Abstract: An entry/egress system for a vehicle includes a housing mountable to a structural member in the vehicle. An actuator is arranged at the housing. The actuator is connectable to a source of electrical power in the vehicle. A lift mechanism is operatively connected to the actuator. A support member is operatively connected to the lift mechanism. The support member is selectively shiftable between a user entry position and a user egress position. A control system is operatively connected to the actuator. The control system is operable to shift the support member to one of the user entry position and the user egress position.

Abstract: Presented are battery assemblies containing long prismatic cells with interleaved gas manifolds and electrical busbars, methods for making/using such battery assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such battery assemblies. A prismatic battery assembly includes multiple stacks of prismatic battery cells that are located inside of and extend longitudinally across a rigid and insulated assembly housing. Each battery cell includes a prism-shaped cell can that contains one or more electrochemical cells. Located at one or both lateral ends of each cell can are a cell vent and a pair of electrical terminals. Electrically connected to the battery cell terminals is an electrical busbar that is located inside the assembly housing, either between the cell stacks or laterally outboard of the cell stacks. Fluidly connected to the battery cell vents is a gas manifold that is located inside the assembly housing, either between the cell stacks or laterally outboard of the cell stacks.

Abstract: An entry/egress system for a vehicle includes a housing mountable to a structural member in the vehicle. An actuator is arranged at the housing. The actuator is connectable to a source of electrical power in the vehicle. A lift mechanism is operatively connected to the actuator. A support member is operatively connected to the lift mechanism. The support member is selectively shiftable between a user entry position and a user egress position. A control system is operatively connected to the actuator. The control system is operable to shift the support member to one of the user entry position and the user egress position.

Abstract: Enhanced features of a vehicle based transportation system are presented here. In accordance with one methodology, the transportation system processes ride requests for multiple passengers of an autonomous vehicle based transportation system. Each ride request is associated with a respective pickup location and a respective destination location. The system calculates a respective passenger transportation route for each actively operating autonomous vehicle, wherein each passenger transportation route is based at least in part on the pickup locations and destination locations associated with the ride requests, and wherein each passenger transportation route is calculated in accordance with predetermined prioritization criteria. The actively operating autonomous vehicles are controlled in a desired manner to satisfy at least some of the ride requests.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. An engine includes a crankshaft that defines a crank axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A transmission includes an output shaft that defines a transmission output axis substantially parallel with the crank axis. The transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis. The crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis a distance of about 140 mm. The engine includes at least one cylinder bore that defines a bore axis disposed perpendicular to and may intersect the crank axis. The bore axis may be angled toward the forward end of the vehicle structure to define an angle between the bore axis and a vertical plane. The angle between the bore axis and the vertical plane may be about 18°.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. An engine includes a crankshaft that defines a crank axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A transmission includes an output shaft that defines a transmission output axis substantially parallel with the crank axis. The transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis. The crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis a distance of about 140 mm. The engine includes at least one cylinder bore that defines a bore axis disposed perpendicular to and may intersect the crank axis. The bore axis may be angled toward the forward end of the vehicle structure to define an angle between the bore axis and a vertical plane. The angle between the bore axis and the vertical plane may be about 18°.