Battery charging station for electric vehicles and electric vehicle usable therewith

• US 5,583,418 A
• Filed: 03/18/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Masao, Honda, Satoshi, Tamaki, Kenji, Nakazawa, Yoshihiro, Mita, Yoshinori, Sugioka, Kouichi, Motodate, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): NAPPI, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US08/214,752
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/21, 320/31, 320/32, 320/43, 320/44, 320/39, 320/40
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/10 characterised by the engine being over or beside driven rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 : Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 : Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 : Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 : Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 : Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 : Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 : arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 : with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 : with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 : Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 : Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 : specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/258 : Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 : using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 : with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

An electric vehicle includes a wet type secondary battery wherein a battery housing is provided with electrode plates being operatively positioned within the battery housing. Connector terminals are operatively connected to respective electrode plates. The electrode plates are disposed in a horizontal plane when the battery housing is mounted relative to electric vehicle. A step floor is provided on the electric vehicle and operatively positioned relative to a lower portion of the electric vehicle wherein the battery housing is disposed below the step floor. A charging station is provided for charging the battery.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle operable by utilizing power supplied from a chargeable battery, the electric vehicle comprising:

charging controller means for determiner a charging current and a charging voltage to be supplied to said chargeable battery and for outputting first information indicative of the determined charging current and charging voltage;

first storage for storing and outputting second information concerning characteristics of said chargeable battery; and

second storage for storing and outputting a charging algorithm for charging said chargeable battery,

said chargeable battery being charged with power supplied from a charging station, the charging power having charging current and charging voltage supplied in accordance with at least either one of the first information, the second information or the charging algorithm supplied from said charging controller means, said first storage and said second storage respectively.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, said charging controller means comprising:

remaining capacity storage for storing therein remaining charge capacity information of said chargeable battery;

nominal capacity storage for storing therein nominal charge capacity information of said chargeable battery; and

actual capacity storage for storing therein actual charge capacity information of said chargeable battery,

the actual capacity information of said chargeable battery being supplied from the charging station,

said remaining capacity information, nominal capacity information and actual capacity information being utilized for charging said chargeable battery.

3. A charging station for charging various types of chargeable batteries of electric vehicles comprising:

a transformer;

a rectifier;

a current regulator,

said transformer, said rectifier and said current regulator being operatively connected relative to each other for supplying power from the charging station to a chargeable battery;

station controller means for determiner a charging current and a charging voltage based on information supplied relative to said chargeable battery for controlling a current of the power supplied to said chargeable battery during charging at the charging station; and

ending time forecaster for forecasting a charging ending time using at least one of a nominal charge capacity and an actual charge capacity of said chargeable battery, a remaining charge capacity of said chargeable battery and a charging current value of the power supplied to said chargeable battery during charging.

4. The charging station according to claim 3, further comprising actual capacity detecting means for detecting an actual charge capacity of said chargeable battery in accordance with a charging capacity of said chargeable battery detected by charging capacity detecting means.

5. A charging station for simultaneously charging a plurality of chargeable batteries comprising:

a plurality of transformers;

a plurality of rectifiers;

a plurality of current regulators,

said plurality of transformers, rectifiers and current regulators respectively being operatively connected relative to each other for supplying power from said charging station to said chargeable batteries;

station controller means for determiner a charging current and a charging voltage based on information supplied relative to each of said plurality of chargeable batteries for controlling a current of the power supplied to said plurality of chargeable batteries during charging at the charging station; and

distribution switch means for selectively connecting outputs of said plurality of current regulators in accordance with an output of said station controller means to selectively control the current of the Dower supplied to said plurality of chargeable batteries.

6. The charging station according to claim 5, further comprising actual capacity detecting means for detecting an actual charge capacity of a corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries in accordance with a charging capacity of the corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries detected by charging capacity detecting means.

7. The charging station according to claim 5, further comprising ending time forecaster for forecasting a charging ending time for a corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries using at least one of a nominal charge capacity and an actual charge capacity of the corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries, a remaining charge capacity of the corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries and a charging current value of the power supplied to the corresponding one of said plurality of chargeable batteries during charging.

8. An electric vehicle comprising:

a chargeable battery for powering the electric vehicle;

charging control means, coupled to said chargeable battery, for determiner a desired charging current value for charging of said chargeable battery in accordance with a battery voltage and a battery temperature of said chargeable battery and for outputting a charging current signal indicative of the desired charging current value to a charging station, the electric vehicle being removably coupled to the charging station; and

storage for storing a charging algorithm for charging said chargeable battery and for outputting the charging algorithm to the charging station,

the electric vehicle operable to receive charging power for said chargeable battery supplied from the charging station in accordance with at least either one of the charging current signal or the charging algorithm.

9. A charging station for charging electric vehicles, each of the electric vehicles having rechargeable batteries for providing vehicle power and storage means for storing and outputting vehicle information indicative of the respective electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:

vehicle information receiving means for receiving the vehicle information of an electric vehicle coupled to the charging station;

vehicle discriminating means, coupled to said vehicle information receiving means, for determiner vehicle type of the electric vehicle coupled to the charging station in accordance with the received vehicle information;

charging control means, coupled to said vehicle discriminating means, for selecting a charging method and current for charging the rechargeable battery of the electric vehicle coupled to the charging station in accordance with the determined vehicle type; and

current regulating means, coupled to said charging control means, for generating and outputting a charging current for charging the rechargeable battery of the electric vehicle coupled to the charging station in accordance with the selected charging method and current.

10. The charging station of claim 9, further comprising display means, coupled to said current regulator means, for displaying the value of the charging power.

11. The charging station of claim 10, wherein said display means is a watt meter.