Vehicle control system and method

A method comprising:

• determining an amount of electric energy stored in an electric energy storage system onboard a vehicle having a propulsion system that is at least partially powered by the electric energy storage system;
• determining that the amount of electric energy stored in the electric energy storage system is insufficient to power the propulsion system to move the vehicle to a designated location where additional electric energy can be obtained to one or more of charge the electric energy storage system or power the propulsion system of the vehicle;
• communicating a notification to an upcoming wayside station that informs the wayside station of the amount of electric energy needed to be consumed by the propulsion system to propel the vehicle to the designated location so that the wayside station has sufficient electric energy to charge the electric energy system when the vehicle arrives at the wayside station;
• and
• automatically controlling operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can complete travel to the designated location.

A vehicle control system comprising:

• one or more processors configured to control operation of a propulsion system of a first vehicle that is at least partially powered by an energy storage system onboard the first vehicle, the one or more processors also configured to determine that there is insufficient electric energy stored onboard the first vehicle to power the propulsion system to a designated location where additional electric energy can be obtained to one or more of charge the energy storage system or power the propulsion system of the first vehicle, the one or more processors configured to automatically change operation of the first vehicle to ensure that the first vehicle can complete travel to the designated location by one or more of:
• switching which of two or more energy storage devices of the energy storage system powers the propulsion system of the first vehicle;
• communicating a request that a mobile re-powering unit be dispatched to rendezvous with the first vehicle and recharge the energy storage system;
• controlling the first vehicle to draft a second vehicle;
• or
• controlling the first vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge on the energy storage system.