Fuel cell powered electric vehicle

• US 6,978,855 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• 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: Kubota, Shinya, Matsuoka, Toshiyuki, Mita, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischmann, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEBE, GERALD B
• Application Number:
  US10/607,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 180 651- 658, 180/68.1, 180/68.5, 180/311, 180/312, 180/313
• US Class Current: 429/442
• 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: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/10 Multiple hybrid or EDL capacitors, e.g. arrays or modules housings, cases, encapsulations or mountings thereof H01G11/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 2/08 Cooling arrangements; Heating arrangements; Ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• 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 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In a fuel cell powered electric vehicle having a fuel cell system and an electricity storing device for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system and the electricity storing device stored in a box are fixed to a lower side of a floor of a cabin. A plate is provided to separate the fuel cell system and the electricity storing device in the interior of the box from each other. In addition, through holes are provided in the floor of the cabin for connecting between a refrigerant inlet port and a refrigerant outlet port of the electricity storing device and the cabin.

Claims

1. A fuel cell powered electric vehicle, comprising:

a fuel cell controlled at a predetermined temperature by a cooling device;

an electricity storing device for storing electricity generated by the fuel cell,

wherein the electricity storing device is controlled at a temperature which is different from the predetermined temperature of the fuel cell; and

a common box for storing both the fuel cell and the electricity storing device disposed under a floor of a cabin, the common box including a plate for separating the fuel cell from the electricity storing device,

wherein a through hole for connecting between the electricity storing device and the cabin is provided on the box, and

wherein the electricity storing device is cooled by air which has passed through the through hole.

2. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat insulating material provided on the plate,

wherein the heat insulating material thermally insulates the fuel cell and the electricity storing device from each other.

3. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the electricity storing device is controlled at the temperature which is in a range of from about 40 to 50°

C.

4. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the fuel cell is controlled at the temperature which is in a range of from about 60°

C. to 80°

C.

5. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device is cooled by cooling water circulated through a radiator and the fuel cell.

6. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the electricity storing device is controlled to be lower than the predetermined temperature of the fuel cell.

7. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the electricity storing device has a refrigerant inlet port and a refrigerant outlet port so that one of the refrigerant inlet and outlet ports connects to the cabin via the through hole.

8. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant inlet and outlet ports are disposed on a lower side of a seat of the vehicle.

9. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein an air within a passenger compartment is utilized to be circulated so that an air after cooling the electricity storing device is discharged via another through hole into a passenger compartment.

10. The fuel cell powered electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the electricity storing device is disposed under a seat of the vehicle,

wherein the refrigerant inlet port and the refrigerant outlet port are disposed at a lower side of the seat of the vehicle.