Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.

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 discharging control system of a vehicle that supplies power to a load device outside the vehicle via a power cable, includes a connection signal line, a detector, and a controller. The connection signal line is configured such that a potential thereof changes in response to a discharging connector provided on the power cable being connected to the vehicle. The detector is configured to detect the potential of the connection signal line. The controller is configured to control a physical quantity related to the power supplied from the vehicle to the load device, based on the potential detected by the detector.

An apparatus for preventing overcharge of a battery in an eco-vehicle includes: a detector detecting the overcharge of the battery; and a signal processor controlling a high voltage relay according to an output signal output from the detector to block a charge of the battery.

A battery-powered motor may include an electric motor, a controller, and a housing. The electric motor may be wound to enable the battery-powered motor to achieve a non-limited motor maximum motor revolutions per minute (RPM) for at least one specified battery. The controlling current may include limiting current to the electric motor at lower RPMs, and limiting the current to prevent the RPM of the electric motor from exceeding a limited maximum motor RPM which is lower than the non-limited motor maximum RPM. The housing may enclose the electric motor and the controller and the specified battery. The housing may have a form factor to engage with a machine that engages with an internal combustion engine that has a maximum engine RPM that is approximately the same as the limited maximum motor RPM.

A powertrain for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle applications with integrated three-phase AC charging featuring buck-boost operation and optional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, along with corresponding methods and machine instruction sets for switch control. The powertrain can include of a three-phase current source converter (CSC) front-end with an associated input filter, a polarity inversion module, and in an embodiment, a dual-inverter motor drive. The dual-inverter drive is the source of both the back emf and requisite DC inductance for the CSC. A compact design is thus provided as no additional magnetics are required and the on-board cooling system required for traction mode can be re-deployed for charging and V2G mode. The powertrain is mode shifted between charging and V2G mode through an optional polarity inversion module.

An energy transportation and grid support system utilizes at least one transportable containment module capable of storing thermal or chemical energy typically produced from renewable or geothermal sources and providing connectivity with energy conversion equipment typically located in a land or sea-based operating facility. The system includes circuitry to hookup to an adjacent electricity grid for the provision of grid support and/or piping to move thermal energy typically used to drive steam turbines generating electricity. The operating facility also includes a communication arrangement to link with and exchange operations control data with a grid or heating operator and the energy transportation operator. The invention is directed to both apparatus and method for the energy transportation and grid support system.

A method (100) for operating a vehicle (1) with an electric drive-train (2), wherein this electric drivetrain (2) is fed via a DC voltage source (3) and a converter (4) for converting the DC voltage into a single-phase or multiphase AC voltage, comprising the steps: —it is detected (110) that the vehicle (1) is stopped; — it is checked (120) on the basis of at least one specified criterion (10) whether the vehicle (1) is expected to be stopped only briefly; —in response to the fact that the vehicle (1) is expected to be stopped only briefly, the vehicle (1) is transferred (130) from the ready-to-drive state into a disabled state, wherein in this disabled state the vehicle (1) is protected against unauthorized use but the converter (4) continues to be supplied with the DC voltage from the DC voltage source (3); —in response to the fact that the vehicle (1) is not expected to be stopped only briefly, at least one functional test of the electric drivetrain (2), said test being provided for powering down the electric drivetrain (2), is performed (140), and after the termination of this functional test the vehicle (1) is transferred (150) into a switched-off state, in which the vehicle (1) is secured against unauthorized use and the supply of the converter (4) from the DC voltage source (3) is interrupted.

Disclosed is a Zero Emission Onboard Charging System that charges the main battery of an electric vehicle when the vehicle is being driven in full operation or is at rest. The Zero Emission Onboard Charging System includes at least one direct current (DC) belt driven generator, at least one wheel, at least one pulley attached to the at least one wheel and configured to be attached by belts to the at least one DC belt driven generator, the at least one DC belt driven generator being configured to be driven by the belts attached to the at least one pulley while the electric vehicle is being driven, a voltage regulator wired to the at least one DC belt driven generator, the voltage regulator being configured to regulate DC power received from the at least one DC belt driven generator and to output a grid-equivalent alternating current (AC) charge output, a charging box wired to the voltage regulator, the charging box being configured to receive the charge output from the voltage regulator, a charge cable having two ends configured with a plug, wherein a first end is plugged into the charging box, and wherein the charge cable is configured to receive the charge output from the charging box, a charge port connected to the charge cable by a second end of the charge cable being plugged into the charge port, the charge port being configured to receive the charge output through the charge cable, and a main battery wired to the charge port, the main battery being configured to receive the charge output from the charge port while the electric vehicle is being driven.

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controllers, dual power inverter modules, and electric vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller includes one or more processors associated with a first and second power inverter for the drive unit. Computer-readable media for the one or more processors are each configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to apply a same fault action to the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to a fault associated with an inverter chosen from the first power inverter and the second power inverter, wherein the same fault action includes applying equalized torque to each axle operatively coupled to the drive unit.