Abstract: An energy storage unit for a motor vehicle has a support frame which can be non-destructively detachably mounted on a body of the motor vehicle and a plurality of storage modules for storing electrical energy which can be mounted on the support frame. The storage modules are configured as intrinsically sealed units which can be arranged on the support frame from bottom to top in the vertical direction of the vehicle and can be inserted into respective corresponding receiving openings in the support frame.

Abstract: A feeding device for a manipulator arm has at least one joint, in particular of an industrial robot, having a flexible cable package via which at least one process medium can be fed at least substantially along the end effector of the manipulator arm and having a flexibly slack guide cover element enclosing the cable package. A stiffening device having a holding device is provided, which is arranged in a fixed position on the flexibly slack guide cover element. At least one stiffening element held by the holding device is provided, which, in an activated state of the stiffening device, is acted upon by stiffening energy such that the flexibly slack guide cover element and consequently the cable package are stiffened by the stiffening element.

Abstract: A cover device for a side sill of a passenger vehicle has a sill cover which includes first and second cover elements which are arranged in a length region of the side sill below a door opening and are coupled moveably to one another and a drive unit via which the cover elements are jointly displaceable between a first functional position and a second functional position. The first cover element is pivotable about a first axis and the second cover element is displaceable about a second axis. The second cover element is mounted so as to pivot about the second axis by a bearing device on the first cover element. The displacement movement of the second cover element relative to the first cover element is positively controlled by a slotted link.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical energy accumulator includes a catalyst layer, where the catalyst layer includes an electrically conductive matrix and a chemically active material which is intercalated into the electrically conductive matrix. A protective coating is disposed on the catalyst layer, where the protective coating includes at least one metal oxide and methionine.

Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle involves, for determining a position of the vehicle in a digital environment map, detecting environment data for the vehicle using an on-board sensor system and matched with map data stored in the environment map. A position of the vehicle in a real environment is determined using position data of the vehicle from an on-board satellite receiver. Accuracy of the determined position of the vehicle is determined based on the position data and environment data matched with the environment data. Accuracy is predicted with which the position of the vehicle in the environment map can be determined for a predetermined section of road ahead of the vehicle. Fully automated operation of the vehicle is enabled when the determined accuracy and the predicted accuracy for the predetermined section of road ahead of the vehicle are greater than at least one accuracy threshold.

Abstract: A tank valve for installation at a pressure gas tank has a base body including a first base body section, which in the assembled state projects into the pressure gas tank and is sealingly connected with the same, and includes a second base body section, which in the assembled state remains outside the pressure gas tank. The tank valve further has a plurality of functional sub-groups for refueling the pressure gas tank via a refueling path, for the extraction of gas from the pressure gas tank via an extraction path, and for implementing safety and operating functions.

Abstract: A method for operating a petrol engine, in which air is introduced into an exhaust tract through which exhaust gas from the petrol engine can flow, bypassing the petrol engine, includes introducing the air into the exhaust tract at a point arranged downstream of a first three-way catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust tract and upstream of a second three-way catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust tract downstream of the first three-way catalytic converter, while the petrol engine is operated with a sub-stoichiometric combustion air ratio, where a desulphurization of the second three-way catalytic converter is effected.

Abstract: Simplified methods are disclosed for preparing a catalyst coated membrane that is reinforced with a porous polymer sheet (e.g. an expanded polymer sheet) for use in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The methods involve forming a solid polymer electrolyte membrane by coating membrane ionomer solution onto a first catalyst layer and then applying the porous polymer sheet to the membrane ionomer solution coating, while it is still wet, such that the membrane ionomer solution only partially fills the pores of the porous polymer sheet. A second catalyst ink is then applied which fills the remaining pores of the porous polymer sheet. Not only are such methods simpler than many conventional methods, but surprisingly this can result in a marked improvement in fuel cell performance characteristics.

Abstract: A travel route selection system includes a map information acquisition unit for acquiring map information including transportation route information about a plurality of transportation routes; an electric power consumption map storage unit adapted to prestore a drive-time electric power consumption map used to estimate electric power consumption of an electric truck running on a predetermined route at a predetermined average vehicle speed; an average vehicle speed estimation unit for estimating an average vehicle speed during running on each of the plurality of transportation routes; an electric power consumption estimation unit for estimating electric power consumption on each of the plurality of transportation routes based on the average vehicle speed and on the electric power consumption map; and an optimal route selection unit for selecting an optimal route based on fundamental information including information about the electric power consumption on each of the plurality of transportation routes.

Abstract: A side skirt arrangement of a body of an electrically operable motor vehicle includes a side skirt which has a hollow profile at least in a longitudinal region and to which a battery support frame is attachable by a first fixing element at a fixing point of the side skirt. The side skirt arrangement also includes a reinforcing element disposed within a cavity of the side skirt, where the reinforcing element extends in a transverse direction of the electrically operable vehicle at least over approximately an entire width of the side skirt between two walls of the side skirt. The reinforcing element is disposed in a region of the fixing point and is disposed in a transverse direction of the electrically operable motor vehicle at least partially overlapping with an attached battery support frame.

Abstract: An arrangement for converting thermal energy from lost heat of an internal combustion engine into mechanical energy includes a working circuit for a working medium. An expansion engine is disposed in the working circuit. A heat exchanger is mounted upstream of the expansion engine in a flow direction of the working medium where the working circuit extends through the heat exchange. The heat exchanger includes an exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger having a cold part and a warm part, an exhaust gas heat exchanger, and a phase transition cooling in the internal combustion engine. The heat exchanger is formed by serial connection in a sequence of the cold part of the exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger, the exhaust gas heat exchanger, the phase transition cooling in the internal combustion engine, and the warm part of the exhaust gas recirculation heat exchanger.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has an interior which is accessible via a door opening which can be closed by a door and which can be enlarged from a driving position into a parking position by displacing a vehicle roof region delimiting the door opening. The vehicle roof region can be moved along as part of the at least substantially entire vehicle roof which can be displaced between the driving position and the parking position relative to a lower vehicle body part. The door is mounted on the displaceable vehicle roof.

Abstract: A bodywork structure for a passenger vehicle includes a bodywork shell construction with two longitudinal girders and a flexible crossmember device attached to the two longitudinal girders. The flexible crossmember device has a first flexible crossmember and two energy absorption elements where the two energy absorption elements are respectively fixed to the two longitudinal girders and the first flexible crossmember is connected to the two longitudinal girders via the two energy absorption elements. A support framework is disposed between the two longitudinal girders and has a second flexible crossmember that is at least indirectly connected to the two longitudinal girders and is convexly curved in a direction of the first flexible crossmember. The support framework has a load divider disposed between the first flexible crossmember and the second flexible crossmember in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle and extending in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a pre-chamber which has a plurality of openings and which is fluidically connectable to the combustion chamber via the openings. Two spark gaps are arranged in the pre-chamber via which respective sparks can be formed. The spark gaps are arranged symmetrically distributed in the pre-chamber and a first of the spark gaps is arranged further outwards than the second spark gap along a direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pre-chamber spark plug.

Abstract: A method for starting a fuel cell in a fuel cell system, at temperatures below the freezing point of water, includes, in a first step, that the hydrogen concentration in the anode is increased; after which, in a second step, an anode pressure is increased for a fixed period of time, and while air is supplied to the cathode, the maximum possible current is drawn from the fuel cell, and after which, in a third step, the fuel cell is switched in a load-free manner and the anode pressure is reduced. After the third step, the second step and the third step are repeated successively until a sufficient performance of the fuel cell for its normal operation is reached.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle includes a combustion chamber with a gas exchange valve which is movable between an open position and a first closed position. The gas exchange valve is movable on its path from the open position in a direction of the first closed position into an intermediate position located between the open position and the first closed position and is holdable in the intermediate position at least during a part of a compression cycle of the combustion chamber following the open position of the gas exchange valve and is movable into a second closed position following the intermediate position. The part comprises more than a half of the compression cycle and less than a whole of the compression cycle. The gas exchange valve is an inlet valve via which the combustion chamber is supplyable at least with air.

Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust system, where the exhaust system has a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalytic converter close to the engine and a second SCR catalytic converter arranged downstream of the first. A respective quantity of reducing agent to be introduced into the exhaust gas by a respective dosing element is set depending on a first temperature of the first SCR catalytic converter, where during a period of time during which the first temperature exceeds a predeterminable first threshold value and a second temperature of the second SCR catalytic converter exceeds a predeterminable second threshold value, which is lower than the first threshold value, the introduction of the reducing agent into the exhaust gas with regard to the dosing elements takes place exclusively via the second dosing element such that during the period of time, no introduction of the reducing agent into the exhaust gas takes place.