Hybrid Vehicle with Modular battery system

• US 20090078481A1
• Filed: 02/02/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• 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 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A modular hybrid vehicle uses multiple different modular battery units in a vehicle. New batteries can be added, or removed. The batteries can each be associated with a separate electric motor. Each battery individually drives a motor, allowing the characteristics of limited slip or all wheel drive. Also, the batteries can be replaced, or added to, to provide more battery power to the vehicle. There may be sensors at the battery that sense various characteristics and report those characteristics wirelessly to a central controller.

Claims

1. An electrically-operable vehicle, that comprises plural separate battery modules, including a first battery module at a first location in the vehicle, and a second battery module at a second location in the vehicle, and said second location is distinct from said first location, and wherein each of said first and second battery modules are operative to produce drive for the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said first battery module is adjacent a first wheel of a vehicle, and said second battery module is adjacent a second wheel of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said battery modules each include at least one sensor therein, that produces information indicative of a condition.

4. A vehicle as in claim 3, wherein said sensors communicate information wirelessly.

5. A vehicle as in claim 4, further comprising a controller, that receives information wirelessly from a plurality of said modules.

6. A vehicle as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of switches, that each switch a connection of each module.

7. A vehicle as in claim 6, wherein said switches switch said modules into either of a parallel connection with another module or in place of another module.

8. A method comprising:

using a first battery to operate a vehicle;

providing a connector for a second battery; and

attaching a second battery to said connector and using said second battery to operate said vehicle.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said first battery and said second battery are in different locations in the vehicle.

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising automatically adjusting a connection of said first battery and said second battery based on sensed characteristics.

11. A method as in claim 8, further comprising wirelessly detecting characteristics of said batteries.

12. A method as in claim 8, wherein at least one of said batteries comprises a plurality of series connected parts, and further comprising detecting a malfunctioning series connected-part, and producing a connection that avoids said series connected-part.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a first sensor in a first location in the vehicle, said first sensor having a wireless capability that allows communicating information from the sensor wirelessly;

a second sensor in a second location in the vehicle, said first sensor having a wireless capability that allows communicating information from the sensor wirelessly; and

a controller that receives information wirelessly from both said first and second sensors, and controls at least one controlled system based on said information from both said first and second sensors.

14. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein said information is indicative of batteries at said locations, and further comprising controlling said batteries based on said information.

15. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein said vehicle includes a first motor associated with said first battery and a second motor associated with said second battery, and said information is indicative of an amount of driving of said motors.

16. A vehicle comprising

a first electric motor, driving a first wheel of the vehicle;

a first battery, associated with said first electric motor, and selectively energized to drive said first electric motor;

a second electric motor, driving a second wheel of the vehicle;

a second battery, associated with said second electric motor, and selectively energized to drive said second electric motor; and

a controller, that separately controls said first battery driving said first electric motor, and said second battery driving said second electric motor.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said controller controls said motors based on individual loading characteristics of said first and second wheels.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein said controller receives information used for driving said first and second motors wirelessly.

19. A method as in claim 16, further comprising allowing adding another battery, and using said another battery in driving said motors, wherein said vehicle operates properly both with said another battery and without said another battery.

20. A method as in claim 16, further comprising detecting a fault in one of said batteries, and automatically making a connection that avoids said fault.