Power management system for a transport refrigeration unit

A vehicle for transporting goods, the vehicle comprising:

• a transport refrigeration unit;
• an engine;
• and
• a power management system comprising:
• a battery unit electrically connected to the transport refrigeration unit;
• and
• a generator mechanically connected to the engine, the generator being configured to be mechanically driven by the engine and to supply electrical power to the battery unit;
• wherein the power management system is configured to supply electrical power to the transport refrigeration unit from the battery unit responsive to a power demand of the transport refrigeration unit;
• wherein the generator is coupled to the engine via a clutch, and wherein the power management system is configured to selectively engage and/or disengage the clutch, such that the generator selectively decouples from and/or couples to the engine;
• wherein the power management system comprises a controller configured to monitor a speed of the vehicle;
• wherein the controller is configured to determine that the vehicle is in a first state and engage the clutch when the vehicle is in the first state, wherein the speed of the vehicle is increasing in the first state;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to determine that the vehicle is in a second state and disengage the clutch when the vehicle is in the second state, wherein the speed of the vehicle is substantially constant in the second state.