Patent ID: 7669534
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,E21F,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A retrofit system for a vehicle, said system comprising: an electrical energy storage system coupled to a traction bus portion of the vehicle, said traction bus carrying electric power to a traction motor, said traction motor having a motoring mode of operation and a power dissipation mode of operation, wherein the traction motor works to propel the vehicle in response to primary electric power received at the traction motor during the motoring mode, wherein the traction motor generates dynamic braking electrical power which is returned to the traction bus when the traction motor is operating in the power dissipation mode, and wherein the vehicle comprises an electrical resistance system having a plurality of strings of resistors for dissipating electric power generated in the traction motor during the power dissipation mode; wherein the energy storage system comprises an electrical power storage device for storing dynamic braking electrical power generated by the traction motor in the power dissipation mode as secondary electrical power, and for transmitting stored secondary electrical power from the storage device to the traction motor to augment the primary electric power to propel the vehicle in the motoring mode; and wherein the energy storage system replaces one or more of the plurality of strings of resistors of the electrical resistance system, such that generated electrical power that would have been dissipated in the replaced one or more strings of resistors is captured by the electrical energy storage system.