Systems and methods for vehicular power generation

A system of coupled locomotives comprising:

• (a) a first vehicle comprising:
• a genset including:
• (i) a first engine configured to combust light fuel;
• (ii) a first generator linked to the first engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the first engine into electrical energy;
• one or more light fuel storage containers;
• one or more electrical storage devices;
• a plurality of first wheels;
• a plurality of first electric motors configured to drive the plurality of first wheels;
• a first coupler;
• and
• a first power bus configured to electrically connect the first generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, the plurality of first electric motors, and the first coupler;
• wherein the one or more electrical storage devices are disposed lower than the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to reference plane parallel with ground;
• (b) a second vehicle comprising:
• a second engine configured to combust heavy fuel;
• a second generator linked to the second engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the second engine into electrical energy;
• a second coupler;
• a plurality of second wheels;
• a plurality of second electric motors configured to drive the plurality of second wheels;
• and
• a second power bus configured to electrically connect the second generator, the plurality of second electric motors, and the second coupler;
• wherein the first coupler is connected to the second coupler, thus electrically connecting the first power bus with the second power bus;
• one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle including a throttle configured to enable user selection of one of a plurality of throttle positions, wherein the first vehicle is configured to control the genset at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position, and wherein the second vehicle is configured to control the second engine at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position;
• and
• one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle including a mode selector configured to enable user selection of one of a plurality of modes, wherein the first vehicle is configured to control the genset based on the selected throttle position and the selected mode, and wherein the second vehicle is configured to control the second engine based on the selected throttle position and the selected mode.

A method of retrofitting a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a vehicle including a first engine configured to combust heavy fuel, a first generator, a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels;
• removing the first engine and the first generator from the vehicle;
• adding a genset in a first compartment housing and including:
• a first engine configured to combust light fuel;
• a first generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy;
• adding one or more light fuel storage containers in a second compartment housing;
• adding one or more electrical storage devices in a third compartment housing;
• disposing the one or more light fuel storage containers and the one or more electrical storage devices such that each of the one or more electrical storage devices are disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel with ground, and wherein the second compartment is higher than the third compartment with respect to the vertically extending reference axis;
• and
• configuring a power bus to electrically link the first generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, the plurality of electric motors, and a coupler configured to couple with a reciprocal coupler of a different vehicle.

A system of coupled locomotives comprising:

• (a) a first vehicle comprising:
• a genset including:
• a first engine configured to combust light fuel;
• a first generator linked to the first engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the first engine into electrical energy;
• one or more electrical storage devices;
• a plurality of first wheels;
• a plurality of first electric motors configured to drive the plurality of first wheels;
• a first coupler including a first light fuel line for providing light fuel to the first generator;
• and
• a first power bus configured to electrically connect the first generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, the plurality of first electric motors, and the first coupler;
• wherein the one or more electrical storage devices are disposed lower than the genset with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to reference plane parallel with ground, and wherein the light fuel line is higher than the one or more electrical storage devices with respect to the vertically extending reference axis;
• and
• (b) a second vehicle comprising:
• a second engine configured to combust heavy fuel;
• a second generator linked to the second engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the second engine into electrical energy;
• a dual-fuel tank including a first compartment storing heavy fuel and a second compartment storing light fuel;
• a plurality of second wheels;
• a second coupler including a second light fuel line for supplying light fuel from the second compartment of the dual-fuel tank to the first coupler;
• a plurality of second electric motors configured to drive the plurality of second wheels;
• and
• a second power bus configured to electrically connect the second generator, the plurality of second electric motors, and the second coupler;
• wherein the first coupler is connected to the second coupler, thus electrically connecting the first power bus with the second power bus and fluidly connecting the first light fuel line with the second light fuel line.

A system of coupled locomotives comprising:

• (a) a first vehicle comprising:
• a genset including:
• (i) a first engine configured to combust light fuel;
• (ii) a first generator linked to the first engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the first engine into electrical energy;
• one or more light fuel storage containers;
• one or more electrical storage devices;
• a plurality of first wheels;
• a plurality of first electric motors configured to drive the plurality of first wheels;
• a first coupler;
• and
• a first power bus configured to electrically connect the first generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, the plurality of first electric motors, and the first coupler;
• wherein the one or more electrical storage devices are disposed lower than the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to reference plane parallel with ground;
• (b) a second vehicle comprising:
• a second engine configured to combust heavy fuel;
• a second generator linked to the second engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the second engine into electrical energy;
• a second coupler;
• a plurality of second wheels;
• a plurality of second electric motors configured to drive the plurality of second wheels;
• and
• a second power bus configured to electrically connect the second generator, the plurality of second electric motors, and the second coupler;
• wherein the first coupler is connected to the second coupler, thus electrically connecting the first power bus with the second power bus;
• one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle including a throttle configured to enable user selection of one of a plurality of throttle positions, wherein the first vehicle is configured to control the genset at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position, and wherein the second vehicle is configured to control the second engine at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position;
• and
• one or more computing systems configured to control the genset at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position and to control the second engine at a capacity corresponding to the selected throttle position, wherein the one or more computing systems are configured to:
• (a) control the first engine of the first vehicle to be active, and (b) control the second engine of the second vehicle to be inactive upon user selection of any one of a first plurality of throttle positions.