Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.

Abstract: A contactor unit includes an input lead connectable to a first lead of an energy output device, an output lead connectable to a first lead of a voltage bus, a contactor that connects and disconnects the input lead from the output lead, a driver configured to operate the contactor, a serial data link connectable to a system controller that is external to the contactor unit, and an integrated circuit (IC) positioned within the contactor unit and configured to output a control command to the driver to open the contactor based on at least one of a current in either the input lead or the output lead and a voltage differential across the contactor, and output a contactor control status via the serial data link.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing an electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator comprises a fractional-slot concentrated winding having two sets of terminals, wherein a first set of terminals configures the fractional-slot concentrated winding to have a first pole-number (P1), and wherein a second set of terminals configures the fractional-slot concentrated winding to have a second pole number (P2) different from the first pole-number (P1).

Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring energy using onboard power electronics comprises a first energy storage device configured to output a DC voltage and a DC bus coupled to the first energy storage device, the DC bus coupleable to a high-impedance voltage source. The apparatus also comprises a braking resistor coupled to the DC bus and to a control circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the control circuit to cause on the DC bus to be dissipated through the braking resistor during a regenerative braking event, cause the first energy storage device to receive a charging energy from the high-impedance voltage source through the braking resistor during a charging event, and after a threshold value has been crossed, cause the first energy storage device to receive the charging energy from the high-impedance voltage source bypassing the braking resistor during the charging event.

Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first energy storage device configured to output a DC voltage, a first bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the first energy storage device, and a charge bus coupled to the first energy storage device and to the first bi-directional voltage modification assembly. The apparatus also comprises high-impedance voltage source coupleable to the charge bus and a controller configured to monitor a transfer of charging energy supplied from the high-impedance voltage source to the first energy storage device. The controller is also configured to compare the monitored transfer of charging energy with a threshold value and, after the threshold value has been crossed, control the first bi-directional voltage modification assembly to modify one of a voltage and a current of the charging energy supplied to the first energy storage device.

Abstract: A vehicular energy management system (EMS) determines a net total power from a traction drive load, an auxiliary device load, and a regenerative power. If the net total power is a net supply power, the EMS causes regenerative power to be provided to a power source and energy source in a controlled manner to initially charge the power source to a desired state-of-charge (SOC) and then subsequently charge the energy source. If the net total power comprises a net power load, the EMS causes power to be drawn from the power source and the energy source, with a split of the power being drawn from the power source and the energy source being based on a magnitude of the net power load. The EMS adjusts/maintains the SOC set-point of the power source and the DC link voltage based on vehicle speed and relative altitude of travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.

Abstract: An energy storage and management system (ESMS) includes one or more energy storage devices configured to store electrical energy, a power electronic conversion system having a plurality of energy ports and including a plurality of DC electrical converters, and a controller configured to split a source current flowing from an electrical source that is connected to one of the plurality of energy ports into a first current and a second current, wherein the first and second currents flows respectively first and second of the plurality of DC converters, alter the first current and the second current by selectively turning on and turning off current flow to the first and second DC converters, and form a charging current by passing the first current and the second current simultaneously to a first of the one or more energy storage devices that is coupled to a second of the plurality of energy ports.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an energy storage device, a bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter coupled to the energy storage device, and an input device. A voltage bus is coupled to the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter and to the input device. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to control the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter to convert a charging energy on the voltage bus into a charging energy suitable for charging the energy storage device during a charging operation and to monitor a voltage of the energy storage device during the charging operation. The controller is also configured to control the bi-directional DC-to-DC voltage converter to convert the charging energy into a charging energy configured to maintain the voltage of the energy storage device at a pre-determined value.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communication module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convert a second low voltage electricity from a low voltage power line to a second high voltage electricity. The communication module is programmed to provide time data representing time of day information along the low voltage power line to an electrical device and provide location data representing location information along the low voltage power line to the electrical device. The location information includes a geographic location of the distribution transformer.

Abstract: An energy storage and management system (ESMS) includes energy storage devices coupled to a power device, a power electronic conversion system that includes a plurality of DC electrical converters, each DC electrical converter configured to step up and to step down a DC voltage, wherein energy ports of the ESMS are coupleable to each of the energy storage devices, and each of the energy ports is coupleable to an electrical charging system. The ESMS includes a controller configured to determine a first condition of a first energy storage device and a second condition of a second energy storage device, wherein the first and second energy storage devices are each connected to respective energy ports of the power conversion system, determine a power split factor based on the first condition and on the second condition, and regulate power to the first and second energy storage devices based on the power split factor.

Abstract: An energy management system (ESMS) includes energy storage devices coupled to a vehicle drivetrain and configured to store DC energy, a power electronic conversion system having energy ports, the power electronic conversion system comprising a DC electrical converters, each DC electrical converter configured to step up and to step down a DC voltage, wherein each of the energy ports is coupleable to each of the energy storage devices and each of the energy ports is coupleable to an electrical charging system. The EV includes a controller configured to determine a voltage of each energy port having either an energy storage device or a DC electrical charging system coupled thereto, and electrically connect a first energy port to a second energy port such that at least one of the DC electrical converters either steps up or steps down an input DC voltage based on the determined voltage of each energy port.

Abstract: A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.

Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system is provided that includes a first energy storage device (ESD) coupled to a direct current (DC) link. A bi-directional buck/boost converter includes an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A second ESD coupled to the input channel has a usable energy storage range defining an entire amount of usable energy storable therein. A database includes stored information related to a known acceleration event. A system controller is configured to acquire the stored information related to the known acceleration event and, during the known acceleration event, cause the buck/boost converter to boost the voltage of the second ESD and to supply the boosted voltage to the DC link such that after the known acceleration event, the state of charge of the second ESD is less than or substantially equal to a minimum usable energy storage state of charge.

Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing an electric machine comprising a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator comprises a fractional-slot concentrated winding having two sets of terminals, wherein a first set of terminals configures the fractional-slot concentrated winding to have a first pole-number (P1), and wherein a second set of terminals configures the fractional-slot concentrated winding to have a second pole number (P2) different from the first pole-number (P1).

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including a distribution transformer having a communications module. The distribution transformer is configured to convert a first high voltage electricity from a high voltage distribution line to a first low voltage electricity and convey the first low voltage electricity along a low voltage line to an electrical device. The communications module is configured to transmit a load reduction request along the low voltage line to the electrical device.

Abstract: An auxiliary drive circuit includes a first energy storage device coupled to a first DC bus and configured to output electrical power to the first DC bus, a first switch-mode power supply coupled to the first DC bus and to a second DC bus, the first switch-mode power supply configured to convert the electrical power to a first voltage and to output the first voltage to the second DC bus, and a second switch-mode power supply coupled to the second DC bus and coupled to an auxiliary bus, the second switch-mode power supply configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage and to provide the second voltage to the auxiliary bus, the auxiliary bus configured to provide an auxiliary voltage to an auxiliary drive system, wherein the second voltage is different from the first voltage.

Abstract: A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the system including a first battery, a second battery, and a load coupled to the batteries. The system includes a passive storage device, a unidirectional conducting apparatus coupled in series electrical circuit with the passive storage device and poled to conduct current from the passive storage device to the load, the series electrical circuit coupled in parallel with the battery such that the passive storage device provides current to the load when the battery terminal voltage is less than voltage on the passive storage device, and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement.