Patent ID: 6308639
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
A locomotive comprising:i) a plurality of traction motors for driving a plurality of axles;ii) a traction power controller for controlling said traction motors;iii) battery storage means for storing electric energy and supplying said electric energy to said traction motors, having an energy storage capacity;iv) a generator having a charging power and electrically connected to said battery storage means for maintaining said battery storage means in a charged state;v) means for controlling the operation of said generator by monitoring the state of charge of said battery, initiating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is below a certain limit and terminating the operation of said generator when said state of charge is above a certain limit;wherein the ratio of the total charging power of said generator to said energy storage capacity is between 4 and 40 hours.