Electrified roadway systems include a roadway, and vehicles configured to operate on the roadway. The roadway has a base, and two electrically-conductive rails mounted on the base. One of the rails is electrically connected to a source of electric power, and the other rail is electrically connected to an electrical ground. The vehicles include non-electrically-conductive tires, and an electric motor mechanically connected to, and configured to rotate at least one of the tires to propel the vehicle along the roadway. The vehicles draw electric power from the roadway via two electrical pickups that contact the respective rails, and a retracted position at which the pickups are out of contact with the rails. A wear-resistant cover can be positioned on each of the rails. The wear resist covers can have features that maximize the contact area and the contact force between the covers and the rails.

A battery charging assembly includes a load management system, a charging cord with a battery connector, and circuitry for detecting thermal buildup. The load management system monitors the heat buildup in a coiled portion of the charging cord and issues a corresponding signal to control the current flowing through the cord.

A battery charging assembly includes a load management system, a charging cord with a battery connector, and circuitry for detecting thermal buildup. The load management system monitors the heat buildup in a coiled portion of the charging cord and issues a corresponding signal to control the current flowing through the cord.

A battery charging assembly includes a load management system, a charging cord with a battery connector, and circuitry for detecting thermal buildup. The load management system monitors the heat buildup in a coiled portion of the charging cord and issues a corresponding signal to control the current flowing through the cord.

Disclosed is a traffic system and method for motor vehicles (F), comprising, on the side of a traffic lane (12b, 12c), a dedicated track (21) in the form of a “U”-shaped gutter receiving, in a highly automated driving mode, one of the side wheel assemblies (16) of a vehicle, and comprising: • a running surface (22) substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway of the traffic lane (12b, 12c), • two side surfaces (23, 31) located on either side and above the running surface (22), one external (23) and the other internal (31) with respect to the footprint of the vehicle (F), the side surfaces (23, 31) being substantially perpendicular to the running surface (22), the internal side surface (31) maintaining the current ground clearance of the motor vehicles, wherein the side surfaces (23, 31) of the track are substantially continuous longitudinally and in that the system comprises a means for crossing the internal side surface (31) by lateral movement of the side wheels assembly (16) at sustained speed.

FIG. 8

Disclosed is a traffic system and method for motor vehicles (F), comprising, on the side of a traffic lane (12b, 12c), a dedicated track (21) in the form of a “U”-shaped gutter receiving, in a highly automated driving mode, one of the side wheel assemblies (16) of a vehicle, and comprising: • a running surface (22) substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway of the traffic lane (12b, 12c), • two side surfaces (23, 31) located on either side and above the running surface (22), one external (23) and the other internal (31) with respect to the footprint of the vehicle (F), the side surfaces (23, 31) being substantially perpendicular to the running surface (22), the internal side surface (31) maintaining the current ground clearance of the motor vehicles, wherein the side surfaces (23, 31) of the track are substantially continuous longitudinally and in that the system comprises a means for crossing the internal side surface (31) by lateral movement of the side wheels assembly (16) at sustained speed.

FIG. 8

Rail-mounted lift systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the lift system includes a rail having at least one conductor positioned on an upper interior surface of the rail. A carriage may be slidably disposed in the rail for relative movement to the rail. The carriage generally includes a carriage body, at least one pair of support wheels rotatably coupled to the carriage body and slidably engaged with the rail, and a conductor truck comprising at least one conductive roller rotatably attached to the conductor truck. The conductor truck may be mounted to the carriage body with a biasing member upwardly biasing the conductive roller into rolling engagement with the at least one conductor. A lift unit may be coupled to the carriage body and includes a motor paying out and taking up a lifting strap. The lift unit is electrically coupled to the at least one conductive roller.

Rail-mounted lift systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the lift system includes a rail having at least one conductor positioned on an upper interior surface of the rail. A carriage may be slidably disposed in the rail for relative movement to the rail. The carriage generally includes a carriage body, at least one pair of support wheels rotatably coupled to the carriage body and slidably engaged with the rail, and a conductor truck comprising at least one conductive roller rotatably attached to the conductor truck. The conductor truck may be mounted to the carriage body with a biasing member upwardly biasing the conductive roller into rolling engagement with the at least one conductor. A lift unit may be coupled to the carriage body and includes a motor paying out and taking up a lifting strap. The lift unit is electrically coupled to the at least one conductive roller.

A road bearing for inductive coupling to an electrical connection device of an electric vehicle includes a series of primary induction coils, a bearing surface element, and a plurality of deformation features in the bearing surface element. The series of primary induction coils are interconnected to a source of electrical power and disposed in a substantially linear array below a roadway surface and within a roadway structure, and are aligned generally parallel to an alignment of the roadway. The bearing surface element is disposed above the primary induction coils, and has an upper surface that is substantially flush with the roadway surface, has a surface flatness in the range of ±1 μm per 30 mm, and a magnetic permeability in the range of 0.9 to 2. The plurality of deformation features include depressions in the upper surface of the bearing surface element, and are configured to provide friction to vehicle wheels.

A road bearing for inductive coupling to an electrical connection device of an electric vehicle includes a series of primary induction coils, a bearing surface element, and a plurality of deformation features in the bearing surface element. The series of primary induction coils are interconnected to a source of electrical power and disposed in a substantially linear array below a roadway surface and within a roadway structure, and are aligned generally parallel to an alignment of the roadway. The bearing surface element is disposed above the primary induction coils, and has an upper surface that is substantially flush with the roadway surface, has a surface flatness in the range of ±1 μm per 30 mm, and a magnetic permeability in the range of 0.9 to 2. The plurality of deformation features include depressions in the upper surface of the bearing surface element, and are configured to provide friction to vehicle wheels.