A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

An exemplary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mountable to a conductor of an aerial power transmission line system includes a body having a rotor system, a motivation system attached to the body to motivate the UAV along the conductor, a battery carried by the body and electrically connected to at least one of the rotor system and the motivation system, a monitoring tool mounted with the body and an inductive coil carried by the body and in electric connection with the battery, wherein the inductive coil is configured to harvest electricity from the aerial power transmission line system and charge the battery.

A multi-purpose detection circuit for object detection and vehicle position determination is described. For example, the circuit is configurable for detecting foreign metallic objects, living objects, and a vehicle or type of vehicle above an inductive wireless power transmitter. The circuit is also configurable for determining the vehicle's position relative to the inductive wireless power transmitter. An example apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a multiplexer, electrically connected to a plurality of inductive and capacitive sense circuits, for measuring one or more electrical characteristics in each of the inductive and capacitive sense circuits according to a predetermined time multiplexing scheme. The apparatus further includes a control and evaluation circuit for evaluating the measured electrical characteristics and determining at least one of a presence of a metallic object, a living object, a vehicle, or a type of vehicle, and a vehicle position based on changes in the measured electrical characteristics.

A multi-purpose detection circuit for object detection and vehicle position determination is described. For example, the circuit is configurable for detecting foreign metallic objects, living objects, and a vehicle or type of vehicle above an inductive wireless power transmitter. The circuit is also configurable for determining the vehicle's position relative to the inductive wireless power transmitter. An example apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a multiplexer, electrically connected to a plurality of inductive and capacitive sense circuits, for measuring one or more electrical characteristics in each of the inductive and capacitive sense circuits according to a predetermined time multiplexing scheme. The apparatus further includes a control and evaluation circuit for evaluating the measured electrical characteristics and determining at least one of a presence of a metallic object, a living object, a vehicle, or a type of vehicle, and a vehicle position based on changes in the measured electrical characteristics.

A tire and wheel assembly comprises: a tire including a tread portion; a wheel including a rim portion on which the tire is mounted; and a power reception coil, wherein one or more circumferential main grooves extend in a tire circumferential direction on a tread surface of the tread portion, and at least one circumferential main groove satisfies OTD≥SBG in a reference state.

A charging system includes a service vehicle and a controller. The service vehicle includes a chassis, a series of tractive elements coupled to the chassis, an energy storage device, and a charging interface operatively coupled to the energy storage device. The controller is configured to identify a location of a vehicle, control the service vehicle to navigate to the location of the vehicle, and control the service vehicle to transfer energy from the energy storage device to the vehicle through the charging interface.

A charging system includes a service vehicle and a controller. The service vehicle includes a chassis, a series of tractive elements coupled to the chassis, an energy storage device, and a charging interface operatively coupled to the energy storage device. The controller is configured to identify a location of a vehicle, control the service vehicle to navigate to the location of the vehicle, and control the service vehicle to transfer energy from the energy storage device to the vehicle through the charging interface.

A method of operating a vehicle fleet includes providing a first vehicle including a first energy storage device and a first wireless charging coil, providing a second vehicle including a second energy storage device and a second wireless charging coil, providing, by an external device, electrical energy to the first vehicle, charging, by the first vehicle, the first energy storage device using a first portion of the electrical energy, transferring, through the first wireless charging coil and the second wireless charging coil, a second portion of the electrical energy to the second vehicle, and charging, by the second vehicle, the second energy storage device using the second portion of the electrical energy.

A method of operating a vehicle fleet includes providing a first vehicle including a first energy storage device and a first wireless charging coil, providing a second vehicle including a second energy storage device and a second wireless charging coil, providing, by an external device, electrical energy to the first vehicle, charging, by the first vehicle, the first energy storage device using a first portion of the electrical energy, transferring, through the first wireless charging coil and the second wireless charging coil, a second portion of the electrical energy to the second vehicle, and charging, by the second vehicle, the second energy storage device using the second portion of the electrical energy.

A system for charging an electric vehicle having at least one power induction coil under control of a processor wirelessly charges an electric vehicle, wherein the at least one power induction coil is positioned in proximity to a parking location; and a parking manager device manages permissions for electric vehicles to park in one or more parking locations included in a parking zone associated with the parking manager device, wherein the parking manager also manages permissions for electric vehicles to charge via wireless charging while parked in the one or more parking locations, wherein the parking manager device has a unique address and the zone, parking locations, and charging stations associated with the parking manager device have associated unique sub-addresses associated with the parking manager device unique address.