Hybrid vehicle with modular battery system

• US 9,579,961 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C
• Primary Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US12/025,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,314 Days
• Field of Search: 180 651- 6551, 320116-120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/00 Arrangements in connection with power supply of propulsion units in vehicles from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind B60L8/00; marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements B63H13/00; wind motors specially adapted for installation on vehicles F03D9/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• 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 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A modular hybrid vehicle uses multiple different modular battery units in a vehicle. New batteries can be added, or removed. The batteries can each be associated with a separate electric motor. Each battery individually drives a motor, allowing the characteristics of limited slip or all wheel drive. Also, the batteries can be replaced, or added to, to provide more battery power to the vehicle. There may be sensors at the battery that sense various characteristics and report those characteristics wirelessly to a central controller.

Claims

1. An electrically-operable vehicle, that comprises plural separate battery modules, including a first battery module at a first location in the vehicle, and a second battery module at a second location in the vehicle, and wherein each of said first and second battery modules are operative to produce drive for the vehicle, and a plurality of switches, and a controller for said plurality of switches, said plurality of switches being controlled by said controller for switching said modules into a parallel connection at a first time based on a condition of said battery modules, a serial connection at a second time based on said condition of said battery modules, and a configuration at a third time where one of said battery module replaces another of said battery modules based on said condition of said battery modules.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said first battery module is adjacent a first wheel of a vehicle, and said second battery module is adjacent a second wheel of the vehicle, and further comprising a third battery module located at a third location adjacent a third wheel of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said battery modules each include at least one sensor therein, that produces information indicative of a condition of said battery module;

and

a controller, receiving said information from said sensors indicating how much energy each said battery module has relative to other battery modules and providing extra power to a battery that has less energy.

4. A vehicle as in claim 3, wherein said sensors communicate information wirelessly.

5. A vehicle as in claim 4, wherein said controller receives information wirelessly from a plurality of said modules.

6. A method comprising:

first using a first battery to provide power for locomotion of a vehicle;

providing a connector for a second battery; and

attaching a second battery to said connector and automatically operating using both said first battery and said second battery to provide power for locomotion of said vehicle, responsive to said second battery being attached;

wherein said first using operates using said first battery but not said second battery to provide power for locomotion of said vehicle when said first battery is connected to said vehicle and said second battery is not connected to said vehicle; and

when said first battery and said second battery are both connected to the vehicle, controlling based on conditions of said first and second battery to use said first and second batteries in parallel to one another at a first time for locomotion of said vehicle and in series to one another at a second time for locomotion of said vehicle and with only one of said first and second batteries connected to the vehicle at a third time for said locomotion and with the other of said first and second batteries being connected to the vehicle at a fourth time for said locomotion in place of said only one of said batteries.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said first battery and said second battery are in different locations in the vehicle.

8. A method as in claim 6, further comprising automatically adjusting a connection of said first battery and said second battery based on sensed characteristics.

9. A method as in claim 6, further comprising wirelessly detecting characteristics of said batteries.

10. A method as in claim 6, wherein at least one of said batteries comprises a plurality of series connected parts, and further comprising detecting a malfunctioning series connected-part, and producing a connection that avoids said malfunctioning series connected-part.

11. A vehicle comprising

a first electric motor, driving a first wheel of the vehicle;

a first battery, associated with said first electric motor, and selectively energized to drive said first electric motor;

a second electric motor, driving a second wheel of the vehicle;

a second battery, associated with said second electric motor, and selectively energized to drive said second electric motor; and

a controller, that separately controls said first battery driving said first electric motor, and said second battery driving said second electric motor, and where said controller detects a different in voltage between said first and second batteries, and automatically equalizes said voltage.

12. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein said controller automatically equalizes said voltages by connecting said first and second batteries into parallel with one another, and where another connection connects said first and second batteries directly to said motors without connecting said first and second batteries in parallel with one another.

13. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein said controller receives information used for driving said first and second motors wirelessly.

14. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein said vehicle is operable in a first mode with said first and second batteries without a third battery, and in a second mode with a third battery in addition to said first and second batteries, wherein said vehicle operates properly both with said third battery and without said third battery.

15. A vehicle as in claim 11, further comprising detecting a fault in one of said batteries, and automatically making a connection that avoids said fault.