing to the overhead line 105 becomes equal to or smaller than the restriction value.

The first power converter is connected with a circuit connected with an overhead line, and an intermediate link, and mutually converts power. The second power converter is connected with the intermediate link, and a circuit electrically connected with an induction motor, and mutually converts power. The auxiliary power-supply device receives power from the intermediate link, and supplies power to a load. The operation controller controls the operation/deactivation of the first power converter based on acceleration and speed of a vehicle, auxiliary source power, and a restriction value for regenerative power to the overhead line in such a way that the power to be supplied to the auxiliary power-supply device becomes equal to or larger than the auxiliary source power, and the regenerative power flowing to the overhead line 105 becomes equal to or smaller than the restriction value.

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.