All wheel drive electric vehicle power assist drive system

• US 20100133023A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Tang, Yifan
• Application Number:
  US12/586,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• 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 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an all-electric vehicle using a primary drive system and a secondary drive system is provided. While the primary drive system utilizes a single electric motor, the secondary drive system utilizes a pair of electric motors. A single electrical energy storage system (ESS) is used to supply power to both drive systems. A DC/DC converter can be used so that the two drive systems can utilize different DC bus voltage ranges.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:

a primary drive system, comprising;

a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle;

a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; and

a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter;

an assist drive system, comprising;

a first assist electric motor, said first assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a first wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said first assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said first wheel of said second vehicle axle;

a first assist inverter electrically connected to said first assist electric motor;

a first assist power control module electrically connected to said first assist inverter;

a second assist electric motor, said second assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a second wheel of said second vehicle axle, wherein said second assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said second wheel of said second vehicle axle; and

a second assist inverter electrically connected to said second assist electric motor;

a second assist power control module electrically connected to said second assist inverter; and

an electrical energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to said primary inverter via said primary power control module, electrically connected to said first assist inverter via said first assist power control module, and electrically connected to said second assist inverter via said second assist power control module;

a central power control module coupled to said primary power control module, said first assist power control module and said second assist power control module, wherein said central power control module provides control signals to said primary power control module, said first assist power control module and said second assist power control module.

2. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, wherein said second vehicle axle is a split axle.

3. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, further comprising a DC/DC converter electrically interconnected between said first assist power control module and said electrical ESS.

4. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, further comprising a DC/DC converter electrically interconnected between said second assist power control module and said electrical ESS.

5. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, further comprising a DC/DC converter electrically interconnected between said primary power control module and said electrical ESS.

6. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, wherein said primary power control module, said secondary power control module and said central power control module are combined into a master power control unit.

7. The electric vehicle drive system of claim 1, wherein a first drive system base speed corresponding to said assist drive system and said first assist electric motor is at least 50% higher than a second drive system base speed corresponding to said primary drive system and said primary electric motor, and wherein a third drive system base speed corresponding to said assist drive system and said second assist electric motor is at least 50% higher than said second drive system base speed corresponding to said primary drive system and said primary electric motor.