Hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• a high voltage DC bus;
• an internal combustion engine;
• said internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to a non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator;
• said non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator operates as a generator supplying electrical power in a generator mode;
• said non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator operates as a motor receiving electrical power in a motor mode;
• said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor coupled to an inverter, said inverter bi-directionally conveys power between said high voltage DC bus and said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor;
• a first front AC traction motor/generator for driving a first front wheel, said first front traction motor/generator being a non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator, said first front traction motor/generator provides propulsion and/or regenerative braking;
• a second front AC traction motor for driving a second front wheel, said second front traction motor/generator being a non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator, said second front traction motor/generator provides propulsion and/or regenerative braking;
• a first rear AC traction motor/generator for driving a first rear wheel, said first rear traction motor/generator being a non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator, said first rear traction motor/generator provides propulsion and/or regenerative braking;
• a second rear AC traction motor/generator for driving a second rear wheel, said second rear traction motor/generator being a non self-excited switched reluctance motor/generator, said second rear traction motor/generator provides propulsion and/or regenerative braking;
• a first compact dual inverter and a second compact dual inverter;
• said first compact dual inverter in electrical communication with said high voltage DC bus;
• said first compact dual inverter converts DC power from said high voltage DC bus into AC power for driving said first front AC traction motor/generator and said first front wheel;
• said first compact dual inverter converts DC power from said high voltage DC bus into AC power for driving said second front AC traction motor/generator and said second front wheel;
• said second compact dual inverter in electrical communication with said high voltage DC bus;
• said second compact dual inverter converts DC power from said high voltage DC bus into AC power for driving said first rear AC traction motor/generator and said first rear wheel;
• said second compact dual inverter converts DC power from said high voltage DC bus into AC power for driving said second rear AC traction motor/generator and said second rear wheel;
• an ultracapacitor bank, said ultracapacitor bank electrically coupled to said high voltage DC bus;
• said ultracapacitor bank stores regenerative energy from said first compact dual inverter supplied by said first and second front AC traction motors/generators operating in a regenerative mode;
• said ultracapacitor bank stores regenerative energy from said second compact dual inverter supplied by said first and second rear AC traction motors/generators operating in a regenerative mode;
• said ultracapacitor bank stores energy from said inverter coupled to said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor when said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor is operating in said generator mode;
• said ultracapacitor bank supplies energy to said inverter coupled to said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor when said non self-excited switched reluctance generator/motor is operating in said motor mode to start said internal combustion engine;
• a conventional low voltage system with at least one 12 or 24 volt battery;
• a bidirectional DC-DC converter, said DC-DC converter steps said voltage of said battery up and conveys power between said 12 or 24 volt battery and said ultracapacitor bank to pre-charge said ultracapacitor bank to start said internal combustion engine;
• and,
• said bidirectional DC-DC converter steps said voltage of said high voltage DC bus down to maintain the state of charge of said 12 or 24 volt battery after said internal combustion engine is started.

A hybrid electric system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a non self-exciting AC generator/motor;
• said non self-exciting AC generator/motor operates in either a generator mode or a motor mode;
• a high voltage DC bus;
• an ultracapacitor bank, said ultracapacitor bank connected full time across said high voltage DC bus;
• an AC-DC inverter for converting the AC power from said non self-exciting AC generator/motor to DC power for supply to said high voltage DC bus and said ultracapacitor bank;
• a low voltage DC battery;
• means for charging said ultracapacitor bank from said conventional low-voltage DC battery to provide initial excitation energy to said non self-exciting generator/motor operating in said motor mode to start said internal combustion engine;
• and,
• said non self-excited generator/motor is operated in said motor mode to back drive said internal combustion engine and an associated engine brake in order to dissipate excessive regenerative braking energy.

A hybrid electric system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a non self-exciting AC generator/motor;
• said non self-exciting AC generator/motor operates in either a generator mode or a motor mode;
• a high voltage DC bus;
• an ultracapacitor bank, said ultracapacitor bank connected full time across said high voltage DC bus;
• an AC-DC inverter for converting the AC power from said non self-exciting AC generator/motor to DC power for supply to said high voltage DC bus and said ultracapacitor bank;
• a low voltage DC battery;
• means for charging said ultracapacitor bank from said conventional low-voltage vehicle DC battery to provide initial excitation energy to said non self-exciting generator/motor operating in said motor mode to start said internal combustion engine;
• dual compact inverters;
• a plurality of wheels;
• a plurality of non self-excited traction generators/motors each interconnected with a respective one of said plurality of wheels;
• said dual compact inverters are connected across said ultracapacitor bank;
• said dual compact inverters are bidirectional DC-AC inverters;
• said dual compact inverters transfer energy to and from said ultracapacitor bank and to and from said non self-excited traction generators/motors;
• and,
• one or more of said dual compact inverters discharge some energy in said ultracapacitor bank into the windings of said non self-excited traction generators/motors without motion either by operating at sufficiently low enough power to avoid motion or by operating said non self-excited traction generators/motors with opposing torques to enable safe operation of said system.

A hybrid electric system, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a non self-exciting AC generator/motor;
• said non self-exciting AC generator/motor operates in either a generator mode or a motor mode;
• a high voltage DC bus;
• an ultracapacitor bank, said ultracapacitor bank connected full time across said high voltage DC bus;
• an AC-DC inverter for converting the AC power from said non self-exciting AC generator/motor to DC power for supply to said high voltage DC bus and said ultracapacitor bank;
• a low voltage DC battery;
• means for charging said ultracapacitor bank from said conventional low-voltage DC battery to provide initial excitation energy to said non self-exciting generator/motor operating in said motor mode to start said internal combustion engine;
• and,
• said ultracapacitor bank is driven to a predetermined maximum state of charge prior to engine shutdown in order to provide for rapid engine starting without need to rely on pre-charging from said vehicle low-voltage DC battery under normal operating conditions.