Abstract: A powered system has a charging system and a controller arrangement. The charging system is capable of recharging the multi-cell power supply for the system and the controller arrangement enables selection between alternative modes of operation of the system. The charging system is arranged to operate in different regimes in which a target charging voltage across one or more cells or batteries is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation. There is provided a mode for optimizing the battery management for maximum range or, alternatively, a mode for extending charge and discharge cycle life of the multi-cell power supply. There is also a storage mode where the target voltage is set to a minimum value.

Abstract: A powered system has a charging system and a controller arrangement. The charging system is capable of recharging the multi-cell power supply for the system and the controller arrangement enables selection between alternative modes of operation of the system. The charging system is arranged to operate in different regimes in which a target charging voltage across one or more cells or batteries is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation. There is provided a mode for optimising the battery management for maximum range or, alternatively, a mode for extending charge and discharge cycle life of the multi-cell power supply. There is also a storage mode where the target voltage is set to a minimum value.

Abstract: A control system comprising a control input device having a movable magnet, a pole-piece frame arrangement positioned about the magnet and positioned therein at least two magnetic flux sensors for sensing movement of the magnet in a given direction. The control system further comprises a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the output signal of each of the sensors and permits the input device to control the system only when the output of the sensors are within a predefined range. This multiple sensing provides a fail-safe in the event that one of the sensors generates an erroneous signal.