Method and apparatus for linking electric drive vehicles

A method of linking a plurality of electrically driven road vehicles together wherein each of the plurality of electrically driven road vehicles comprises a coupling input and a coupling output, each coupling input of each vehicle being configured to releasably engage each coupling output of another vehicle to provide a mechanical and electrical coupling of the plurality of vehicles together, wherein each coupling output is configured to extend and retract from a vehicle it is secured to and each coupling output is configured to rotate about an axis each coupling output extends and retracts, the method comprising:

• coupling a first lead vehicle to at least one other vehicle by a vehicle coupling comprising:
• a coupling input of the first lead vehicle and a coupling output of a trailing vehicle, the coupling output of the trailing vehicle being secured to the coupling input of the first lead vehicle;
• and a communications link between the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle;
• controlling the trailing vehicle by exchanging control signals between a control system located on each of the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the control signals being exchanged are electrically transferred through the communications link between the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle;
• and
• controlling at least one of a braking, acceleration, a deceleration, a recharging and a steering of the trailing vehicle by inputting a command into the control system of the trailing vehicle, wherein the command originates from the control system of the first lead vehicle and the command is transferred through the communications link.