Patent ID: 8360216

Claim:
A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle comprising: an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle, wherein the electric conductor arrangement comprises at least two lines, wherein each line is adapted to carry a different one of phases of an alternating electric current, the conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of segments, wherein each segment extends along a different section of the path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprises sections of the at least two lines and each segment can be switched on and off separately of the other segments, the conductor arrangement is arranged in such a manner that at least two consecutive segments can be operated at a time, wherein corresponding lines for carrying the same phase of the alternating current in the consecutive sections are connected in series to each other, and a switch or an arrangement of switches located at an interface between two consecutive segments of the conductor arrangement, wherein the switch or the arrangement of switches is operated in such a manner that, if only one of the two consecutive segments is operated at the same time, the lines of the segment which is operated are connected to a common star point or to a power supply system, and that, if both consecutive segments are operated at the same time, the corresponding lines of the consecutive segments are connected in series to each other.