Optimized AC powered auxiliary units for medium/heavy duty configurable electric trucks

A zero-emission configurable electric truck that uses high-voltage, battery-powered electrical energy for both motive power and auxiliary powered unit power, the zero-emission configurable electric truck being a medium/heavy duty class of truck having a chassis frame configured to interface with any of a set of multiple configurable rear payload modules and a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 lbs, the zero-emission configurable electric truck comprising:

• a central frame having a pair of main frame rails configured to support at least two battery modules;
• a front subframe configured to support a front axle assembly and a cab, the front subframe including a pair of upper frame members operably connected to the corresponding pair of the main frame rails;
• and
• a rear subframe configured to support at least one rear axle assembly and a rear payload module selected from one of the set of multiple configurable rear payload modules, the rear subframe including a pair of rear frame rails transversely connected by at least a pair of cross members and operably connected to the corresponding pair of main frame rails,
• wherein at least one of the front axle assembly and the rear axle assembly includes at least one electric motive motor powered by a battery management system configured to manage generation and distribution of alternating-current (AC) electrical power from the at least two battery modules to the at least one electric motive motor to provide motive power to the zero-emission configurable electric truck and to at least one auxiliary power unit (APU) to provide auxiliary power to the rear payload module,
• wherein the at least one APU includes an AC electric motor with windings designed that produce a peak power to match an optimized power supplied by the DC-to-AC inverter to optimize a speed and torque for the AC electric motor for an electrical power requirement for a payload powered by the at least one APU.

A zero-emission configurable electric truck that uses high-voltage, battery-powered electrical energy for both motive power and auxiliary powered unit power, the zero-emission configurable electric truck being a medium/heavy duty class of truck having a chassis frame configured to interface with any of a set of multiple configurable rear payload modules and a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 lbs, the zero-emission configurable electric truck comprising:

• a central frame having a pair of main frame rails configured to support at least two battery modules;
• a front subframe configured to support a front axle assembly and a cab, the front subframe including a pair of upper frame members operably connected to the corresponding pair of the main frame rails;
• and
• a rear subframe configured to support at least one rear axle assembly and a rear payload module selected from one of the set of multiple configurable rear payload modules, the rear subframe including a pair of rear frame rails transversely connected by at least a pair of cross members and operably connected to the corresponding pair of main frame rails,
• wherein at least one of the front axle assembly and the rear axle assembly includes at least one electric motive motor powered by a battery management system configured to manage generation and distribution of alternating-current (AC) electrical power from the at least two battery modules to the at least one electric motive motor to provide motive power to the zero-emission configurable electric truck and to at least one auxiliary power unit (APU) to provide auxiliary power to the rear payload module,
• wherein the electric motor powered by the DC-to-AC inverter and a mechanical motor that powers the at least one APU are mated with a shaft interface that includes a male/female spline.