System and method for trailer propulsion
The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailer—such as a Class 8 semi-trailer—and/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).
1 . An electric vehicle (EV) system comprising:
a chassis defining a longitudinal axis;
a kingpin configured to couple the chassis to a fifth wheel of a semi-tractor;
a secondary fifth wheel mounted to the chassis; and
an electric powertrain comprising a battery, wherein at least a portion of the battery is arranged above the kingpin and longitudinally forward of the kingpin relative to the longitudinal axis.
2 . The EV system of claim 1 , wherein the chassis is monocline-shaped between the kingpin and the secondary fifth wheel.
3 . The EV system of claim 1 , wherein the electric powertrain comprises an electric drive axle, wherein the secondary fifth wheel is mounted longitudinally forward of the electric drive axle relative to the longitudinal axis.
4 . The EV system of claim 3 , wherein the electric drive axle is steerable.
5 . The EV system of claim 3 , wherein the electric drive axle comprises a high-load axle configured to support an axle load greater than 17,000 pounds in a drive configuration.
6 . The EV system of claim 1 , wherein the electric powertrain is autonomously controlled.
7 . A road vehicle system comprising:
a chassis;
a first vehicle coupling proximal to a forward end of the chassis;
a second vehicle coupling mounted rearwardly of the forward end; and
an electric powertrain, comprising: a battery; a steering axle; and a traction motor
a set of axles comprising the steering axle, wherein each axle of the set defines a respective axle load, wherein the sum of the respective axle loads defines a total weight bearing of the road vehicle system, wherein the respective axle load of the steering axle is greater than 70% of the total weight bearing of the road vehicle system in a driving configuration.
8 . The road vehicle system of claim 7 , wherein the electric powertrain is autonomously controlled.
9 . The road vehicle system of claim 8 , wherein the electric powertrain is autonomously controlled based on a longitudinal force at the first vehicle coupling.
10 . The road vehicle system of claim 9 , wherein the road vehicle system further comprises a sensor instrumentation stage substantially isolating force transmission along a longitudinal axis.
11 . The road vehicle system of claim 7 , further comprising a lift axle mounted to the chassis forwardly of the steering axle.
12 . The road vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein the road vehicle system is rear-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering.
13 . The road vehicle system of claim 7 , wherein the traction motor is integrated into the steering axle.
14 . The road vehicle system of claim 7 , further comprising a charge port configured to supply electrical energy to the battery.
15 . A combination vehicle system comprising:
a semi-tractor comprising a fifth wheel hitch plate;
a trailer comprising a kingpin; and
an electric vehicle (EV) system connecting the kingpin of the trailer to the fifth-wheel hitch plate, the EV system comprising: an integrated sensor suite; a traction motor; a battery; and a steering axle coupled to a traction motor, wherein the traction motor is autonomously controlled based on sensor data from the integrated sensor suite, wherein the battery which is at least partially above the fifth wheel hitch plate of the semi-tractor.
16 . The combination vehicle system of claim 15 , wherein the EV system further comprises a secondary fifth wheel hitch plate, the trailer coupled to the secondary fifth wheel hitch plate.
17 . The combination vehicle system of claim 15 , wherein the integrated sensor suite comprises an integrated force sensor configured to measure a longitudinal force at the fifth wheel coupling between the EV system and the fifth wheel hitch plate.
18 . The combination vehicle system of claim 15 , wherein the steering axle of the EV system is the only load bearing axle of the EV system.