Patent ID: 8102077

Claim:
A power generation and distribution system for providing power to at least one motor configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle, the system comprising: at least one power module comprising at least one generator configured to generate alternating current having a frequency and voltage; a single, common alternating current bus in electrical communication with the at least one power module through a contactor and configured to receive the alternating current therefrom; at least one power conversion module in electrical communication with the common alternating current bus and configured to convert the alternating current to a specified direct current for delivery to the at least one motor; and a controller configured to communicate with and operatively control at least one of the following: at least one component of the at least one power module; at least one component of the common alternating current bus; at least one component of the at least one power conversion module, or any combination thereof, wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one power module and configured to control at least one component of the at least one power module to generate alternating current having at least one of a specified frequency and a specified voltage.