Patent ID: 8565969

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: a drive train, including a manual transmission; an internal combustion engine coupled to the drive train for propelling the vehicle; a radiator configured for cooling the internal combustion engine; a battery; auxiliary devices for operating auxiliary systems of the vehicle, the auxiliary devices including an air-conditioning coolant compressor and a fan for the radiator; electric drivers for the auxiliary devices, wherein the electric drivers are energized by the battery; an electric generator coupled to the internal drive train via an external connection to the internal combustion engine; and a battery charger, wherein the battery is energized by the generator via the battery charger, and wherein the internal combustion engine drives the generator, wherein the auxiliary devices include an air compressor for vehicle brakes and the electric drivers for the auxiliary devices include an electric driver for the air compressor, the vehicle further comprising an air compressor drive gear coupled to the internal combustion engine, wherein the electric generator is coupled to the internal combustion engine and the external connection is via the air compressor drive gear, wherein the internal combustion engine drives the generator via the air compressor drive gear instead of driving the air compressor.