Electric Vehicle Battery System

• US 20100071979A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charge Peak Limited
• Original Assignee: Better Place GmbH
• Inventors: Heichal, Yoav, Agassi, Tal
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• 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 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• 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 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• 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: 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 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 : Disassembling

Abstract

The electric vehicle includes a battery pack that can be exchanged at a battery exchange station. At the battery exchange station, an at least partially spent battery pack is exchanged for an at least partially charged battery pack. A battery bay is configured to be disposed at an underside of the electric vehicle. The battery bay includes a frame which defines a cavity. The cavity is configured to at least partially receive the battery pack therein. The battery bay comprises at least one latch rotatably pivoted about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle. The latch is configured to lift, retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity.

Claims

1. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:

a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein; and

a latch rotatably pivoted about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle, the latch configured to retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity.

2. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

an additional latch rotatably pivoted about an additional axis substantially parallel to and distinct from the axis.

3. The battery bay of claim 2, wherein the axis and the additional axis are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis running the length of the vehicle.

4. The battery bay of claim 2, further comprising:

a transmission assembly mechanically coupling the latch and the additional latch, the transmission assembly configured to simultaneously rotate the latch and the additional latch in opposite rotational directions to each another.

5. The battery bay of claim 4, further comprising an electric motor mechanically coupled to the frame for driving the transmission assembly.

6. The battery bay of claim 4, wherein the transmission assembly is configured to be driven by a rotation mechanism external to the vehicle.

7. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the latch is a first latch and the axis is a first axis, the battery bay further comprising:

a second latch also rotatably pivoted about the first axis;

third and fourth latches rotatably pivoted about a second axis substantially parallel to and distinct from the first axis; and

a transmission assembly mechanically coupling the first, second, third, and fourth latches so as to simultaneously rotate a first group of the first and second latches and a second group of the third and fourth latches in opposite rotational directions to one another.

8. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed integrally with a frame of the vehicle.

9. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the frame is a separate structure configured to attach to the vehicle.

10. A battery bay of claim 9, wherein one or more vibration dampers are disposed between the frame and the at least partially electric vehicle.

11. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the frame is located between a front axle and a rear axle of the vehicle.

12. A battery bay of claim 2, wherein the latch and the additional latch substantially simultaneously rotate in opposite directions to each other about their respective axes.

13. The battery bay of claim 1, further including:

a latch housing;

an input link including a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is permanently attached to a torque bar which rotates with respect to a first portion of the latch housing;

a coupler link rod including a first rod end and a second rod end, wherein the first rod end is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point of the input link; and

the latch including a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point, wherein the third pivot point is pivotably coupled to the second rod end of the coupler link rod and the fourth pivot point is pivotably coupled to a second portion of the latch housing.

14. A battery bay of claim 13, wherein a length of the coupler link rod is adjustable.

15. The battery bay of claim 13, wherein when the latch is in a locked position engaged with a striker of the battery pack, the input link, coupler link rod, and latch form a geometric lock.

16. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising a battery pack, the battery pack comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery cell that stores electrical energy, and

a housing at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery cell, the housing further comprising at least one striker having a bar shape, configured to engage with the latch.

17. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least one compression spring coupled to the battery bay, wherein the at least one compression spring is configured to generate a force between the battery bay and the battery pack when the battery pack is held at least partially within the cavity.

18. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical lock which is configured to prevent the latch from rotating when engaged.

19. The battery bay of claim 18, wherein the miter gear lock is configured to be released with a key inserted along an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the underside of the vehicle.

20. The battery bay of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more electrically activated latch locks which is configured to prevent the latch from rotating when engaged.

21. The battery bay of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one alignment socket configured to mate with at least one alignment pin on the battery pack.

22. A battery system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery bay, for receiving a battery pack, located on an underside of the electric vehicle, said battery bay comprising;

a first latch configured to mechanically couple a first end of the battery pack to a first end of the underside of the electric vehicle; and

a second latch configured to mechanically couple a second end of the battery pack to a second end of the underside of the electric vehicle;

wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured to mechanically couple the battery pack to the underside of the electric vehicle by engaging, vertically lifting, and locking the first and second ends of the battery pack to the electric vehicle substantially simultaneously.

23. A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:

a means for storing electrical energy; and

a means for retaining the means for storing electrical energy at an underside of the vehicle by rotating the means for retaining into contact with the means for storing electrical energy about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle.

24. A battery pack for removably attaching to an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery pack comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery cell that stores electrical energy; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery cell, wherein a portion of the housing includes a heat exchange mechanism that has at least a portion thereof exposed to ambient air at the underside of the vehicle when the battery pack is attached to the vehicle.

25. The battery pack of claim 24, wherein the battery pack further comprises an electrical connection system with a first group of connectors for power, a second group of connectors for data communications, where the second group of connectors is shielded from the first group of connectors.

26. The battery pack of claim 24, wherein the housing has a height along an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane formed by an underside of the vehicle and a length along an axis substantially parallel with a length of the vehicle, the height being substantially less than its length.

27. The battery pack of claim 24, wherein the housing further comprises at least one striker, configured to engage with a latch of a battery bay.

28. The battery pack of claim 27, wherein the striker further comprises a roller.

29. A battery bay of claim 27, wherein the latch is configured to raise the battery pack along an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the underside of the vehicle.

30. The battery bay of claim 24, wherein the housing of the battery pack has a height along an axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the underside of the vehicle that substantially less than its length along an axis that is parallel with the length of the vehicle.

31. The battery bay of claim 24, wherein the battery pack, when attached to the vehicle, at least partially protrudes below the plane of the underside of the electric vehicle to dissipate heat generated by operation of the battery pack.

32. The battery bay of claim 24, wherein a portion of the housing includes a heat exchange mechanism that has at least a portion thereof exposed to ambient air at the underside of the vehicle when the battery pack is attached to the vehicle.

33. The battery bay of claim 32, wherein the heat exchange mechanism includes a cooling duct extending through the housing.

34. The battery bay of claim 33, wherein the cooling duct includes a plurality of fins within the cooling duct.

35. The battery bay of claim 33, wherein the cooling duct includes a scoop inlet.

36. A method of removing a battery pack from an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, comprising:

rotating a latch mechanism mechanically coupled to a vehicle so as to disengage contact between the latch and a battery pack disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle; and

translating the battery pack away from the underside of the vehicle.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein prior to the rotating,

mechanically disengaging a first lock mechanism and electrically disengaging a second lock mechanism.