PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES

**Definition:** This place covers:

Supply of electric power to auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles, e.g. electric heating or lighting circuits.

Current-collectors and arrangements thereof on electrically-propelled vehicles, e.g. rollers in contact with trolley wire, pantographs or third-rail current-collectors.

Electro-dynamic brake systems for vehicles in general, e.g. electric resistor braking, electric regenerative braking or eddy-current braking.

Electric propulsion of vehicles with power supply external to the vehicle or supplied within the vehicle.

Charging or exchange of Batteries for electric vehicles whilst the car is stopped and details of charging stations including communication between vehicle and the charging station.

Electric propulsion of vehicles with power supply from force of nature, e.g. sun or wind.

Electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways.

Magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles.

Methods, circuits or devices for controlling the propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles.

Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or power consumption.

Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes, e.g. dead-man's devices, devices for limiting the current under mechanical overload conditions or for preventing excessive speed of the vehicle.

Adaptation of control equipment on electrically-propelled vehicles for remote actuation from a stationary place, from alternative parts of the vehicle or from alternative vehicles in the same vehicle train.

**Limiting references (this place does not cover):** - Electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles -> B60D1/64 - Electric heating for vehicles -> B60H1/00 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units -> B60K1/00 - Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines -> B60K6/20 - Arrangements or mounting of electric gearing in vehicles -> B60K17/12 , B60K17/14 - Preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles -> B61C15/08 - Dynamo-electric machines -> H02K - Control or regulation of electric motors -> H02P

**Glossary:** - electrodynamic braking system: An electric machine that acts as a brake. Braking is accomplished by reversing the electric fields on the machine, effectively turning it into a generator. The usage of the generated power, either in useful applications or as dissipation of heat, restrains the motor-generator and provides a braking action.As such, this term is virtually coterminous with "dynamo-electric braking system" (see below). However the term "electrodynamic" on its own is broader and less clear than the term "dynamo-electric". It means "pertaining to electric current, electricity in motion and the effects of magnetism and induction", and could theoretically encompass electrical devices other than dynamo-electric devices. - battery: generic term covering primary and secondary electrical cells. - dynamo-electric braking system: A dynamo-electric machine is a device for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy or mechanical energy into electrical energy or combinations thereof, which involve electromagnetic induction. In respect of brakes, a braking effect could be produced by converting the kinetic energy of a vehicle into electrical energy, for dissipation (e.g. by resistors or as eddy-currents) or for storage (e.g. by regenerative braking). Alternatively, electrical energy could be supplied to the device to drive it into reverse, thereby producing a braking effect. - electric vehicle: Vehicle propelled by electric motor(s), these motors being mechanically connected to the drive wheels. This definition embraces also vehicles with engine-driven generators, sometimes referred to a as serial hybrid vehicles. - hybrid vehicle: Vehicles having two or more prime movers of more than one type connected with the driven wheels, e.g. electrical and internal combustion motors, and that are either singularly or in combination used for propulsion of the vehicle. - plug-in hybrid vehicle: Hybrid vehicle which uses rechargeable batteries that can be restored to full charge by connecting a plug or other connection means to an external electric power source. - primary cell: electrochemical generator in which the cell energy is present in chemical form and is not regenerated. - range extender: Devices to extend the range of an electric vehicles supplied by a traction battery. Most of the time the term refers to an engine driven generator. It can however also refer to fuel cells or additional energy storage for electrical energy. Range extenders have generally a lower power than the maximum output of the vehicle. - prime mover: A machine that transforms energy from thermal, electrical or pressure form to mechanical form, typically an engine or turbine - secondary cell: accumulator receiving and supplying electrical energy by means of reversible electrochemical reactions. - fuel cell: electrochemical generator wherein the reactants are supplied from outside.