Vehicle hybrid energy system

• US 8,381,849 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Sastry, Ann M., Cook-Chennault, Kimberly A., Wang, Chia W., Albano, Fabio
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US12/059,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.29, 180/68.5, 429/99, 320/121, 320/124
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid energy storage system suitable for use in a vehicle having an electrified drivetrain includes a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module that is different than the first energy storage module. The first energy storage module may have a cell configuration, a cell chemistry, a cell number, a controller or another characteristic different than a like characteristic of the second energy storage module.

Claims

1. A hybrid energy storage system configured for a vehicle having a partial or completely electrified drivetrain, the hybrid energy storage system comprising:

a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module coupled in series, the first energy storage module being different from the second energy storage module, each of the first and second storage modules including a cell or a set of cells having common specific characteristics that include cell configuration, cell chemistry, and control, the first energy storage module providing electrochemistry and control distinct from those of the second energy storage module,

whereupon the first energy storage module is configured by a plurality of first energy target parameters, the first energy target parameters including a cell volume, a cell mass, a gravimetric energy, a gravimetric power, a volumetric energy, a volumetric power, a rate of discharge, operation temperature, and number of cycles for the first energy storage module; and

whereupon the second energy storage module is configured by a plurality of second energy target parameters, the second energy target parameters including a cell volume, a cell mass, a gravimetric energy, a gravimetric power, a volumetric energy, a volumetric power, a rate of discharge, operation temperature, and number of cycles for the second energy storage module.

2. The hybrid energy system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module contains batteries made from a first set of active materials, and the second energy storage module contains batteries made from a second set of active materials.

3. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module and the second energy storage module are coupled to provide a single output that is coupled to the electrified drivetrain.

4. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module has a first cell configuration, and the second energy storage module has a second cell configuration, the first cell configuration being different from the second cell configuration, and wherein the first cell configuration is a first form factor, and the second cell configuration is a second form factor.

5. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein a first cell chemistry of the first energy storage module and a second cell chemistry of the second energy storage module are selected from the group consisting of nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion.

6. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module comprises a first plurality of battery cells, and the second energy storage module comprises a second plurality of battery cells, the second plurality of battery cells having different configuration and number than the first plurality of battery cells.

7. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the first energy storage module comprises a plurality of batteries, and the second energy storage system comprises a plurality of capacitors.

8. A hybrid energy storage system configured for a vehicle having a partial or completely electrified drivetrain, the hybrid energy storage system comprising:

a control module;

a first energy storage module coupled to the control module, the first energy storage module comprising a first electrochemistry configuration, the first electrochemistry configuration comprising a plurality of first electrochemical cells;

a second energy storage module coupled to the control module and coupled in series to the first energy storage module, the second energy storage module comprising a second electrochemistry configuration, the second electrochemistry configuration comprising a plurality of second electrochemical cells, the first energy storage module being different from the second electrochemistry configuration; and

the drivetrain coupled to the control module and being configured to be electrified by at least the first energy storage module or the second energy storage module;

whereupon the first energy storage module is configured by a plurality of first energy target parameters, the first energy target parameters including a cell volume, a cell mass, a gravimetric energy, a gravimetric power, a volumetric energy, a volumetric power, a rate of discharge, operation temperature, and number of cycles for the first energy storage module; and

whereupon the second energy storage module is configured by a plurality of second energy target parameters, the second energy target parameters including a cell volume, a cell mass, a gravimetric energy, a gravimetric power, a volumetric energy, a volumetric power, a rate of discharge, operation temperature, and number of cycles for the second energy storage module.

9. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the first electrochemical cells are made from a first set of active materials, and the second electrochemical cells are made from a second set of active materials.

10. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the first energy storage module and the second energy storage module are coupled to provide a single output to the electrified drivetrain.

11. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the first electrochemistry configuration is a first form factor, and the second electrochemistry configuration is a second form factor.

12. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the first electrochemistry configuration is selected from one of a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) or lithium-ion;

and wherein the second electrochemistry configuration is selected from one of a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) or lithium-ion.

13. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the first energy storage module comprises a plurality of first battery cells, and the second energy storage module comprises a plurality of second battery cells, whereupon a first number of the plurality of first battery cells is different from a second number of the plurality of second battery cells.

14. The hybrid energy storage system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of capacitors.