A control apparatus includes: a rotor temperature estimation unit estimating a temperature of a rotor based on stator temperature information from a first temperature sensor for identifying a temperature of a stator, refrigerant temperature information from a second temperature sensor for identifying a temperature of refrigerant used to cool an electric motor, and rotation speed information about the rotor from a resolver for identifying a rotation speed of the rotor; and an electric motor control unit controlling at least one of an output characteristic and a drive condition of the electric motor based on the temperature of the rotor estimated by the rotor temperature estimation unit.

A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to a drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, first and second motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem and have different motor characteristics, and a controller. The drive gearbox of each axle transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the first and second motors responsive to at least a torque request. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the first and second motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.

A power generating system architecture includes a prime mover, a generator component including a switched reluctance generator, the switched reluctance generator being mechanically coupled to the prime mover and having a plurality of stator pole windings, a DC power bus connected to at least one output of the switched reluctance generator, the DC power bus including a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, at plurality of series arranged energy storage devices connecting the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar, a plurality of state of charge modules connected to the plurality of energy storage devices, each of the state of charge modules being communicatively coupled to a generator controller, and the generator controller being configured to independently control each of the stator pole windings.

A power generating system architecture includes a prime mover, a generator component including a switched reluctance generator, the switched reluctance generator being mechanically coupled to the prime mover and having a plurality of stator pole windings, a DC power bus connected to at least one output of the switched reluctance generator, the DC power bus including a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, at plurality of series arranged energy storage devices connecting the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar, a plurality of state of charge modules connected to the plurality of energy storage devices, each of the state of charge modules being communicatively coupled to a generator controller, and the generator controller being configured to independently control each of the stator pole windings.

A power system architecture includes a prime mover, a plurality of single phase permanent magnet generators mechanically coupled to the prime mover, a DC power bus including a plurality of DC power storage components, each of the DC energy storage components being electrically connected to at least one of the single phase permanent magnet generators, a plurality of state of charge calculators, each of the state of charge calculators being connected to one of the DC energy storage component and being communicatively coupled to a generator control unit, and wherein the generator control unit is configured to independently control each of the single phase permanent magnet generators.

A traction control system and method are provided for electric vehicles with at least one drive wheel powered by an electric drive motor to maintain optimum maximum traction while the vehicle is driven on the ground. The traction control system includes drive means capable of transmitting torque through a vehicle drive wheel and controllable to move the vehicle over a ground surface. A preferred drive means is an electric motor designed to move the vehicle at desired ground speeds in response to operator input. Operator input requests a desired speed, and the system determines drive wheel torque required to produce the desired speed and provides maximum current to produce maximum torque to drive the vehicle with optimum traction at the desired speed. The system uses constant feedback to find maximum current corresponding to torque required for an inputted speed request to automatically control traction in any electric powered vehicle.

A charging apparatus and an electric vehicle including the same are disclosed. The charging apparatus includes a converter for, in a charging mode, converting an input alternating current (AC) voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage and a controller for controlling the converter. The converter includes a motor and a switching unit that is connected to an additional coil wound on a stator of one phase of the motor, and that supplies the input AC voltage to the motor by performing a switching operation. The converter also includes an inverter that, in a motor operation mode, converts a DC voltage from a battery into an AC voltage by a switching operation and drives the motor. In the charging mode, the inverter converts the input AC voltage into the DC voltage using the additional coil of the motor and the switching unit and supplies the DC voltage to the battery.

A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to a drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, first and second motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem and have different motor characteristics, and a controller. The drive gearbox of each axle transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the first and second motors responsive to at least a torque request. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the first and second motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.

A work machine includes a frame, a traction system supporting the frame, a power source mounted on the frame, a switched reluctance motor, an inverter configured to control power to the motor from a power source, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicating a desired torque and determine if the desired torque is between an upper threshold and a lower threshold. If the desired torque is between the upper threshold and the lower threshold, pulse width modulation is used to produce a PWM adjusted torque command, and the motor is commanded based on the PWM adjusted torque command. The PWM adjusted torque command is configured to cycle between the upper threshold and the lower threshold to produce the desired torque.

In an electric vehicle electric power generated during a regenerative braking operation performed by one or more first electric machines may partially or entirely be consumed by one or more second electric machines of the electric vehicle. In some illustrative embodiments the one or more second electric machines may be operated in a non-torque mode of operation, thereby avoiding any mechanical interference with the power consuming one or more electric machines that are operated in the regenerative mode of operation.