Patent ID: 7338335

Claim:
A hybrid semi-trailer truck system comprising: an electric drive road tractor that incorporates: a multiplicity of constant-speed internal combustion engines maximized for fuel efficiency, driving a multiplicity of electrical generators or alternators, which automatically start and stop individually and in combinations to meet the varying power demands of the electric drive road tractor, and optionally its semi-trailers; a driver controlled variable ride-height suspension system that lowers the road tractor suspension to reduce frontal area of the vehicle; a multiplicity of rooftop photovoltaic modules (solar cell panels) located on the road tractor that are suitably interconnected to augment the varying power demands of the vehicle; a multiplicity of electric motor-driven road-wheel modules which also act as a generator(s) or alternator(s) to brake the road tractor; a multiplicity of fuel cell module(s), and or thermal turbine module(s) and or battery module(s), and or capacitor module(s) located in the road tractor which are suitably interconnected to the vehicle system to operate singly or in combinations as required to minimize the number of internal combustion engine(s) running at any one time, while meeting the varying power demands of the vehicle; and one or more connected semi-trailers which incorporate: a interconnected variable ride-height suspension system that allows the road tractor driver to lower the trailer(s) suspension to reduce frontal area of the semi-trailer truck system; a multiplicity of electric motor-driven road-wheel modules which also act as a generator(s) or alternator(s) to brake the semi-trailer(s), that are interconnected to the road tractor's system; and a multiplicity of rooftop photovoltaic modules (solar cell panels) located on the semi-trailer(s) which are suitably interconnected to augment the varying power demands of the semi-trailer truck system.