SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLES

• US 20070125417A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solar Electrical Vehicle, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solar Electrical Vehicle, Inc.
• Inventors: Bagnall, Mark, Johanson, James
• Application Number:
  US11/608,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A solar energy system for a hybrid vehicle that utilizes an attachable solar panel to receive and convert solar energy into direct current electricity. A wiring harness directs the direct current electricity generated by the solar panel to a converter. The converter transforms the direct current electricity from a comparatively lower energy state to a comparatively higher energy state.

Claims

1. A solar energy system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a solar panel attachable to the hybrid vehicle for receiving and converting solar energy into direct current electricity;

a converter for transforming direct current electricity from a comparatively lower energy state to a comparatively higher energy state;

a wiring harness electrically coupled to the solar panel, for directing the direct current electricity generated by the solar panel to the converter; and

a battery for receiving the high energy state direct current electricity from the converter as a supplemental energy source.

2. The solar energy system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is aerodynamically shaped.

3. The solar energy system of claim 1, including an insulator for preventing energy loss between the solar panel and the hybrid vehicle.

4. The solar energy system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel includes an upper ultraviolet and weather protectant layer.

5. The solar energy system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells.

6. The solar energy system of claim 5, wherein the photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between two encapsulant layers to environmentally seal and electrically insulate the photovoltaic cells from each other.

7. The solar energy system of claim 1, including a monitor for controlling information detailing the performance of the solar energy system.

8. The solar energy system of claim 7, wherein the monitor controls information detailing system performance, battery pack state of charge, and voltage, wattage or amperage use.

9. The solar energy system of claim 1, wherein the solar panel includes a flexible photovoltaic panel.

10. The solar energy system of claim 1, including an inverter for converting direct current electricity produced by the solar panel to alternating current electricity.

11. The solar energy system of claim 1, including a supplemental battery electrically coupled to the solar panel.

12. A solar energy system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a solar panel attachable to the hybrid vehicle for receiving and converting solar energy into direct current electricity, wherein the solar panel includes an upper ultraviolet and weather protectant layer;

a converter for transforming direct current electricity from a comparatively lower energy state to a comparatively higher energy state;

a wiring harness electrically coupled to the solar panel, for directing the direct current electricity generated by the solar panel to the converter;

a battery for receiving the high energy state direct current electricity from the converter as a supplemental energy source; and

a monitor for controlling information detailing the performance of the solar energy system.

13. The solar energy system of claim 12, including an insulator for preventing energy loss between the solar panel and the hybrid vehicle, wherein the solar panel is aerodynamically shaped.

14. The solar energy system of claim 12, wherein the solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells sandwiched between two encapsulant layers to environmentally seal and electrically insulate the photovoltaic cells from each other.

15. The solar energy system of claim 12, wherein the monitor controls information detailing system performance, battery pack state of charge, and voltage, wattage or amperage use.

16. The solar energy system of claim 12, wherein the solar panel includes a flexible photovoltaic panel.

17. The solar energy system of claim 12, including an inverter for converting direct current electricity produced by the solar panel to alternating current electricity.

18. The solar energy system of claim 12, including a supplemental battery electrically coupled to the solar panel.

20. The process of claim 12, including the step of charging the hybrid vehicle battery with the direct current electricity from the converter.

21. The process of claim 12, including the steps of monitoring and controlling information detailing the utilization of solar energy by the hybrid vehicle.

22. The process of claim 14, including the step of controlling the state of charge of the battery and solar panel output.

23. The process of claim 14, including the step of regulating battery energy levels.

24. The process of claim 14, including the step of monitoring information detailing voltage, wattage or amperage use with the monitor.

25. The process of claim 12, including the step of converting direct current electricity to alternating current electricity.

26. The process of claim 17, including the step of generating an uninterruptible source of alternating current electricity such that the hybrid vehicle acts as a power generator.

27. The process of claim 12, including the step of collecting direct current electricity from the photovoltaic cell of the solar panel via a master transmitter electrically coupled to the solar panel and the converter.

28. The process of claim 12, including the step of distributing a plurality of photovoltaic cells throughout the solar panel.

29. The process of claim 12, including the step of conforming the solar panel to fit the contour of a hybrid vehicle roof.

30. The process of claim 12, including the step of connecting a removable solar panel to an exterior surface of the hybrid vehicle.

31. The process of claim 12, including the step of monitoring information detailing system performance, battery state of charge.

19. A process for utilizing solar energy in a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:

converting solar energy to direct current electricity through a photovoltaic cell of a solar panel disposed on an exterior of the hybrid vehicle;

transmitting the direct current electricity from the solar panel to a converter electrically coupled to the solar panel;

transforming the direct current electricity from a comparatively lower energy state to a comparatively higher energy state; and

supplementing the hybrid vehicle battery with the higher energy state direct current electricity from the converter.

32. A process for utilizing solar energy in a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:

converting solar energy to direct current electricity through a photovoltaic cell of a solar panel disposed on an exterior of the hybrid vehicle;

transmitting the direct current electricity from the solar panel to a converter electrically coupled to the solar panel;

transforming the direct current electricity from a comparatively lower energy state to a comparatively higher energy state;

supplementing the hybrid vehicle battery with the higher energy state direct current electricity from the converter;

monitoring and controlling information detailing the utilization of solar energy by the hybrid vehicle; and

distributing a plurality of photovoltaic cells throughout the solar panel.

33. The process of claim 32, including the step of charging the hybrid vehicle battery with the direct current electricity from the converter.

34. The process of claim 32, including the steps of:

controlling the state of charge of the battery and solar panel output;

regulating battery energy levels;

monitoring information detailing voltage, wattage or amperage use with the monitor; and

converting direct current electricity to alternating current electricity.

35. The process of claim 32, including the steps of:

generating an uninterruptible source of alternating current electricity such that the hybrid vehicle acts as a power generator; and

collecting direct current electricity from the photovoltaic cell of the solar panel via a master transmitter electrically coupled to the solar panel and the converter.

36. The process of claim 32, including the steps of:

conforming the solar panel to fit the contour of a hybrid vehicle roof;

connecting a removable solar panel to an exterior surface of the hybrid vehicle; and

monitoring information detailing system performance, battery state of charge.