A roadway-powered
electric vehicle (RPEV)
system includes: (1) an all-
electric vehicle; and (2) a roadway network over which the vehicle travels. The all-
electric vehicle has one or more onboard
energy storage elements or devices that can be rapidly charged or energized with energy obtained from an
electrical current, such as a network of electromechanical batteries. The electric vehicle further includes an on-board controller that extracts energy from the
energy storage elements, as needed, and converts such extracted energy to electrical power used to propel the electric vehicle. The
energy storage elements may be charged while the vehicle is in operation. The charging occurs through a network of
power coupling elements, e.g., coils, embedded in the roadway. The RPEV
system also includes: (1) an onboard power meter; (2) a wide bandwidth communications channel to allow information signals to be sent to, and received from, the RPEV while it is in use; (3) automated garaging that couples power to the RPEV for both replenishing the onboard
energy source and to bring the interior climate of the vehicle to a comfortable level before the driver and / or passengers get in; (4) electronic
coupling between “master” and “
salve” RPEV's in order to increase passenger capacity and electronic actuators for quick-
response control of the “slave” RPEV; (5) inductive heating coils at passenger loading / unloading zones in order to increase passenger safety; (6) an ergonomically designed passenger compartment; (7) a locating
system for determining the precise location of the RPEV; and (8) a scheduling and dispatch computer for controlling the scheduling of RPEV's around a
route and dispatch of RPEV's based
on demand.