Vehicle battery systems and methods

• US 20100025132A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Onorato, Shaun, Winkel, John, Morris, Donald, Walker, Michael, Hill, Dale, Misencik, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,453,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.290
• 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 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/1432 Low floor busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 : Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/00 : Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof B62D33/044, B62D33/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/02 : predominantly of wood
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 47/02 : for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 : Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 : Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 : Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 : Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 : of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 : adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 : specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/509 : characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 : by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention provides for a high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle with a battery propulsion power source, which may include lithium titanate batteries. The vehicle may be all-battery or may be a hybrid, and may have a composite body. The vehicle battery system may be housed within the floor of the vehicle and may have different groupings and arrangements.

Claims

1. A heavy-duty vehicle comprising:

a lithium titanate battery power source, wherein the lithium titanate battery power source includes a plurality of battery packs and is housed within a floor structure of the heavy-duty vehicle such that individual battery packs are individually mounted into cavities within the floor structure.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the floor structure of the heavy-duty vehicle is substantially formed from at least one composite material.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the lithium titanate battery power source includes at least one battery assembly with a plurality of battery strings, wherein a battery string includes a plurality of battery packs, wherein a battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, wherein a battery module includes a plurality of lithium titanate cells.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein a battery pack includes a watertight box made from stainless steel or a composite material that will not oxidize when exposed to an electric arc.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein a battery pack includes dividers that provide isolation between the plurality of battery modules.

6. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein a battery pack and a battery module have integrated cooling features.

7. The vehicle of claim 3 further comprising a battery management system capable of disconnecting a battery string if a fault is detected.

8. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the heavy-duty vehicle is capable of operating if a battery string is disconnected.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein a heavy-duty vehicle is one of the following:

a transit bus, a school bus, a package delivery van, a shuttle bus, class 5-8 truck, or a tractor trailer.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the floor of the heavy-duty vehicle is a level floor between axles of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the lithium titanate battery power source has a height of 6.75 inches or less.

12. A heavy-duty vehicle comprising:

a lithium titanate battery propulsion power source; and

a vehicle body substantially formed from at least one composite material that houses the lithium titanate battery propulsion power source.

13. The heavy-duty vehicle of claim 12 wherein the high stress areas of the vehicle body are formed from carbon fiber.

14. The heavy-duty vehicle of claim 12 wherein the heavy-duty vehicle further comprises at least one additional propulsion power source.

15. A heavy-duty vehicle comprising a battery propulsion power source, wherein the battery propulsion power source includes at least one battery assembly with a plurality of battery strings, wherein a battery string includes a plurality of battery packs, wherein a battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, wherein a battery module includes a plurality of battery cells.

16. The heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein the battery propulsion power source is able to provide 12.5% or greater of the overall vehicle power.

17. The heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein the battery propulsion power source is capable of charging to 90% or more of the overall battery capacity within ten minutes using a periodic off board charging connection.

18. The heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein the battery propulsion power source is capable of charging to 90% or more of the overall battery capacity within ten minutes using an on board power generation device.

19. A heavy-duty vehicle comprising a battery propulsion power source comprising batteries that are solely lithium titanate batteries.