An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

A charging system and method for charging a battery of a vehicle is disclosed. The charging system includes a movable member, such as a wind-driven element. The charging system also includes means for exposing the wind-driven element during vehicle deceleration and for covering the wind-driven element during vehicle acceleration and coasting. The charging system further includes electrical power generating means operably associated with the wind-driven element and the battery such that the electrical power generating means provides electrical power for recharging the battery when the electrical power generating means receives mechanical power from the wind-driven element. Alternative embodiments can include a drop-wheel as a movable member.

A vehicle propulsion system includes a plurality of power sources coupled to a final drive of the vehicle propulsion system. A controller is programmed to determine a desired power demand from the power sources and operate a number of the power sources to produce the desired power demand. The controller identifies a least efficient power source of the power sources and controls the least efficient power source to produce power at an optimum operating point of the least efficient power source. The controller also identifies a power output of the least efficient power source corresponding to the optimum operating point, compares the power output of the least efficient power source to the desired power demand, identifies a remaining power demand from the comparison, and controls another power source to produce the remaining power demand.

A vehicle driving system 1 includes a first motor/generator M/G1 which is mechanically connected to either of front wheels Wf and rear wheels Wr of a vehicle, a second motor/generator M/G2 which is electrically connected with the first motor/generator M/G1, and a flywheel FW which is mechanically connected with the second motor/generator M/G2 and which stores kinetic energy. The second motor/generator M/G2 is mechanically connected to the other of the front wheels Wf and the rear wheels Wr of the vehicle.

A hybrid power drive system for an aircraft that comprises a rotor and a first power drive sub-system. The first power drive sub-system includes at least one engine in connection with the rotor and provides a first power to the rotor. The hybrid power drive system also includes a second power drive sub-system connected in parallel to the first power drive sub-system, which supplements with a second power the first power delivered to the rotor during operation of the aircraft. In addition, an electric power source provides a third power to the second power drive sub-system.

In this vehicle mounting structure of a contactless power reception device, a power reception-side coil that configured to be mounted on a bottom surface of a vehicle body and that has an electrically conductive wire wound with the vehicle longitudinal direction as the coil axis is attached to the vehicle body by means of a fastening member made of a magnetic body. The fastening member is disposed to the outside of the power reception-side coil in a direction perpendicular to the coil axis.

The invention provides a powertrain for an electric vehicle, and an electric vehicle as such. The powertrain has an electric motor and a drivetrain for transmitting rotary power from the electric motor to at least one of the vehicle wheels. A mechanical rotary transmission is provided in association with a flywheel. The mechanical rotary transmission is controllable to transmit power in a direction from the vehicle wheels to the flywheel and further transmit power in the reverse direction. Power from both the electric motor and the flywheel is concurrently used to accelerate the vehicle. The vehicle kinetic energy is recovered and stored at the flywheel during vehicle deceleration. The motor vehicle has at least one battery unit to supply the electric motor. The battery unit is removable from the vehicle, without tools, and is portable so that it is carried away from the vehicle for charging.

An apparatus is provided comprising a flywheel (112) for storing kinetic energy and an electrical machine (190) mechanically coupled to the flywheel and arranged for conversion between mechanical and electrical energy. The apparatus is arranged for transferring energy between the flywheel and a vehicle transmission via a variable ratio transmission (182). The electrical machine is coupled to the flywheel via a disconnect clutch which comprises a magnetic coupling (116).

A method for dynamic control of an electric vehicle operable based on a throttle value received from a throttle and a default throttle map correlating default output values with throttle values, the method including: determining a user parameter; detecting a condition indicative of perturbation; in response to detecting the condition indicative of perturbation, determining a replacement output value for a first throttle value based on the user parameter; and controlling vehicle operation to meet the replacement output value in response to receipt of the first throttle value.

The present invention discloses an automotive hybrid energy supply system and method. The system comprises a solar cell module, a storage battery module, an input conversion module, a DC-AC inverter, a traction motor, a flywheel module, and a control module; when an automobile operates, the flywheel module provides driving power to the automobile; the control module acquires an operating state of the automobile, output parameters of the flywheel module, and SOC of the solar cell module and the storage battery module, and determines the maximum power that can be provided by the flywheel module according to the output parameters, and when the maximum power output by the flywheel module is less than the driving power required by the automobile, the input conversion module is controlled to switch the DC power output by the solar cell module and/or the storage battery module into the DC-AC inverter; and the DC-AC inverter converts the DC power into AC power to drive the traction motor. The present invention can reduce the pollution of the automobile to the environment, increase use efficiency of the energy, and increase the cruising range of the automobile.