TRUCKS AND TRAILERS WITH POWER CONVERSION ELEMENTS AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS ACCOMMODATING POWER CONVERSION ELEMENTS INBOARD OF A WHEEL

A truck or trailer includes a wheel, a stub axle spindle extending through the wheel and having a through bore, a step-up drive ratio unit inboard of said stub-axle spindle, an axle shaft extending through the through bore of the stub-axle spindle, and a power conversion unit operatively connected to the step-up drive ratio unit. The axle shaft is operatively connected to the step-up drive ratio unit, such that, as the axle shaft rotates with the wheel, mechanical energy from rotation of the axle shaft is converted into electrical energy. A special suspension system allows for installation of the stub axle spindle, and such suspension systems are a separate focus herein as well as being usable in combination with the power conversion elements.