An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. First and second side fairings are also included and are configured for being mounted to respective first and second side surfaces of the trailer. Additionally, first and second trailer skirts are configured for being carried by the trailer and are part of the apparatus. First and second trailer rear skirts are likewise included and are located rearward of the first and second trailer skirts. The combination of components provides aerodynamic benefit to the trailer.

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 system includes a first object having a coupler to couple the first object to a second object; a first switch disposed on a first portion of the first object; a second switch disposed on a second portion on an exterior of the first object, and electrically and commutatively connected to the first switch to form an electric circuit, the second switch being arranged at a predetermined distance from the coupler; the second object disposed away from the first object and within a distance in relation to the second switch, the second object include a mating portion to couple with the coupler to connect the first object with the second object; and a third object disposed between the first object and the second object, and arranged at a corresponding predetermined distance from the mating portion to contact and close the second switch when the coupler and the mating portion are aligned for coupling the first object and the second object, and when the first object and the second object are moved together.

A zero emissions electrically powered haul truck is disclosed. The haul truck has a 40 metric ton hauling capacity and a form factor that allows the truck to travel through underground mines. The truck also includes a primary battery assembly that is externally mounted along the front and sides of the truck.

An axle subassembly of a trailer of a vehicle includes a wheel bearing having an outer ring mechanically connected to a shaft and an electric drive/generator operably connected to the shaft, wherein the electric drive/generator in a first state is configured to generate electricity from a rotation of the shaft and wherein the electric drive/generator in a second state is configured to drive the shaft, and a controller configured to shift the electric drive/generator unit into the first state and into the second state.

A flatbed, step-deck, double-drop deck, or lowboy trailer assembly comprises a plurality of metal crossmembers extending in a transverse direction of the trailer assembly; a metal deck supported by the plurality of crossmembers, the metal deck having an upper deck surface and a lower deck surface; and a pair of parallel wooden boards extending in a longitudinal direction of the trailer assembly proximate respective laterally opposite sides of the trailer assembly. Each wooden board in the pair of wooden boards is located in a respective recessed portion of the metal deck. The lower deck surface is situated between and separates a lower surface of each wooden board from the plurality of metal cross members. The lower deck surface is welded to the plurality of crossmembers.

A method is provided for predicting a risk for rollover of a working machine for load transportation. The method includes: obtaining ground topographic data of a geographical area located close to the working machine from a ground topographic detection system; extracting a ground gradient from the ground topographic data; obtaining weight information of the load being currently transported by means of an on-board load weighting system or by receiving load information originating from the device that loaded the load being currently transported; determining a current maximal allowed ground gradient for the working machine based on the weight information; and predicting a risk for working machine rollover if the working machine approaches a geographical area including a ground gradient exceeding or being close to the current maximal allowed ground gradient for the working machine.

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 truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, 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 illustrative example embodiment of an auxiliary power system for a transport vehicle includes an APU, at least one circuit configured to supply power from the APU to at least one load, and a circuit protection device associated with the at least one circuit. The circuit protection device is configured to protect against an arc fault condition.

A method and system for swapping batteries in an electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes dismounting a first battery assembly, moving to a second battery assembly and mounting the second battery assembly onto the vehicle. Mounting and dismounting are accomplished by an onboard mounting and dismounting system. The method can be used in a zero infrastructure environment such as an underground mine since mounting and dismounting are accomplished by components on the vehicle itself. An auxiliary battery pack powers the vehicle during between dismounting a battery pack and mounting another battery pack.