Vehicle Hybrid Energy System

• US 20080245587A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Albano, Fabio, Sastry, Ann M., Wang, Chia W., Cook-Chennault, Kimberly A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid energy storage system suitable for use in a vehicle having an electrified drivetrain includes a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module that is different than the first energy storage module. The first energy storage module may have a cell configuration, a cell chemistry, a cell number, a controller or another characteristic different than a like characteristic of the second energy storage module.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy storage system that may be used in a vehicle having a partial or completely electrified drivetrain, the hybrid energy storage system comprising:

a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module, the first energy storage module being different from the second energy storage module. Modules include a cell or set of cells having common specific characteristics, such as cell configuration, cell chemistry, control and the like. The system is comprised of two different modules, so that distinct electrochemistries, configurations, controls and the like, are included in the system.

2. The hybrid energy system of claim 1, wherein the first energy module contains batteries made from a first set of active materials, and the second energy module contains batteries made from a second set of active materials.

3. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, the first energy storage module and the second energy storage module can be coupled to provide a single output that is coupled to the electrified drivetrain.

4. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, the first energy storage module having a first cell configuration and the second energy storage module having a second cell configuration, the first cell configuration being different from the second cell configuration. Cell configuration refers to form factor and capacity of cells.

6. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module comprises a first plurality of battery cells and the second energy storage module comprises a second plurality of battery cells, second plurality of battery cells being different configuration and number than the first plurality of battery cells.

7. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module comprises a plurality of batteries and the second energy storage system comprises a plurality of capacitors.

8. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, the hybrid energy storage system having a target parameter, the first energy storage module and the second energy storage module being optimized based upon the target parameter.

9. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the target parameter comprises:

power profile, cell profile, cell volume, cell mass, capacity fade, lifetime, energy, weighted power, volumetric energy, volumetric power, weighted volumetric power, gravimetric energy, weighted gravimetric energy or rate of discharge.

10. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the target parameter comprises a user specified parameter.

11. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the user specified parameter comprises:

mass, volume and surface area, operation temperature, numbers of modules, number of cycles, primary and/or secondary cell chemistry and form.

5. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the first cell chemistry and the second cell chemistry are selected from the group consisting of nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion.

12. A vehicle having at least a partial electrified drivetrain comprising:

a traction motor coupled to drive at least one wheel;

a controller coupled to the traction motor;

an acceleration control and a brake control coupled to the controller; and

a hybrid energy storage system having at least two electrical power outputs coupled to the controller.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the hybrid energy storage system has a first power output utilized for lower-demand operating conditions, for example when the vehicle is traveling at constant velocity or speeds less than about 30 mph. A second power output can be utilized for high load or high frequency load conditions, for example, in cases where the vehicle accelerates or decelerates.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, the hybrid energy storage system comprising a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module, the first energy storage module being different from the second energy storage module and the first and second energy storage modules being coupled to the electrified drivetrain.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 where the storage modules may be coupled to a controller.

16. A method of providing power to an electrified drivetrain of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a hybrid energy storage system module, the hybrid energy storage system having a first power output utilized for lower-demand operating conditions and a second power output utilized for high load or high frequency load conditions;

coupling the hybrid energy storage system module to a controller; and

delivering electrical energy to the electrified drivetrain from the hybrid energy storage module via the controller.

17. A method of designing a power system within a vehicle having an electrified drive train comprising:

determining a first operating characteristic of the vehicle and a second operating characteristic of the vehicle, different than the first characteristic;

identifying an first energy storage system optimized for the first operating characteristic and a second energy storage system optimized for the second operating characteristic; and

coupling the first energy storage system and the second energy storage system to form a hybrid energy storage system; and

disposing the hybrid energy storage system within the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the first energy storage system and the second energy storage system comprises a set of cells and having specific characteristics and identifying the first energy storage system and the second energy storage system comprises identifying the specific cell characteristics for each of the first energy storage system and the second energy storage system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the specific cell characteristics are selected from the group consisting of cell configuration, cell chemistry and control.