ELECTRIC VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle having multiple vehicle wheels and comprisingan electric motor;
- a drivetrain for transmitting rotary power from the electric motor to at least one of the vehicle wheels;
a flywheel;
a mechanical rotary transmission which is configured and controllableto transmit power from the at least one of the vehicle wheels to the flywheel andto transmit power from the flywheel to the at least one of the vehicle wheels, enabling power from the electric motor and the flywheel to be used concurrently to accelerate the vehicle, and enabling vehicle kinetic energy to be recovered and stored at the flywheel during vehicle deceleration; and
at least one battery unit which is engageable with the vehicle to supply electric power to the electric motor for vehicle propulsion, the battery unit being removable from the vehicle and being portable so that it is able to be carried away from the vehicle for charging.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a powertrain for an electric vehicle, and an electric vehicle as such. The powertrain has an electric motor and a drivetrain for transmitting rotary power from the electric motor to at least one of the vehicle wheels. A mechanical rotary transmission is provided in association with a flywheel. The mechanical rotary transmission is controllable to transmit power in a direction from the vehicle wheels to the flywheel and further transmit power in the reverse direction. Power from both the electric motor and the flywheel is concurrently used to accelerate the vehicle. The vehicle kinetic energy is recovered and stored at the flywheel during vehicle deceleration. The motor vehicle has at least one battery unit to supply the electric motor. The battery unit is removable from the vehicle, without tools, and is portable so that it is carried away from the vehicle for charging.
12 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle having multiple vehicle wheels and comprising
an electric motor; -
a drivetrain for transmitting rotary power from the electric motor to at least one of the vehicle wheels; a flywheel; a mechanical rotary transmission which is configured and controllable to transmit power from the at least one of the vehicle wheels to the flywheel and to transmit power from the flywheel to the at least one of the vehicle wheels, enabling power from the electric motor and the flywheel to be used concurrently to accelerate the vehicle, and enabling vehicle kinetic energy to be recovered and stored at the flywheel during vehicle deceleration; and at least one battery unit which is engageable with the vehicle to supply electric power to the electric motor for vehicle propulsion, the battery unit being removable from the vehicle and being portable so that it is able to be carried away from the vehicle for charging.
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2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, a mass of the battery unit is 30 kg or less.
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3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, a mass of the battery unit is 10 kg or less.
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4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, a mass of the battery unit is 6 kg or less.
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5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, drivable using power is solely derived from the at least one battery unit.
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6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, the battery unit is provided with a carrying handle or a shoulder strap.
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7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, the at least one battery unit comprises a first battery unit, the vehicle comprises a first port for receiving the first battery unit which is accessible from inside of a vehicle cabin. s
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8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein, the at least one battery unit comprises a second battery unit, the vehicle comprises a second port for receiving the second battery unit, the second port being accessible from outside the vehicle cabin.
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9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, the second port is accessible from rear of the vehicle and the second battery unit is receivable by the vehicle in a position behind vehicle seating.
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10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, the vehicle is configured to be able to receive at least two different sizes of battery unit, comprising a larger battery unit and a smaller battery unit.
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11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein, the vehicle further comprises an electronic control device configured to control power supplied to the electric motor, the electronic control device is configured to implement at least two different power control strategies according to which size of battery unit is installed.
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12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has an unladen mass, inclusive of the battery unit, of 1200 kg or less.
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13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has an unladen mass, inclusive of the battery unit, of 600 kg or less.
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14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, the mechanical rotary transmission comprises a decoupling clutch or a power split device for selectively decoupling the flywheel from the vehicle wheel(s) to enable the flywheel to be driven from the electric motor while the vehicle is stationary, so that the flywheel is able to be charged with energy prior to the launch.
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15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein, the mechanical rotary transmission comprises a variator.
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16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein, the variator is operatively coupled to a motor shaft of the electric motor, which is operatively coupled to the at least one of the vehicle wheels through the drivetrain.
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17. A powertrain for an electric vehicle having multiple vehicle wheels, the powertrain comprising:
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an electric motor; a drivetrain for transmitting rotary power from the electric motor to at least one of the vehicle wheels; a flywheel; a mechanical rotary transmission which is configured and controllable to transmit power from the at least one of the vehicle wheels to the flywheel; and transmit power from the flywheel to the at least one of the vehicle wheels, enabling power from the electric motor and the flywheel to be used concurrently to accelerate the vehicle, and enabling vehicle kinetic energy to be recovered and stored at the flywheel during vehicle deceleration; and at least one battery unit which is engageable with the vehicle to supply electric power to the electric motor for vehicle propulsion, the battery unit being configured to be removable from the vehicle and being portable so that it is able to be carried away from the vehicle for charging.
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Specification