Systems and methods for power storage and management from intermittent power sources

A method for managing power from an electric generator disposed in or on a non-self-propelled wheeled vehicle, the method comprising:

• generating electric power with an electric generator disposed in or on a non-self-propelled wheeled vehicle, the electric power generated from at least a portion of the mechanical energy of one or more rotating wheels of the non-self-propelled wheeled vehicle;
• storing the electric power as energy in an energy storage reservoir electrically connected to the generator, the energy storage reservoir comprising a bank of one or more ultracapacitors and a bank of one or more rechargeable batteries, wherein said storing is based, at least in part, on battery chemistry in the bank of one or more rechargeable batteries;
• supplying electric power from the energy storage reservoir to a load when the electric generator is not generating electric power;
• and
• charging the ultracapacitor bank from the energy stored in the rechargeable battery bank when the generator is not generating electric power.

A power system comprising:

• means for generating electrical power, the generating means disposed in or on a non-self-propelled wheeled vehicle, the generating means configured to generate electrical power from rotational motion of a wheel of the non-self-propelled vehicle;
• means for storing the generated electrical power, the storing means electrically connected to the generating means, wherein the storing means comprises an ultracapacitive storage means and a rechargeable battery storage means;
• and
• means for regulating the storage of the generated electric power in the storing means, the regulating means configured to regulate storage based, at least in part, on battery chemistry of the rechargeable battery storage means, and the regulating means further supplying the stored electrical power or the generated electrical power to an electric load.