Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed that includes a plurality of cells that each include a face, wherein a terminal is disposed on the faces of each respective cell. A bus bar has a bus bar height and electrically couples the terminals from cell-to-cell within the electrochemical device. A plurality of sheets are disposed between the plurality of cells, the plurality of sheets are substantially the same height as the combined, height of each cell and bus bar.

Abstract: A system is provided for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable. The system includes a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle, and a second region positioned between the pair of first regions. The energy storage system and at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are respectively positioned within one of the pair of first regions and the second region to segregate the energy storage system from at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of the hybrid energy vehicle.

Abstract: A system is provided for connecting a battery to a mounting system. The battery is coupled to a battery connector, and the mounting system is coupled to a mounting system connector. The system includes an inner housing of the battery connector configured to receive a plurality of cables from the battery. The system further includes a respective plurality of male connectors or female receptacles positioned within the inner housing of the battery connector and coupled to the plurality of cables. The plurality of male connectors or female receptacles is configured to remain unexposed upon disconnecting the battery connector from the mounting connector during an unsafe event. The system further includes an outer housing of the battery connector surrounding the inner housing, where the outer housing includes a tapered wall.

Abstract: A system is provided for segregating an energy storage system from at least one of at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of a hybrid energy vehicle. The energy storage system includes at least one energy storage device and at least one hybrid cable. The system includes a pair of first regions proximately positioned below a respective pair of walkways extending along opposing sides of the vehicle, and a second region positioned between the pair of first regions. The energy storage system and at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable are respectively positioned within one of the pair of first regions and the second region to segregate the energy storage system from at least one of the at least one air pipe and at least one electric cable of the hybrid energy vehicle.

Abstract: Batteries are disclosed that include a plurality of cooling plates, a plurality of cells disposed between adjacent cooling plates, a plurality of insulating sheets disposed between adjacent cells, a plurality of bus bars interconnecting the plurality of cells, an inner casing surrounding the plurality of cooling plates, the plurality of cells, the plurality of insulating sheets, and the plurality of bus bars, an outer casing surrounding the inner casing so as to form a gap therebetween, a layer of insulating material disposed inside at least a portion of the gap, and several other structural features in different embodiments of the invention configured to prevent motion of the cells relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for self-directed operation of a locomotive (12) in a rail yard (82) using a control system (64) on the locomotive for controlling locomotive operations. The method includes establishing at least one operational area (e.g. 74, 76, 78) within the rail yard and associating an operational parameter with each area. The method also includes operating the locomotive using the control system and sensing a location of the locomotive within an operational area. The method further includes determining whether the locomotive is operating within the operational parameter established for the area of its location. If the locomotive is determined not to be operating within the operational parameter, an operation of the locomotive is automatically controlled to operate within the respective operational parameter, without operator input to the control system. The system includes a location detector (62) in communication with the control system to automatically control locomotive operation.