BATTERY CONFIGURATION FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20140111121A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Yi-Tsung
• Granted Patent: US 9,381,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/209 for overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/30 with means to change over to human control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• 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 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• 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 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 : having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 : Balancing the charge of battery modules
• 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

Abstract

A power delivery system for an electric vehicle provides efficient power management for either continuous or intermittent high-performance operation, using a boost stage and an on-board charging circuit. A main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source, supplies power to the electric motor under normal load conditions. An auxiliary boost battery assists the main battery in supplying a high-level current at a higher discharge rate thereby causing the motor to operate in a high-performance drive mode. A charging circuit recharges the boost battery from the main battery during operation of the motor. The charging circuit also maintains a charge balance between the boost battery and the main battery when the two batteries have different chemistries. In one embodiment, participation of the boost battery in powering the electric motor can be controlled automatically according to sensed changes in the load. In another embodiment, power management can be based on timed intervals.

Claims

1. A power delivery system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electric motor coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle;

a primary battery, configured to supply low-level current to low-power functional elements of the vehicle;

a main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source of intermediate-level current supplied to the electric motor; and

a boost battery, configured to supply, upon request, a high-level current at a higher discharge rate than a discharge rate of the main battery, thereby causing the electric motor to operate in a high-performance drive mode; and

a charging circuit configured to recharge the boost battery from the main battery when the electric motor is not operating in the high-performance drive mode.

2. The power delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising an electric switch that engages both the main battery and the boost battery automatically in response to an increase in load resistance.

3. The power delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the main battery is removable for external recharging.

4. The power delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the main battery includes one or more capacitors.

5. The power delivery system according to claim 1, wherein a discharge rate of the boost battery exceeds that of the main battery.

6. The power delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the main battery and the boost battery have different chemistries.

7. The power delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the boost battery is a lithium ferrite battery

8. A power delivery system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electric motor coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle;

a primary battery, that is operable to supply low-level current to low-power functional elements of the vehicle;

a main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source that is removable from the vehicle for external recharging;

a boost battery, configured to supply a high-level current to drive the electric motor; and

a DC/DC charger electrically coupled to both the main battery and the boost battery so that the main battery is operable to recharge the boost battery on board, via the charger, while the vehicle is in use.

9. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the main battery is configured to continuously recharge the boost battery.

10. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the main battery is configured to intermittently recharge the boost battery.

11. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the boost battery is removable for external charging

12. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the main battery and the boost battery are electrically coupled in parallel.

13. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the main battery includes one or more capacitors.

14. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the main battery is a lithium-ion battery.

15. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a scooter.

16. The power delivery system according to claim 8, wherein a discharge rate of the boost battery is higher than that of the main battery.

17. A method of operating a power system for a vehicle having an electric motor, the method comprising:

supplying electrical power to low-power functional elements of the vehicle using a primary battery;

supplying electrical power to the electric motor using a high-capacity main battery in response to sensing a first load on the electric motor; and

supplying electrical power to the electric motor using a high-performance boost battery in response to sensing a second load on the electric motor; and

recharging the boost battery from the main battery during operation of the electric motor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second load on the electric motor is greater than the first load on the electric motor.

19. A method of operating a power system for a vehicle having an electric motor, a primary battery, a high-capacity secondary main battery, and a high-performance tertiary boost battery, the method comprising:

supplying electrical power to low-power functional elements of the vehicle using the primary battery;

when the vehicle is not traveling, using the main battery to charge the boost battery;

when the vehicle is traveling,

using the main battery to supply electrical power to the motor while charging the boost battery during a first time interval;

supplying electrical power to the motor during a second time interval; and

using both the main battery and the boost battery together to supply electrical power to the electric motor during a third time interval.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the vehicle is a scooter.