Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging an electric bus having a charging interface on its roof may include determining that an approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station, lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus, and moving the bus with the charge head on its roof to engage the charging head with the charging interface.

Abstract: A temperature control system for an electric vehicle includes a cabin temperature control system configured to control flow of a refrigerant through one or more heat exchangers to control a temperature of a cabin of the electric vehicle, a battery temperature control system configured to control the flow of a coolant through one or more heat exchangers to control a temperature of a battery system of the electric vehicle, and a power electronics temperature control system configured to control the flow of coolant through one or more heat exchangers to control a temperature of one or more power electronics. In a first configuration of the temperature control system, the battery temperature control system and the power electronics temperature control system may be thermally isolated, and, in a second configuration, the battery temperature control system and the power electronics temperature control system may thermally interact.

Abstract: A battery system may include a controller and multiple parallel connected battery strings, with each string including at least one battery, a passive overcurrent protection device and an active overcurrent protection device. The passive overcurrent protection device may be configured to disconnect the string from the battery system when an electrical current in the string exceeds a first threshold value, and the active overcurrent protection device may be configured to disconnect the string from the battery system upon activation by the controller. The controller may be configured to (a) activate a first active overcurrent protection device of a first string of the multiple strings at a first time, and (b) activate a second active overcurrent protection device of a second string of the multiple strings at a second time different from the first time.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging system includes a power distributing system configured to receive power from a power control system and selectively direct the power to one of a plurality of power dispensers coupled to the power distribution system.

Abstract: A method for balancing energy in an energy storage system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a first voltage of a first energy storage unit (ESU) and a second voltage of a second energy storage unit of the energy storage system, and determining a discharge time corresponding to the detected second voltage. The method may also include discharging energy from the first energy storage unit, while not discharging energy from the second energy storage unit, for a duration of the determined discharge time.

Abstract: An electric vehicle may include an electric motor, a suspension system, an inverter configured to control the electric motor based on an inverter signal, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive data indicative a desired torque and data from the suspension system, and determine the inverter signal based on (a) the operator input data and (b) the data from the suspension system, and direct the determined inverter signal to the inverter.

Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a first battery module with a first heater and a second battery module with a second heater. The battery system also includes a control system configured to selectively activate the first or the second heater to dissipate energy from the first or the second battery module.

Abstract: Vehicle depots or yards adapted to charge multiple electric vehicles include multiple charging electrodes to simultaneously direct power to multiple electric vehicles. The charging electrodes may direct power to the electric vehicles from an utility grid or from a secondary power source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging an electric bus having a charging interface on its roof may include determining that an approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station, lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus, and moving the bus with the charge head on its roof to engage the charging head with the charging interface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for dynamic bus routing includes receiving a request from a commuter for transportation from an origin to a destination, determining a commuter bus route to service the commuter request, determining a transportation network company (TNC) schedule from the origin to a commuter bus pick-up point for the commuter, scheduling a commuter bus trip from the commuter bus pick-up point to a commuter bus drop-off point for the commuter, determining a TNC schedule from the commuter bus drop-off point to the destination for the commuter, dispatching a first TNC driver to the origin for the commuter and scheduling a dispatch of a second TNC driver to the commuter bus drop-off point for the commuter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a powertrain including an axle having a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, a first motor and a first gearbox operatively coupled to the first drive wheel, and a second motor and a second gearbox operatively coupled to the second drive wheel. The electric vehicle may also include a radiator including coolant, and an oil manifold including first and second oil inlets, first and second oil outlets, first and second coolant inlets, and at least one coolant outlet. The oil manifold may be fluidly connected to the first and second gearboxes, the first and second motors, and to the radiator.

Abstract: A charging station for charging an electric vehicle may include a first pair of charging electrodes electrically connected to a first charger and a second pair of charging electrodes electrically connected to a second charger electrically isolated from the first charger. The first pair charging electrodes may be configured to make contact with and provide power to a first pair of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle, and the second pair charging electrodes may be configured to make contact with and provide power to the first pair of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A method of controlling the battery system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a thermal event in a first battery pack of a plurality of battery packs of the battery system, and at least partially powering down the electric vehicle automatically in response to the detected thermal event. The method may also include initiating a thermal rejection scheme in response to the detected thermal event.

Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a first battery module with a first heater and a second battery module with a second heater. The battery system also includes a control system configured to selectively activate the first or the second heater to dissipate energy from the first or the second battery module.

Abstract: A method for balancing energy in an energy storage system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a first voltage of a first energy storage unit (ESU) and a second voltage of a second energy storage unit of the energy storage system, and determining a discharge time corresponding to the detected second voltage. The method may also include discharging energy from the first energy storage unit, while not discharging energy from the second energy storage unit, for a duration of the determined discharge time.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

Abstract: A low-floor electric bus includes a plurality of battery packs mounted under the floor of such that the floor inside the bus between a front axle and a rear axle of the bus is substantially flat. Each battery pack may include an enclosure and multiple battery modules positioned within the enclosure. And, each battery module may include a plurality of battery cells electrically connected together.

Abstract: A method of locating an electric vehicle at a charging station having multiple chargers is includes, receiving at multiple fixed transceivers positioned at different locations in the charging station, signals from the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle moves in the charging station, and determining, at a controller, a current location of the electric vehicle in the charging station using the signals received by the multiple fixed transceivers.