SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONVERTING A STANDARD HYBRID VEHICLE INTO A PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (PHEV)

• US 20140081490A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plug-In Conversions Corp.
• Original Assignee: Plug-In Conversions Corp.
• Inventors: ADELMAN, Kim
• Application Number:
  US13/615,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/04 for both machining and other metal-working operations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 : Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 : Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/51 : Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling

Abstract

A kit for converting a standard hybrid vehicle into a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) is described. The kit includes at least one battery configured to match the voltage of an original hybrid battery; connection hardware, wherein the connection hardware is configured to electrically connect the at least one battery to an off-vehicle power source; and tangible computer readable memory media storing battery management software, wherein when executed in a processor in a vehicle, the battery management software is configured to provide information relating to battery performance to an engine control unit, wherein the at least one battery is further configured to maintain charge balance between each of the cells of the at least one battery.

Claims

1. A kit for converting a standard hybrid vehicle into a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), the kit comprising:

at least one battery configured to match the voltage of an original hybrid battery;

connection hardware, wherein the connection hardware is configured to electrically connect the at least one battery to an off-vehicle power source; and

tangible computer readable memory media storing battery management software, wherein when executed in a processor in a vehicle, the battery management software is configured to provide information relating to battery performance to an engine control unit, wherein the at least one battery is further configured to maintain charge balance between each of the cells of the at least one battery.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery is a 50 Ah, 201.6 Vdc battery;

a 30 Ah, 201.6 Vdc battery; and

/or a 6.5 Ah, 201.6 Vdc battery.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the battery management software is configured to manage the cell performance of the at least one battery.

4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the battery management software is configured to maintain a substantially equal charge across the cells of the at least one battery and the original hybrid battery.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the battery management software is configured to maintain an equal charge +/−

0.07 Vdc across the cells of the at least one battery and the original hybrid battery.

6. The kit of claim 1, further comprising suspension components, wherein the suspension components include stiffer springs and/or shock absorbers with a higher damping coefficient.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the connection hardware is a flexible door having a frame and door, and a bracket, which houses an SAE J1772 compliant or dc equivalent electrical connector matable with the connection hardware.

8. A portable recharging kit for an electric vehicle, the kit comprising:

an external source of electricity, which is configured to be stored within the electric vehicle;

connection hardware, which is matable with an electric vehicle compliant connector; and

one or more cables, which connects the connection hardware to the external source of electricity.

9. The portable recharging kit of claim 8, wherein the electric vehicle compliant connector is an SAE J1772 compliant or dc equivalent connector.

10. A panel assembly, which is configured to fit within a front bumper of an electrical vehicle, comprising:

a back plate, which is attachable to an inner portion of the front bumper;

a door assembly, which is attachable to the back plate, the door assembly including a door, a latch catch and magnet assembly, a hinge, and a hinge bracket, which allows the door to swing outward from a closed position to expose an electric vehicle compliant connector, which is housed within the front bumper of the electric vehicle and recharges the electric vehicle as needed.

11. The front panel assembly of claim 10, wherein the door is an emblem or badge of a manufacturer of the electric vehicle.

12. A method of increasing the performance of at least one battery configured for use in a PHEV, wherein the at least one battery is configured with the same maximum voltage as an original vehicle battery, the method comprising:

controllably cycling the charging and discharging of the at least one battery, the cycling comprising;

battery charging, wherein the at least one battery is charged to a first state of charge in charging cycling, and

discharging, wherein discharging comprises;

regular discharging, wherein the at least one battery is discharged to second state of charge, and

deep discharging, wherein the at least one battery is discharged to a third state of charge.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first state of charge comprises an approximately 90 percent state of charge.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second state of charge comprises an approximately 23 percent state of charge.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the third state of charge comprises a 5 percent state of charge.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the battery cycle comprises one deep discharge cycle for at least every twenty regular discharge cycles.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the battery cycle comprises one deep discharge cycle every month.

18. A method of maximizing battery usage in a PHEV, wherein the cycling of a vehicle battery increases battery performance and battery life, the method comprising:

requesting vehicle operator input relating to desired vehicle operation mode;

requesting vehicle operator input relating to estimated trip length;

requesting information relating to battery charge parameters;

allowing vehicle operation in the user requested mode when battery criteria exceed threshold levels;

denying vehicle operation in the user requested mode when battery criteria fail to exceed threshold levels; and

limiting a rate of battery power availability according to predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria are created to maximize ideal cycling of the vehicle battery during each trip, wherein ideal cycling comprises discharging the vehicle battery from a first state of charge to a second state of charge.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first state of charge comprises a 90 percent state of charge.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second state of charge comprises a 23 percent state of charge.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the desired vehicle operation mode comprises the factory vehicle operation mode.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the desired vehicle operation mode comprises limiting vehicle top speed.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the desired vehicle operation mode comprises solely electric power below a designated speed.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle operation mode uses solely electric power below 72 miles per hour.