Roadway-powered electric vehicle system having automatic guidance and demand-based dispatch features

Abstract

A roadway-powered electric vehicle (RPEV) system includes: (1) an all-electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-electric vehicle has one or more onboard energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway. The RPEV system also includes: (1) an onboard power meter; (2) a wide bandwidth communications channel to allow information signals to be sent to, and received from, the RPEV while it is in use; (3) automated garaging that couples power to the RPEV for both replenishing the onboard energy source and to bring the interior climate of the vehicle to a comfortable level before the driver and/or passengers get in; (4) electronic coupling between “master” and “salve” RPEV's in order to increase passenger capacity and electronic actuators for quick-response control of the “slave” RPEV; (5) inductive heating coils at passenger loading/unloading zones in order to increase passenger safety; (6) an ergonomically designed passenger compartment; (7) a locating system for determining the precise location of the RPEV; and (8) a scheduling and dispatch computer for controlling the scheduling of RPEV's around a route and dispatch of RPEV's based on demand.

1 - 40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . A roadway-powered electric vehicle comprising: 
 a vehicle frame supported by front and rear suspension systems, including front and rear wheels;    an onboard power receiving module mounted on an underneath side of the vehicle frame that receives electrical power from a roadway power transmitting module;    an onboard energy storage means for storing and delivering electrical energy;    an electric drive means coupled to at least one of the front or rear suspension systems for driving the front and rear wheels; and    an onboard power controller means for receiving electrical power from the on-board power module and directing it to the energy storage means, and for selectively delivering electrical energy from the energy storage means to the electric drive means.    
   
   
       42 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 41  further including modulation means coupled to the onboard power receiving module for modulating a communications signal onto the electrical power.  
   
   
       43 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 42  wherein the communications signal includes information indicative of the location of the roadway-powered electric vehicle.  
   
   
       43 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 41  wherein the onboard power controller means includes means for generating a set of control signals for controlling operation of the roadway-powered electric vehicle operated, and coupling means for coupling the set of control signals to a second Roadway-powered electric vehicle.  
   
   
       44 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the second roadway-powered electric vehicle includes means for electronically responding to the set of control signals so that the second roadway-powered electric vehicle is operated as controlled by the set of control signals, whereby the second Roadway-powered electric vehicle follows the Roadway-powered electric vehicle.  
   
   
       45 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the second roadway-powered electric vehicle includes: a regenerative braking system including a second electric drive system for electromagnetically producing a mechanical resistance and generating electrical power when braking is applied in response to the set of control signals.  
   
   
       46 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the second roadway-powered electric vehicle includes a frictional braking system for frictionally producing a mechanical resistance, the frictional braking system including an electronic actuator responsive to the set of control signals.  
   
   
       47 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the second roadway-powered electric vehicle includes a steering system for steering wheels of the second roadway-powered electric vehicle including an electronic actuator for turning the wheels of the second roadway-powered electric vehicle in response to the set of control signals.  
   
   
       48 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein coupling means comprises a flexible cable connected between the roadway-powered electric vehicle and the second roadway-powered electric vehicle through which the set of control signals may be transferred from the roadway-powered electric vehicle to the second roadway-powered electric vehicle.  
   
   
       49 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the coupling means includes a transmitter carried onboard the roadway-powered electric vehicle through which the set of control signals may be transmitted, and a receiver carried onboard the second roadway-powered electric vehicle through which the set of control signals transmitted from the transmitter may be received.  
   
   
       50 . The roadway-powered electric vehicle as set forth in  claim 43  wherein the coupling means includes a transmitter carried onboard the roadway-powered electric vehicle through which the set of control signals may be transmitted, and a receiver carried onboard the second roadway-powered electric vehicle through which the set of control signals transmitted from the transmitter may be received.