초록 ▼

An ultracapacitor power supply for an electric vehicle is provided which employs an ultracapacitor as the primary power source and a battery as a supplemental power source. This vehicle is particularly effective in power-rail system having gaps in the power-rail or in non-power rail systems having r

An ultracapacitor power supply for an electric vehicle is provided which employs an ultracapacitor as the primary power source and a battery as a supplemental power source. This vehicle is particularly effective in power-rail system having gaps in the power-rail or in non-power rail systems having recharging stations positioned along the track The ultracapacitor recharges quickly upon vehicle passage over a live power rail or entry into a recharging station. Optimum performance is achieved when the capacitor is allowed to fully recharge. The battery need only provide power when the ultracapacitor has been discharged or during acceleration or other periods of peak power consumption, thereby reducing the number of battery recharges required during any given operational period.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A power supply for furnishing direct current (DC) power to an electrical vehicle, said power supply mounted on said electrical vehicle and comprising:a primary ultracapacitor power source generating a primary output voltage and a primary output current used to power the electric

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A power supply for furnishing direct current (DC) power to an electrical vehicle, said power supply mounted on said electrical vehicle and comprising:a primary ultracapacitor power source generating a primary output voltage and a primary output current used to power the electric vehicle, the primary ultracapacitor power source comprising an ultracapacitor assembly having a plurality of ultracapacitor cells, each of said plurality of ultracapacitor cells holding a charge;a secondary power source generating a secondary output voltage and a secondary output current used to power the electric vehicle in the event that the charge held by the plurality of ultracapacitor cells in the primary ultracapacitor power source falls below a level necessary to power the electric vehicle;a switching circuit connected to said primary and secondary power sources and selecting in response to a control signal either or both of said power sources to provide power to said engine;a controller coupled to the primary power source, the secondary power source, and the switching circuit and the controller configured and arranged to monitor the primary voltage and the primary current and to provide the control signal in the event that the primary voltage and the primary current falls below a level necessary to power the electric vehicle for the switching circuit to connect the secondary power source; anda recharging system coupled to the primary power source and the secondary power source and an external power supply for providing a charging current for the primary and secondary power sources.