Solar panel charging system for electric vehicle that charges individual batteries with direct parallel connections to solar panels

• US 8,120,308 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Ward
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Diao, M'Baye
• Application Number:
  US12/980,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110089887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A connection system is provided to charge a high voltage battery (42) in an electric vehicle with multiple low voltage solar panels (2_1-n). The connection system includes sets of transmission lines (94) to individually connect each one of the solar panels (2_1-n) to each individual one of the battery cells (34_1-n) making up the battery (42). With the connection system the high voltage battery (42) can be charged by the lower voltage solar panels (2_1-n) without using a lossy DC-DC converter system that converts the DC solar panel output to AC for transforming to the much higher voltage across the primary terminals of battery (42) before converting back to DC to connect to the battery (42).

Claims

1. A solar battery charging system for a vehicle comprising:

an electric motor for braking and propelling the vehicle;

a battery connected to the electric motor, the battery comprising series connected battery cells;

solar panels each having an output voltage lower than the voltage of the battery; and

a charge connection system comprising;

electrical connection line sets each connecting one of the solar panels in parallel with an individual one of the battery cells while the battery cells remain connected in series, and while the electric motor can act as a generator to supply power to the battery during the braking or a load to draw power from the battery during the propelling of the vehicle;

and charge controllers each connecting one of the solar panels to one of the electrical connection lines sets, each of the charge controllers controlling power provided from each of the solar panels to predetermined levels.

2. The solar battery charging system of claim 1, further comprising a plug-in charge connection across primary terminals of the battery wherein the plug-in charge connection allows charging of all the battery cells of the battery using an AC power source connection.

3. The solar battery charging system of claim 1, wherein the solar panels each comprise solar cells connected together to provide charge across terminals of one of the battery cells.

4. The solar battery charging system of claim 3, wherein the solar panels are provided together on a single support structure.

5. A method of charging a vehicle with an electric motor comprising:

controlling the electric motor to brake and propel the vehicle;

providing a battery connected to the electric motor, the battery including series connected battery cells;

providing solar panels each having an output voltage lower than the voltage of the battery; and

connecting the terminals of each of the solar panels in parallel with an individual one of the battery cells, while the battery cells remain connected in series, and while the electric motor acts as a generator to supply power to the battery during the braking or a load to draw power from the battery during the propelling of the vehicle; and

providing a controller between each of the solar panels and the individual battery cells, the controllers controlling the amount of power provided from each of the solar panels to predetermined levels.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a plug-in charge connection across primary terminals of the battery wherein the plug-in charge connection allows charging of all the battery cells of the battery using an AC power source connection.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the solar panels each comprise solar cells connected together to provide charge across terminals of one of the battery cells.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the solar panels are provided together on a single support structure.