A vehicle provided with an electric propulsion system and a method for controlling the electric propulsion system are provided. The system includes a first Electrical Motor (EM1) connected via first Electrical Connections (EC1) to an on-board Energy Storage System (ESS1) and drivingly connected to wheels. The system further includes a second Electrical Motor (EM2) connected via second Electrical Connections (EC2) to one or several electrical energy sources and drivingly connected to wheels. The system is controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Electrical Motors (EM1, EM2) are used in dependence of the State Of Charge (SOC) level in the first Energy Storage System (ESS1) and the availability of electrical energy for the second Electrical Motor (EM2). The ECU is programmed to include an energy transfer mode in which the use of the second Electric Motor (EM2) for propulsive force is increased and the use of the first Electric Motor (EM1) for regenerative breaking is increased when the State Of Charge (SOC) level in the first electrical Energy Storage System (ESS1) is below a defined level and it is estimated that there is more electrical energy available for the second Electrical Motor (EM2) than for the first Electrical Motor (EM1).

A vehicle is provided that comprises two or more radio frequency (RF) antennas and two or more RF transceivers to communicate wirelessly sensitive information associated with a user of the vehicle (the two or more RF antennas being at different physical locations on an exterior of the vehicle). The vehicle determines which one of the two or more RF antennas is receiving a strongest signal from a common signal source, selects a first RF transceiver associated with the RF antenna with the strongest signal to send the sensitive information associated with the user to the common signal source, and sends the sensitive information associated with the user to the first RF transceiver for transmission to the common signal source.

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.

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 propulsion system includes plural inverters configured to be onboard a vehicle and to convert direct current into an alternating current, and plural motors configured to receive the alternating current from the inverters. The motors also are configured to be operably coupled with axles of the vehicle to rotate the axles. The inverters are configured to be coupled with and control the motors that rotate non-neighboring axles of the axles in the vehicle.

An automobile roof panel including solar cells, wherein a seating groove for seating a solar cell module is formed on a surface of the automobile roof panel, the solar cell module is inserted and seated in the seating groove, and an outer protective film for protecting the solar cell module is attached onto the surface of the automobile roof panel.

A mechanical stabilization system for a battery assembly is disclosed. The system includes an actuator and a stabilizer that are configured to work in concert. The actuator and stabilizer are disposed in a housing of the battery assembly. The system may be implemented by depression of the actuator disposed in the housing, which causes the stabilizer to retract a support post into the housing. The depression can occur during a docking operation of the battery assembly with a lift mechanism for an electric vehicle. When the actuator is released, the support post automatically reverts to its previous, deployed state. The support post is configured to maintain the battery assembly in a stable configuration when the battery assembly is separated from the electric vehicle.

A mechanical stabilization system for a battery assembly is disclosed. The system includes an actuator and a stabilizer that are configured to work in concert. The actuator and stabilizer are disposed in a housing of the battery assembly. The system may be implemented by depression of the actuator disposed in the housing, which causes the stabilizer to retract a support post into the housing. The depression can occur during a docking operation of the battery assembly with a lift mechanism for an electric vehicle. When the actuator is released, the support post automatically reverts to its previous, deployed state. The support post is configured to maintain the battery assembly in a stable configuration when the battery assembly is separated from the electric vehicle.

A vehicle is provided that determines a first triggering event in predetermined triggering event information has occurred, in response to a first event, automatically forwards a first communication to a selected third party vendor to preorder a product or service of the selected third party vendor in connection with a transaction with the user, determines a second triggering event in the triggering event information has occurred, and in response to the later second event, automatically sends an authorization to complete the transaction by providing financial information to the selected third party vendor.