Surface-mediated cell-powered vehicles and methods of operating same

• US 20130190956A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhamu, Aruna, Chen, Guorong, Wang, Xiqing, Jang, Bor Z., Wang, Yanbo, Fang, Qing
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 7/04 Locomotives or motor railcars with two or more different kinds or types of engines, e.g. steam and IC engines
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/005 Fuel cells
• 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 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle powered by a surface-mediated cell (SMC)-based power source, comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting the frame or a propeller connected to the frame, a drive unit connected to the wheel or propeller, and a power source electrically connected to the drive unit, wherein the power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell. The vehicle can be a micro-EV (using the SMC for the stop-start function), HEV, plug-in HEV, all-electric vehicle, power-assisted bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, tricycle, automobile, wheelchair, fork lift, golf cart, specialty vehicle, bus, truck, train, rapid-transit vehicle, boat, or air vehicle. The ultra-high power density enables the SMC to provide pulsed power or increased current demands when the vehicle is accelerating or hill-climbing. The SMC also enables the power source to recuperate the braking energy when the vehicle decelerates, brakes, or simply moves down-hill.

Claims

1. A vehicle powered by a surface-mediated cell-based power source, comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting said frame or a propeller connected to said frame, a drive unit connected to said wheel or propeller, and a power source electrically connected to said drive unit and supplying power thereto, wherein said power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell (SMC).

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said power source contains multiple surface-mediated cells connected in series, in parallel, or having a combination of series and parallel connections.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle further contains a controller electrically connected to said power source.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said vehicle further contains a DC/DC converter and/or a high-voltage bus electrically communicating with said controller.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is an all-electric vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or micro-electric vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said drive unit has an internal combustion engine and a transmission unit to drive said wheel and said SMC-based power source provides pulsed power to start said engine through a starting motor.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power source contains a DC/DC converter or a buck-boost converter electrically connected to a surface-mediated cell or a stack of multiple surface-mediated cells.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an electric generator, dynamo, reversible electric motor, alternator, or rotary converter to convert braking energy or kinetic energy of said vehicle to electric currents that recharge said power source.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a micro-EV, HEV, plug-in hybrid EV, all-electric vehicle, power-assisted bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, tricycle, automobile, wheelchair, fork lift, golf cart, specialty vehicle, bus, truck, train, rapid-transit vehicle, boat, or air vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, which is an unmanned air vehicle further containing a telecommunication unit connected to said frame and communicating with a remote-control unit.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power source contains a stack of a first SMC and at least a second SMC that are internally connected in series, wherein said stack contains at least a bipolar electrode made of a non-porous but electronically conducting solid layer having one surface optionally coated with an anode active material and an opposing surface coated with a cathode active material, and the electrolyte in the first SMC is not in fluid communication with the electrolyte in the second SMC.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a controller connected directly or indirectly to the frame and electrically communicating with said SMC power source, wherein said drive unit contains a traction motor or starting motor electrically communicating with said controller, and said at least a wheel or propeller is connected to either said traction motor through a power-transmission unit or to said starting motor through an internal combustion engine and a power-transmission unit.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power source has a first stack of multiple surface-mediated cells electrically communicating with a DC/DC converter or a buck-boost converter, which electrically communicates with a second stack of multiple surface-mediated cells.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said second stack of multiple surface-mediated cells recharges or provides currents to said first stack of multiple surface-mediated cells.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power source has a stack of multiple surface-mediated cells electrically communicating with a DC/DC converter or a buck-boost converter, which electrically communicates with an energy storage or energy conversion unit selected from a battery, a supercapacitor, a fuel cell, a thermo-electric unit, a geothermal power-generating unit, a motor power generator, or a combination thereof.

16. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said power source has a stack of multiple surface-mediated cells electrically communicating with an energy storage or energy conversion unit selected from a battery, a supercapacitor, a fuel cell, a thermo-electric unit, a geothermal power-generating unit, a motor power generator, or a combination thereof.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the battery is selected from a lead-acid, nickel metal hydride, zinc-air, aluminum air, lithium-ion, lithium metal rechargeable, lithium-air, lithium-sulfur, or flow battery.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said energy storage or energy conversion unit recharges or provides currents to said stack of multiple surface-mediated cells.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said energy storage or energy conversion unit recharges or provides currents to said stack of multiple surface-mediated cells.

22. A method of operating the vehicle of claim 1, said method including operating a SMC power source to drive a motion of said vehicle, or to store electric energy converted from kinetic energy or braking energy of said vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said SMC power source provides pulsed power to drive said vehicle when accelerating or hill-climbing, and assists in capturing and storing the kinetic energy or braking energy of said vehicle when decelerating, braking, or going down a slope.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said SMC power source electrically communicates with an energy storage or energy conversion unit selected from a battery, a SMC, a supercapacitor, a fuel cell, a thermo-electric unit, a geothermal power-generating unit, a motor power generator, or a combination thereof.

20. A power-assisted vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting said frame, a drive unit connected to said wheel, and a power source electrically connected to said drive unit and supplying power thereto, a kinetic energy-capturing device that converts captured kinetic energy to electric energy that recharges said power source, wherein said power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell (SMC).

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein said kinetic energy-capturing device contains an electric generator, dynamo, reversible electric motor, alternator, or rotary converter.