Electric vehicle chassis with removable battery module and a method for battery module replacement

• US 7,201,384 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George T. Chaney
• Original Assignee: George T. Chaney
• Inventors: Chaney, George T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US10/645,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/311, 180/312, 280/781, 280/783, 320/104, 320/109, 320/112
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/50 Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles
• 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 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0455 Removal or replacement of the energy storages
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0461 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/12 assembled from readily detachable parts
• 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

Abstract

An electric powered vehicle includes a chassis defining a battery module compartment and a battery module insertable into the battery module compartment of the chassis. A method of replacing a battery module of an electric powered vehicle provides a service facility including a plurality of battery modules and a system for charging the battery modules. Upon the entry into the service facility of a driver in an electric powered vehicle with a depleted battery module, the depleted battery module is removed from the electric powered vehicle and replaced with a battery module including a fully charged battery. The driver is then charged for the battery module including the fully charged battery.

Claims

1. A method of replacing a battery module of an electric powered vehicle, comprising:

providing electric powered vehicles, each electric powered vehicle, comprising;

a chassis defining a battery module compartment, and

a battery module insertable into the battery module compartment of the chassis, whereby the battery module completes the chassis upon insertion into the battery module compartment thereby providing the chassis with required structural integrity necessary to support the electric powered vehicle during travel;

providing a service facility for the electric powered vehicles;

providing the service facility with a plurality of battery modules and a system for charging the battery modules;

opening the service facility to drivers owning the electric powered vehicles, whereby a driver having an electric powered vehicle with a depleted battery module enters the service facility;

removing the depleted battery module from the electric powered vehicle, thereby removing a portion of the chassis for the electric powered vehicle;

inserting a fully charged battery module into the electric powered vehicle, thereby completing the chassis of the electric powered vehicle and providing the chassis with required structural integrity necessary to support the electric powered vehicle during travel; and

charging the driver for the fully charged battery module.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recharging the depleted battery module.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of removing the depleted battery module from the electric powered vehicle comprises:

opening an access door attached to the chassis to expose the battery module compartment; and

sliding the depleted battery module from within the battery module compartment.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of inserting a fully charged battery module into the electric powered vehicle comprises:

sliding the battery module including a fully charged battery into the battery module compartment; and

closing the access door attached to the chassis to seal the battery module compartment.