WO2021080536A1

WO2021080536A1 - Electric vehicle with semi-replaceable battery and replaceable battery system and mechanical connection structure

Info

Publication number: WO2021080536A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050938
Authority: WO
Inventors: Metin SANCAR; Orhan Cicek; Mahmut AKGEMCI
Original assignee: Turkiye'nin Otomobili Girisim Grubu Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.
Priority date: 2019-10-21
Filing date: 2020-10-12
Publication date: 2021-04-29

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for ensuring that at least two battery configurations, namely at least one fixed and at least one replaceable, can co-exist in a vehicle at the same time in order to be used in light and commercial vehicles, construction equipment -particularly passenger vehicles- and all moving vehicle groups powered by electric batteries, and enabling mechanical connection of the replaceable battery with the vehicle.

Description

ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH SEMI-REPLACEABLE BATTERY AND REPLACEABLE BATTERY SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL CONNECTION STRUCTURE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for ensuring that at least two battery configurations, namely at least one fixed and at least one replaceable, can co-exist in a vehicle at the same time in order to be used in light and commercial vehicles, construction equipment -particularly passenger vehicles- and all moving vehicle groups powered by electric batteries, and enabling mechanical connection of the replaceable battery with the vehicle.

Background of the Invention

In current electric vehicles today, a battery system is embedded in a vehicle and the vehicle can be charged at electric vehicle charging stations when it needs charging. However, use of electric vehicles cannot become widespread due to the fact that charging can be performed in a much longer time than refuelling and number of charging stations has not reached the desired levels yet. In order to solve the said problem, some vehicle manufacturers enable to insert a full battery by replacing a single battery located in the vehicle with another fully charged battery at specially designed stations in cases where the battery charging cannot be performed. However, this is not preferred in terms of customer because of inserting batteries that they do not have information about their previous use instead of the new battery that they paid for while owning the vehicle.

Considering the studies in the state of the art, it is understood that there is need for a system for ensuring that at least two batteries, namely fixed and replaceable, can co-exist in a vehicle at the same time for electric vehicles, and enabling connection of the replaceable battery with the vehicle body.

The Chinese patent document no. CN102358202, an application in the state of the art, discloses a system for performing switchover between electric automobile batteries. A back-up battery is included in the inventive system and it is enabled to prolong the driving range. Firstly, a driving mode of an automobile is determined. Then, an operating threshold value relative to a battery in use is calculated. Back up batteries stored in the vehicle are switched over in line with the calculated threshold value. In this patent, the second battery system is a battery designed for back-up power and it is envisioned to be activated upon the expiry of the first battery providing the main power. An algorithm to decide which of these two battery packs will be activated in specific special conditions (such as acceleration, parking, braking) is designed; no study was disclosed on a replaceable structure and connection thereof.

The United States patent document no. US8532854, another application in the state of the art, discloses a system that enables the use of battery packs comprising multiple battery for hybrid or electric vehicles. The first and the second battery pack are connected in the inventive system. The batteries’ states (SOC) of charge are determined by a processor. Accordingly, a related battery pack is activated. This patent was obtained about a method comprising how the required power is transferred by considering the balance of the SOC values between the battery packs of the power flow and no study was disclosed on a replaceable battery structure and connection thereof.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a system for performing switchover between fixed and replaceable batteries to be included in electric vehicles and connection of replaceable batteries to the vehicle. Detailed Description of the Invention

“Electric Vehicle with Semi-Replaceable Battery and Replaceable Battery System and Mechanical Connection Structure” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

Figure l is a schematic view of the inventive system.

Figure 2 is a view of the inventive system on a vehicle.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a connector-vehicle connection of the inventive system.

The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. System

2. Vehicle platform

3. Primary battery pack

4. Secondary battery pack

5. Connector

The inventive system (1) for ensuring that at least two batteries, namely at least one fixed and at least one replaceable, can co-exist in vehicles in order to be used in light and commercial vehicles, construction equipment -particularly passenger vehicles- and all moving vehicle groups powered by electric batteries, and enabling connection of the replaceable battery with the vehicle comprises: at least one electric vehicle (2); at least one primary battery pack (3) which is configured to ensure that motion energy is generated in the vehicle (2) motor by storing electric power, and to be fixed to the vehicle (2) platform; at least one secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to ensure that motion energy is generated in the vehicle (2) motor by storing electric power, and to be attached/detached to/from the vehicle (2) body; at least one connector (5) which is configured to enable connection of the secondary battery pack (4) with the vehicle (2) body.

The vehicle (2) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to power the motor with the use of electricity. In various embodiments of the invention, the vehicle (2) is a vehicle such as automobile, commercial vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle (2) is configured to contain recesses having a key-lock compatibility with the connector (5) in parts of its body wherein battery connection will be made.

The primary battery pack (3) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to enable operation of the vehicle (2) by obtaining the motion energy of the motor included in the vehicle (2) upon storing the electric energy, and to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body permanently during production of the vehicle (2). The primary battery pack (3) is configured to comprise a plurality of battery modules consisting of combination of multiple battery cells.

The secondary battery pack (4) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to enable operation of the vehicle (2) by obtaining the motion energy of the electric motor included in the vehicle (2) upon storing the electric energy, and to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of the connector (5). The secondary battery pack (4) is configured to be detached from the vehicle (2) platform by means of the connector (5) so as to ne charged/replaced in cases such as such as running out/decrease of the stored energy. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the secondary battery pack (4) is configured to be fixed to the vehicle (2) body by rotating the bolt by access from below at a battery replacement station. In one embodiment of the invention, the secondary battery pack (4) is configured to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of bolt in z axis. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector (5) included in the inventive system (1) is integrated to various parts of the frame of the secondary battery pack (4) and it is configured to contain at least one bolt on thereof. The connector (5) is configured to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of bolts upon it is fit into the recesses of the vehicle (2) body that are located in the regions where connection of the secondary battery pack (4) will be performed.

In the embodiment of the inventive system (1) wherein the connector (5) is used, the vehicle-battery connection of the connector (5) located on the secondary battery pack (4) is provided by means of bolts that are produced in accordance with the recesses located on the vehicle (2) body of the connector (5) located on the secondary battery pack (4). The secondary battery pack (4) can be attached/detached by tightening and loosening of the bolt connections at battery charging stations.

In various embodiments of the invention, multiple integrable battery packs having different sizes and different power capacities can be available except the secondary battery pack (4).

In various embodiments of the invention, connection of the connector (5) and the secondary battery pack (4) can be used by screws, nuts or various locking apparatus instead of bolt.

With the inventive system (1), it will be possible to avoid waiting in long lines at charging stations to charge battery during heavy traffic and to prevent high power to be required for quick charge at a station from disrupting the mains balance.

Thereby, range concern occurring due to possible lack of infrastructure - particularly on interurban roads- is eliminated. Range and charging problems affect sale of electric vehicles (2) negatively. In order to overcome this problem, some vehicle (2) manufacturers provide battery charge by replacing a single battery located in the vehicle (2) with another fully charged one-piece battery at special stations. However, this causes problem of belonging by virtue of the fact that customers have to replace the original battery of their vehicle (2) for which they paid a lot of money with a battery that they do not have information about its previous usage status. It is known that the majority of non-commercial vehicles are used under 50 km per day. However, apart from this, batteries of electric vehicles (2) are large and therefore heavy and costly in order to meet passengers’ needs or eliminate range concerns of the electric vehicle (2) owners who travel long-distance even a few times a year. The inventive system (1) was developed in order to overcome this problem. Within this scope, many difficulties and problems of the electric vehicles (2) can be solved today by means of a battery structure one of which is fixed in the vehicle (2) and the other one is replaceable. A plurality of battery packs included in the design done can be in different size and capacity, as well as in equal size and capacity. One of these battery packs is fixed to the vehicle (2), whereas the other one has a replaceable structure in the vehicle (2) in line with the use and the requirements. Thereby, the range concern due to long waiting periods in charging stations -which is one of the biggest problems of the electric vehicles (2)- is eliminated and flexibility is provide for the user.

With the inventive system (1), reduction is ensured while waiting in a line at a station to recharge a battery in heavy-traffic days. So battery replacement times become equal to fuelling times. Because the fixed battery is not replaced, sense of belonging is preserved. Since the battery cost -which is one of the greatest factors in the sales cost of the vehicle (2) - falls by half, the cost of the vehicle (2) is reduced. Due to the fact that the primary battery pack (3) has no need for quick charge, the life-cycle of the primary battery pack (3) extends and the life-cycle transfer cost of the vehicle (2) decreases for the user. The charge of the secondary battery pack (4) will not be a burden for the mains and it will not cause problems in the national mains network because it could be done during economical hours. The secondary battery packs (4) to be produced in small sizes will create a lower cost. A relative range increase will be provided as the vehicle (2) will be lighter due to use of small batteries. It will be easier to charge, store and transport the secondary battery pack (4) because of its small size. Due to the fact that the primary battery is relatively small, it will impose less burden for the local electricity network at homes and workplaces. Additionally, the user will feel that the vehicle (2) is being charged in half time. The secondary battery pack (4) based on smaller battery also facilitates automatization of the replacement station infrastructure.

Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive system (1); the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

1. A system (1) for enabling connection of at least two batteries, namely at least one fixed and at least one replaceable, with the vehicle in order to be used in light and commercial vehicles, construction equipment -particularly passenger vehicles- and all moving vehicle groups powered by electric batteries; comprising: at least one electric vehicle (2); at least one primary battery pack (3) which is configured to ensure that motion energy is generated in the vehicle (2) motor by storing electric power, and to be fixed to the vehicle (2) platform; and characterized by at least one secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to ensure that motion energy is generated in the vehicle (2) motor by storing electric power, and to be attached/detached to/from the vehicle (2) body; at least one connector (5) which is configured to enable connection of the secondary battery pack (4) with the vehicle (2) body.

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the vehicle (2) which is configured to power the motor with the use of electricity.

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the primary battery pack (3) which is configured to enable operation of the vehicle (2) by obtaining the motion energy of the motor included in the vehicle (2) upon storing the electric energy, and to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body permanently during production of the vehicle (2).

4. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the primary battery pack (3) which is configured to comprise a plurality of battery modules consisting of combination of multiple battery cells 5. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to enable operation of the vehicle (2) by obtaining the motion energy of the electric motor included in the vehicle (2) upon storing the electric energy, and to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of the connector

(5).

6. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to be detached from the vehicle (2) platform by means of the connector (5) so as to ne charged/replaced in cases such as such as running out/decrease of the stored energy.

7. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to be fixed to the vehicle (2) body by rotating the bolt by access from below at a battery replacement station.

8. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the secondary battery pack (4) which is configured to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of bolt in z axis.

9. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the connector (5) which is integrated to various parts of the frame of the secondary battery pack (4) and configured to contain at least one bolt on thereof.

10. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the connector (5) which is configured to be integrated to the vehicle (2) body by means of bolts upon it is fit into the recesses of the vehicle (2) body that are located in the regions where connection of the secondary battery pack (4) will be performed.

11. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the connector (5) which is configured such that its connection with the secondary battery pack (4) can be used by screws, nuts or various locking apparatus instead of bolt.