The disclosure is directed to an apparatus or a system for generating energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus or the system may include a roller configured to be positioned in substantial physical contact within a groove of a wheel of the vehicle. The roller may be configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the wheel. The apparatus or the system may further include a flexible arm rotatably couplable to the roller such that rotation of the roller causes the flexible arm to rotate. The flexible arm may be configured to exert a downward force on the roller to increase the friction between the roller and the groove of the wheel. The apparatus or the system may further include a first generator operably coupled to the flexible arm and configured to generate an electrical output based on the rotation of the flexible arm shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or vehicle motor.

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus or a system for generating energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus or the system may include a roller configured to be positioned in substantial physical contact within a groove of a wheel of the vehicle. The roller may be configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the wheel. The apparatus or the system may further include a flexible arm rotatably couplable to the roller such that rotation of the roller causes the flexible arm to rotate. The flexible arm may be configured to exert a downward force on the roller to increase the friction between the roller and the groove of the wheel. The apparatus or the system may further include a first generator operably coupled to the flexible arm and configured to generate an electrical output based on the rotation of the flexible arm shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or vehicle motor.

A power generation system for wheeled objects comprises a generator mechanically coupled to one or more of the object's wheels to convert wheel rotational energy into electrical energy. The power generation system may comprise an electrical storage device configured to store the electrical power produced by the generator. Power from the generator and/or the electrical storage device can be used to provide power to other electrical systems in or on the object. In certain embodiments, the electrical storage device comprises a bank of high-capacity capacitors connected in series. Some embodiments use a control circuit, for example, to regulate the charging and discharging of the capacitor bank and to provide suitable voltages for other systems. The power generation system may be disposed within an object's wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

A power generation system for wheeled objects comprises a generator mechanically coupled to one or more of the object's wheels to convert wheel rotational energy into electrical energy. The power generation system may comprise an electrical storage device configured to store the electrical power produced by the generator. Power from the generator and/or the electrical storage device can be used to provide power to other electrical systems in or on the object. In certain embodiments, the electrical storage device comprises a bank of high-capacity capacitors connected in series. Some embodiments use a control circuit, for example, to regulate the charging and discharging of the capacitor bank and to provide suitable voltages for other systems. The power generation system may be disposed within an object's wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.

An apparatus may generate energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus may include a roller, a shaft, and a generator. The roller may rotate in response to a movement or motion of the wheel and may apply a friction to the wheel to decrease a rotational velocity of the wheel. The shaft may rotate in response to a rotation of the roller. The generator may generate an electrical output based on rotation of the shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or to a motor of the vehicle.

A power delivery system includes a turbocharger assist device and an inverter. The turbocharger assist device is mechanically connected to a turbocharger that is operably coupled to an engine, and is configured to generate electric current based on rotation of a rotor of the turbocharger. The inverter is electrically connected to the turbocharger assist device via a bus, and is configured to receive the electric current generated by the turbocharger assist device via the bus and supply the electric current to power a load.

A transport refrigeration system (1) includes a transportation refrigeration unit (37); a generator (11) connected to a wheel axle (7A) of the transport refrigeration system (1), the wheel axle (7A) being coupled to a wheel (5), wherein the generator (11) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle (7A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit (37); and a damper (23) connected to the wheel axle (7A) between the wheel (5) and the generator (11). Short spikes or pulsations in torque along the wheel axle (7A) resulting from, e.g., harsh braking or wheel blocking can be, dampened, either wholly or partly, by the damper (23) such that damage to the transport refrigeration system (1) can be avoided.

A transport refrigeration system (1) includes a transportation refrigeration unit (37); a generator (11) connected to a wheel axle (7A) of the transport refrigeration system (1), the wheel axle (7A) being coupled to a wheel (5), wherein the generator (11) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle (7A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit (37); and a damper (23) connected to the wheel axle (7A) between the wheel (5) and the generator (11). Short spikes or pulsations in torque along the wheel axle (7A) resulting from, e.g., harsh braking or wheel blocking can be, dampened, either wholly or partly, by the damper (23) such that damage to the transport refrigeration system (1) can be avoided.

Disclosed is a transportation unit comprising: a plurality of roadway wheels including wheel, a plurality of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) including a first CVT and a second CVT, the plurality of CVTs receiving rotational input from the wheel, and a generator that is rotationally driven by rotational output from the plurality of CVTs, and wherein each of the plurality of CVTs is engaged over one of a corresponding plurality of discrete wheel rotational speeds.