Motor vehicle accessory to increase power supply and reduce fuel requirements

A method comprising:

• replacing an existing suspension assembly of a trailer with a hybridizing suspension assembly, wherein the hybridizing suspension assembly includes a frame, a suspension, one or more drive axles, and at least a first one of a plurality of electric motor-generators coupled to provide, in a first mode of operation, an assistive motive force at at least one of the drive axles and, in a second mode of operation, a regenerative braking force, the hybridizing suspension assembly configurable with wheels and tires to allow the trailer to roll along a roadway when motivated by a fuel consuming engine of a tractor to which the trailer is mechanically coupled in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration;
• coupling a controller between the plurality of electric motor-generators and one or more sensor inputs to independently transition each of the plurality of electric motor-generators between the first, the second, and at least a third mode of operation, during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over the roadway, using the one or more sensor inputs;
• transitioning, based on a first sensor input and by the controller, the first one of the electric motor-generators between the first, the second, and the third mode of operation;
• and
• transitioning, based on a second sensor input and by the controller, a second one of the electric motor-generators between the first, the second, and the third mode of operation.

An apparatus for use in a tractor-trailer vehicle configuration as a hybridizing suspension assembly, the apparatus comprising:

• a suspension assembly including a frame, a suspension, and one or more drive axles;
• the suspension assembly including a first electric motor-generator coupled to provide, in a first mode of operation, a motive rotational force at at least one of the drive axles and to provide, in a second mode of operation, a regenerative braking force;
• a first energy store from which energy is supplied to power the first electric motor-generator in the first mode of operation and to which energy is supplied in the second mode of operation;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled between the first electric motor-generator, a second electric motor-generator, and one or more sensor inputs to independently transition each of the first and second electric motor-generators between the first, the second and at least a third mode of operation, during motion of the tractor-trailer vehicle over a roadway, using the one or more sensor inputs;
• wherein, based on a first sensor input, the controller transitions the first electric motor-generator between the first, the second, and the third mode of operation;
• and
• wherein, based on a second sensor input, the controller transitions the second electric motor-generator between the first, the second, and the third mode of operation.