Battery configuration for an electric vehicle
First Claim
1. A power delivery system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an electric motor coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle;
a primary battery, configured to supply low-level current to low-power functional elements of the vehicle;
a main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source of intermediate-level current supplied to the electric motor;
a boost battery, configured to supply, upon request, a high-level current at a higher discharge rate than a discharge rate of the main battery; and
a charging circuit configured to recharge the boost battery from the main battery when a load resistance of the electric motor indicates the vehicle is at rest or operating in a normal mode.
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Abstract
A power delivery system for an electric vehicle provides efficient power management for either continuous or intermittent high-performance operation, using a boost stage and an on-board charging circuit. A main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source, supplies power to the electric motor under normal load conditions. An auxiliary boost battery assists the main battery in supplying a high-level current at a higher discharge rate thereby causing the motor to operate in a high-performance drive mode. A charging circuit recharges the boost battery from the main battery during operation of the motor. The charging circuit also maintains a charge balance between the boost battery and the main battery when the two batteries have different chemistries. In one embodiment, participation of the boost battery in powering the electric motor can be controlled automatically according to sensed changes in the load. In another embodiment, power management can be based on timed intervals.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power delivery system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle; a primary battery, configured to supply low-level current to low-power functional elements of the vehicle; a main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source of intermediate-level current supplied to the electric motor; a boost battery, configured to supply, upon request, a high-level current at a higher discharge rate than a discharge rate of the main battery; and a charging circuit configured to recharge the boost battery from the main battery when a load resistance of the electric motor indicates the vehicle is at rest or operating in a normal mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power delivery system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle; a primary battery, that is operable to supply low-level current to low-power functional elements of the vehicle; a main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source of intermediate-level current that is removable from the vehicle for external recharging; a boost battery, configured to supply a high-level current to drive the electric motor; and a DC/DC charger electrically coupled to both the main battery and the boost battery so that the main battery is operable to recharge the boost battery on board, via the charger, while the vehicle is in use, the recharging of the boost battery occurring based on detection of a load resistance of the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification