The invention relates to a method for inductive energy transmission from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil spaced apart from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is arranged in a vehicle which is arranged stationary or is travelling on a supporting surface, wherein the vehicle has at least one sensor. In a first method step (A) a distance between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is determined, in a second method step (B) a minimum possible air gap between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is calculated from the distance, and in a third method step (C) the receiving coil is positioned such that the distance corresponds to the minimum possible air gap.

The invention relates to a method for inductive energy transmission from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil spaced apart from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is arranged in a vehicle which is arranged stationary or is travelling on a supporting surface, wherein the vehicle has at least one sensor. In a first method step (A) a distance between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is determined, in a second method step (B) a minimum possible air gap between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is calculated from the distance, and in a third method step (C) the receiving coil is positioned such that the distance corresponds to the minimum possible air gap.

The power supply system includes a plurality of power supply apparatuses configured to transmit power to vehicles by non-contact. The plurality of power supply apparatuses includes a first power supply apparatus installed in a first region positioned on a road directly connected to an exit of an area in which operation of internal combustion engines is prohibited or restricted and where an amount of traffic of vehicles at least temporarily becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and a second power supply apparatus installed in a second region different from the first region. An amount of power supplied from the first power supply apparatus to a vehicle is made greater than an amount of power supplied from the second power supply apparatus to a vehicle.

The power supply system includes a plurality of power supply apparatuses installed at a road at surroundings of an area in which operation of internal combustion engines is prohibited or restricted and configured so as to transmit power to vehicles by non-contact. The plurality of power supply apparatuses include a first power supply apparatus installed at a first point where a distance of a running route up to an entrance of the area or a straight route up to the entrance or a boundary of the area is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and a second power supply apparatus installed at a second point where the distance is greater than the predetermined distance. An amount of power supply to a vehicle from the first power supply apparatus is made greater than an amount of power supply to a vehicle from the second power supply apparatus.

A system for electrically connecting a vehicle to track electrodes, the system comprising vehicle electrodes configured to be electrically connected with a respective one of the track electrodes; actuators operatively connecting the vehicle electrodes to a structure of the vehicle for displacement of the vehicle electrodes relative to the structure of the vehicle, the actuators operable to vary distances between the vehicle electrodes and the track electrodes; sensors operatively mounted to one of the vehicle or track electrodes, the sensors detecting variations in the distances; and a controller operatively connected to the actuators for actuating the actuators as a function of the variations in the distances detected by the sensors.

A system for electrically connecting a vehicle to track electrodes, the system comprising vehicle electrodes configured to be electrically connected with a respective one of the track electrodes; actuators operatively connecting the vehicle electrodes to a structure of the vehicle for displacement of the vehicle electrodes relative to the structure of the vehicle, the actuators operable to vary distances between the vehicle electrodes and the track electrodes; sensors operatively mounted to one of the vehicle or track electrodes, the sensors detecting variations in the distances; and a controller operatively connected to the actuators for actuating the actuators as a function of the variations in the distances detected by the sensors.

A fast charging system for electrically driven vehicles and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between a vehicle and a stationary charging station, the fast charging system having a contact device, a charging contact device and a positioning device, said contact device or said charging contact device being disposeable on a vehicle, said charging contact device being electrically contacted using the contact device when in a contact position, said contact device being positioned in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction with respect to the charging contact device as well as being moved to the contact position by means of the positioning device, said charging contact device comprising a charging-contact-element carrier having charging contact elements, said charging contact elements each forming a strip-shaped charging contact surface, said contact device comprising a contact element carrier having contact elements, said contact elements each forming a contact surface which is smaller than the charging contact surfaces, said contact elements being electrically contacted with the charging contact elements for forming contact pairs in each instance when in the contact position, the charging contact surfaces and the contact surfaces being disposed such in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other that a respective physical contact between the charging contact surfaces and the contact surfaces is formed in a defined order at respective longitudinal ends of the charging contact surfaces.

An energy transfer device is configured for electrically connecting an electrical vehicle to a charging station. The energy transfer device includes a lengthwise link having an upper end and lower end and a crosswise link having an upper end and lower end. The lower ends of the lengthwise link and the crosswise link are configured to be arranged on the electrical vehicle slidably in crosswise direction of the electrical vehicle. The upper end of the crosswise link is connected to the lengthwise link between its ends such that, by sliding the lower ends of the lengthwise link and the crosswise link towards each other, the upper end of the lengthwise link will be moved away from the electrical vehicle for connecting to the charging station.

An energy transfer device is configured for electrically connecting an electrical vehicle to a charging station. The energy transfer device includes a lengthwise link having an upper end and lower end and a crosswise link having an upper end and lower end. The lower ends of the lengthwise link and the crosswise link are configured to be arranged on the electrical vehicle slidably in crosswise direction of the electrical vehicle. The upper end of the crosswise link is connected to the lengthwise link between its ends such that, by sliding the lower ends of the lengthwise link and the crosswise link towards each other, the upper end of the lengthwise link will be moved away from the electrical vehicle for connecting to the charging station.

A charging station charges an electrical energy accumulator of a road vehicle. For energy supply from a two-pole overhead line system, the road vehicle has a pantograph with at least one wearing strip, which can be raised and lowered, for each contact pole. For each contact pole, the charging station contains at least two charging contacts which are arranged above a charging position for the road vehicle and are arranged next to each other so that for each contact pole at least two contact points can be established between the wearing strip and the charging contacts. This makes it possible to transmit higher charging currents, which shortens the charging time for the energy accumulator.