CNG and/or other types of fuel can be placed in the space between the tractor and the front of the trailer or internal to the cargo volume of the trailer. The tanks can be mounted permanently on the front of the trailer or they could reside on the tractor and be transferred to the front of the trailer after hook up. After the tractor hooks up to a trailer, the tanks are lifted up via two jacks operating at two lift points near the top at each end of the tank module framework, the tanks are then translated backward by a single actuator operating on the midpoint of the horizontal jack support beam which is riding on the tractor frame rails. Then the tanks are lowered to rest on detachable cantilevers attached to the steel understructure near the front of the trailer.

A fuel system is provided that includes a fuel system frame and in some cases access steps. The frame can be mounted to a vehicle frame rail. Bracket assemblies can be coupled to the fuel system frame at a plurality of positions. The fuel tank can be mounted at neck portions thereof and can be supported on the frame rail between the neck portion, e.g., spaced a distance from the neck portions in a longitudinal direction of the fuel system. The access steps can be non-rectangular to provide a wide stepping portion even if the fuel system includes large tanks. The steps can be directly supported by an outside surface of the tank.

A fuel tank in a vehicle. The fuel tank includes a protective outer shell and an inner shell. The protective outer shell has an inner shell receiving area. The inner shell, which holds fuel, is housed in the inner shell receiving area of the outer shell. The inner shell cooperates with the outer shell to maintain the position of the inner shell relative to the outer shell and relative to the vehicle during normal operation. During an impact to the vehicle, the inner shell moves independent of the outer shell and the vehicle, allowing a portion of the energy or the forces associated with an impact to be absorbed by the outer shell, reducing the energy or force transferred to the inner shell.

An integrated fill system is provided for a vehicle. The integrated fill system can include a receptacle, a cap that mates with the receptacle, and a fill line that is in fluid communication between the receptacle and a container. The integrated fill system can further include a valve between an opening on an end of the container and an end of the fill line to allow one-way fluid communication for entry of compressed material into the container. The integrated fill system can further include a draw line on an opposite end of the container to maintain separate lines for filling and drawing compressed material into/from the container.

A vehicle having an axle assembly and a wheel end support housing. The axle assembly may have a differential assembly. The wheel end support housing may be mounted to a frame rail and may be spaced apart from the axle assembly. A linkage may operatively connect the differential assembly to a wheel end assembly may be mounted to the wheel end support housing.

A frame assembly for supporting and mounting a box compartment over and around a flat bed of a flatbed tow truck is described. The frame assembly includes a frame attached to a chassis of a flatbed tow truck. The frame includes at least one left and at least one right side support beams, at least one left and at least one right horizontal connection beams, two or more left side and two or more right side vertical support beams, at least two cross-beams, and at least one vertical connection beam. One or more of the at least two cross-beams is connected to the chassis and is further connected at each of its ends to the left and right side support beams. Each vertical connection beam is connected to either the left or right horizontal connection beam and is oriented generally vertically for attachment of a box compartment to the frame.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for operating a vehicle system comprising a motor, a battery, and a controller. The vehicle system is configured to provide at least one of regenerative braking wherein the motor operates to charge the battery and propulsion wherein the motor uses electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle. The method includes, at the controller, determining an effective motor power at a motor speed and a motor torque. The effective motor power is determined based at least in part on a calculated motor power and an electrical power loss of the motor corresponding to the motor speed and the motor torque. The method further includes causing the motor to apply the motor torque to a wheel of the vehicle upon the effective motor power satisfying an operating condition of the vehicle system.

The invention relates to a device for installing traction batteries underneath a cab of a cab-over-engine vehicle. A base portion defines a space into which a portion of a traction battery pack is receivable by lowering the traction battery pack into said space. Front and rear securing element are connected to the base portion for securing the base portion to front and rear bushings, respectively, of the vehicle. At least one of the securing elements comprises a first securing portion for connecting that securing element to one of said bushings, respectively, and a second securing portion projecting upwardly from the base portion for connecting that securing element to the traction battery pack when the traction battery pack has been received in said space.

A transmission arrangement includes a transmission housing including a transmission housing wall assembly defining a transmission housing cavity enclosing at least a first and a second planetary gear set, wherein at least an external portion of each one of a first and second locking mechanisms of the planetary gear sets is located on one side of the transmission housing wall assembly and the transmission housing cavity is located on an opposite side of the transmission housing wall assembly.

The invention relates to a powertrain for a vehicle. The powertrain comprising: at least one propulsion unit; a transmission connected to the at least one propulsion unit; a propeller shaft connected to the transmission, and at least one drive shaft of a rear axle, which at least one drive shaft is connected to the propeller shaft, so that the propeller shaft extends between the transmission and the at least one drive shaft. The at least one propulsion unit is arranged in a position between the transmission and the rear axle in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle.