The present invention is directed to a control strategy for operating a plurality of prime power sources during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. The present invention is directed at a general control strategy for multi power plant systems where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels. The invention is based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.