Battery system for electric motorcycle

• US 8,455,128 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Alternative Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: US Alternative Energy LLC
• Inventors: Belton, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Enin-Okut, Edu E
• Application Number:
  US12/690,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 429 96-100, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 429/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• 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 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/28 hidden within the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery system for an electric motor of an electric motorcycle is disclosed. The battery system includes a motorcycle frame defining an interior volume and a plurality of battery cells situated substantially within the interior volume of the frame, wherein each cell is individually enclosed and individually electrically coupled with the electric motor. The battery system further includes at least one housing member removably coupled with an exterior of the frame, wherein the housing member is perforated so as to allow airflow into the interior volume of the frame and wherein removal of the housing member provides unfettered access to the cells, which can be individually removed without requiring additional disassembly. The battery system further includes at least one fastener for fastening the housing member to the frame, wherein removal of the at least one fastener results in decoupling of the housing member from the frame.

Claims

1. A battery system for an electric motor of an electric motorcycle, including:

a motorcycle frame defining an interior volume;

a plurality of battery cells situated substantially within the interior volume of the frame, wherein each battery cell is individually enclosed and individually electrically coupled with the electric motor of the electric motorcycle;

a housing member removably coupled with an exterior of the frame, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and in a forward-facing position, such that the plurality of battery cells are positioned directly behind the planar member and a front of the planar member faces a front of the electric motorcycle so as to directly and perpendicularly contact oncoming air when the electric motorcycle is driven, wherein the housing member is perforated so as to allow airflow into the interior volume of the frame and wherein removal of the housing member provides unfettered access to a plurality of battery cells such that each of the plurality of battery cells can be individually removed without requiring additional disassembly of the electric motorcycle, and wherein removal of the housing member comprises removal of an entirety of a forward-facing panel holding the plurality of battery cells; and

at least one fastener for fastening the housing member to the frame, wherein removal of the at least one fastener results in decoupling of the housing member from the frame.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the motorcycle frame comprises a dual bar configuration comprising a left-side bar and a right-side bar, wherein both bars are coupled at one end to a stem of the frame.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells comprises a lithium ion battery cell.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells cumulatively provide 96 volts.

5. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and removably coupled with a front side of an exterior of the frame.

6. The battery system of claim 5, wherein the at least one fastener comprises threaded bolts that couples at least a portion of an outer diameter of the housing member to the frame.

7. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and removably coupled with a left or right side of an exterior of the frame.

8. The battery system of claim 7, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a threaded bolts that couples at least a portion of an outer diameter of the housing member to the frame.

9. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the housing member comprises:

a substantially planar member situated vertically and in a forward-facing position, such that the plurality of battery cells are positioned directly behind the planar member and a front of the planar member faces a front of the electric motorcycle so as to directly and perpendicularly contact oncoming air when the electric motorcycle is driven, and wherein the housing member is coupled to a front side of the exterior of the frame.

10. A battery system for an electric motor of an electric motorcycle, including:

a motorcycle frame defining an interior volume;

a plurality of battery cells situated substantially within the interior volume of the frame, wherein each battery cell is individually enclosed and individually electrically coupled with the electric motor of the electric motorcycle;

a battery management system electrically coupled with the plurality of battery cells wherein the battery management system monitors metadata of each of the plurality of battery cells;

a housing member removably coupled with an exterior of the frame, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and in a forward-facing position, such that the plurality of battery cells are positioned directly behind the planar member and a front of the planar member faces a front of the electric motorcycle so as to directly and perpendicularly contact oncoming air when the electric motorcycle is driven, wherein the housing member is perforated so as to allow airflow into the interior volume of the frame and wherein removal of the housing member provides unfettered access to a plurality of battery cells such that each of the plurality of battery cells can be individually removed without requiring additional disassembly of the electric motorcycle, and wherein removal of the housing member comprises removal of an entirety of a forward-facing panel holding the plurality of battery cells; and

at least one fastener for fastening the housing member to the frame, wherein removal of the at least one fastener results in decoupling of the housing member from the frame.

11. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the motorcycle frame comprises a dual bar configuration comprising a left-side bar and a right-side bar, wherein both bars are coupled at one end to a stem of the frame.

12. The battery system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells comprises a lithium ion battery cell.

13. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of battery cells cumulatively provide 96 volts.

14. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the metadata of each of the plurality of battery cells comprises at least one of voltage, temperature, state of charge, state of health and a measurement of passing current.

15. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and removably coupled with a front side of an exterior of the frame.

16. The battery system of claim 15, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a threaded bolts that couples at least a portion of an outer diameter of the housing member to the frame.

17. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the housing member comprises a substantially planar member situated vertically and removably coupled with a left or right side of an exterior of the frame.

18. The battery system of claim 17, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a threaded bolts that couples at least a portion of an outer diameter of the housing member to the frame.

19. The battery system of claim 10, wherein the housing member comprises:

a substantially planar member situated vertically and in a forward-facing position, such that the plurality of battery cells are positioned directly behind the planar member and a front of the planar member faces a front of the electric motorcycle so as to directly and perpendicularly contact oncoming air when the electric motorcycle is driven, and wherein the housing member is coupled to a front side of the exterior of the frame.