An electrified vehicle include a chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, an electric motor supported by the chassis, and a trailer coupled to a rear end of the chassis and configured to be towed by the electrified vehicle. The electric motor is configured to drive at least one of the front axle, the rear axle, or a component of the electrified vehicle. The trailer includes a trailer frame, a trailer axle coupled to the trailer frame, and an energy storage device supported by the trailer frame. The energy storage device includes a plurality of batteries. The energy storage device configured to power the electric motor.

A chassis assembly for a vehicle is provided. The chassis assembly includes: an upper frame structure having at least two longitudinally extending upper side regions arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal centre line. The upper side regions are connected to each other by upper connection portions. A front crash structure is configured to absorb energy during an impact generated from a vehicle collision, and extends in a transverse direction. The upper frame structure is connected to said front crash structure; wherein said chassis assembly further comprises: a lower frame structure having at least two longitudinally extending lower beams arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre line, said lower beams being connected to each other by lower connection portions, and said lower frame structure is connected to said upper frame structure and to said front crash structure.

A solar-powered vehicle that includes a body having opposing sides and defining a cavity; two or more wheels; a first and second solar panel assembly respectively disposed on the opposing sides of the body; one or more electric motor disposed within the cavity of the body between the first and second solar panel assemblies, the one or more electric motors configured to rotate at least one of the two or more wheels; and one or more electric battery disposed within the cavity of the body between the first and second solar panel assemblies, the one or more electric batteries configured to power the one or more electric motors and to be charged by electric current generated by the first and second solar panel assemblies.

A method for disassembling a battery housing of a high-voltage battery system, in particular of a vehicle, in which housing parts of the battery housing are in material connection with each other along joining flanges, wherein for disassembling the battery housing a disassembly tool is inserted into a joining gap between the joining flanges to loosen the material connection.

A fire fighting vehicle includes a front axle, a rear axle, an energy storage system, an engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator. In a first mode, (a) the engine is off and (b) at least one of the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator uses stored energy in the energy storage system to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. In a second mode, (a) the engine provides a mechanical input the first motor/generator, (b) the first motor/generator uses the mechanical input to generate electricity, (c) the second motor/generator uses the electricity to drive at least one of the front axle or the rear axle. Any electricity generated by either the first motor/generator or second motor/generator in response to the mechanical input from the engine is never provided to the energy storage system to charge the energy storage system.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly, and a plurality of battery cells. The chassis includes a plurality of frame members. The body assembly is coupled to the plurality of frame members of the chassis. A bottom periphery of the body assembly is defined by a point at which the body assembly couples or contacts a top of the chassis. An uppermost periphery of the plurality of battery cells is spaced a distance below the bottom periphery of the body assembly. At least a portion of the plurality of battery cells extends lower than the plurality of frame members of the chassis.

An embodiment is directed to a contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds between battery cells in a battery module, including at least one primary conductive layer, and a set of bonding connectors that are configured to provide direct electrical bonds between the contact plate and terminals of a group of battery cells, the set of bonding connectors being configured to connect the group of battery cells in parallel with each other, wherein at least one bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors is configured with a higher fuse rating than each other bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors so as to contain arcs among the set of bonding connectors to the at least one bonding connector.

A system is provided to prevent the burning of a vehicle or human injury caused by a fire spread from a battery to a vehicle in the event of a fire in the battery. The battery release system includes a controller that outputs a control signal to release a battery pack from a vehicle to separate the battery pack therefrom when the controller determines that a fire occurs in the battery pack. A mounting structure is rotatably mounted to a body frame and supports the battery pack. A locking device is mounted to the body frame and the locking device locks the mounting structure supporting the battery pack to the body frame, and releases the locked state of the mounting structure in response to the control signal of the controller.

This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

An electrified vehicle includes a front subframe, a rear subframe, and a body that connects the front subframe to the rear subframe so that forces acting on the front subframe and the rear subframe are transmitted through the body. The vehicle also includes a housing coupled to an underside of the body between the front subframe and the rear subframe. An energy storage system is enclosed in the housing and includes a battery and a battery interface configured to electrically couple the battery to at least one component of the electrified vehicle.