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An electric traction system for an electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine, a power bus coupled to the generator, a power storage unit coupled to the power bus, a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the power bus, and a vehicle c

An electric traction system for an electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine, a power bus coupled to the generator, a power storage unit coupled to the power bus, a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the power bus, and a vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller. The generator is configured to receive electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor in order to provide mechanical power to the engine, and the engine is configured to dissipate the mechanical power in order to provide a braking function.

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What is claimed is: 1. An electric traction system for an electric vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine; a power bus coupled to the generator; a power storage unit coupled to the power bus; a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the

What is claimed is: 1. An electric traction system for an electric vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine; a power bus coupled to the generator; a power storage unit coupled to the power bus; a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the power bus; and a vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller; wherein the generator is configured to receive electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor in order to provide mechanical power to the engine, and the engine is configured to dissipate the mechanical power in order to provide a braking function. 2. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the engine is configured to function as an air compressor in order to dissipate the mechanical power. 3. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is configured to store electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor. 4. The electric traction system of claim 3, wherein the power storage unit is configured to store a first amount of the electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor, and the generator is configured to receive a second amount of the power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor. 5. The electric traction system of claim 3, wherein the power storage unit comprises at least one capacitor. 6. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the engine is a diesel engine. 7. The electric traction vehicle of claim 1, wherein the generator is an AC synchronous generator. 8. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the electric traction system is configured for use with a series hybrid vehicle. 9. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the drive controller is an AC-to-AC inverter. 10. The electric traction system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is an AC motor. 11. A method of providing braking in an electric vehicle comprising: providing an internal combustion engine and a generator coupled to the engine; providing a power bus coupled to the generator; providing a power storage unit coupled to the power bus; providing a drive controller coupled to an electric motor and to the power bus; providing a vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller; configuring the generator to receive electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor in order to provide mechanical power to the engine; and configuring the engine to dissipate the mechanical power. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the engine to dissipate the mechanical power comprises configuring the engine to function as an air compressor. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the power storage unit to store electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring the power storage unit to store a first amount of the electrical power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor, and configuring the generator to receive a second amount of the power regenerated onto the power bus by the electric motor. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the power storage unit comprises providing at least one capacitor. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the engine comprises providing a diesel engine. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the generator comprises providing an AC synchronous generator. 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the electric traction system for use with a series hybrid vehicle. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the drive controller comprises providing an AC-to-AC inverter. 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the electric motor comprises providing an AC electric motor. 21. An electric traction vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform; a principal power unit mounted on the vehicle platform and comprising an engine and an AC generator coupled to the engine; an AC electric motor coupled to at least one wheel and supported relative to the vehicle platform; a drive controller coupled to the AC electric motor; a vehicle controller coupled to the drive controller; and an AC bus assembly to couple the principal power unit and the drive controller; wherein the principal power unit is configured to receive power regenerated onto the AC bus assembly by the AC electric motor and to dissipate the power using the engine in order to provide a braking function. 22. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the AC generator is configured to receive AC power regenerated onto the AC bus assembly by the AC electric motor in order to provide mechanical power to the engine. 23. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the engine is configured to function as an air compressor in order to dissipate the power. 24. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, further comprising a power storage unit configured to store AC power regenerated onto the AC bus assembly by the AC electric motor. 25. The electric traction vehicle of claim 24, wherein the power storage unit is configured to store a first amount of the AC power regenerated onto the AC bus assembly by the AC electric motor, and the principal power unit is configured to dissipate a second amount of the AC power regenerated onto the AC bus assembly by the AC electric motor. 26. The electric traction vehicle of claim 24, wherein the power storage unit comprises at least one capacitor. 27. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the engine is a diesel engine. 28. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the AC generator is a synchronous generator. 29. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the electric traction vehicle is configured as a series hybrid vehicle. 30. The electric traction vehicle of claim 21, wherein the drive controller is an AC-to-AC inverter.