Electric vehicles with extended range.

• US 20120123623A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tai Dung Nguyen
• Original Assignee: Tai Dung Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Tai Dung
• Granted Patent: US 9,290,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/354 having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels
• 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 20/02 of initiating means control mechanisms in general G05G
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/102 of individual wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19051 : Single driven plural drives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20012 : Multiple controlled elements

Abstract

The present invention discloses electric vehicles and methods to operate such vehicles, comprising an electric drive capable of moving the vehicles, together with a non-battery operative feature to enhance the performance of the vehicle, such as extending the range or increasing the power. The non-electrical enhanced feature is independent and not integrated with the electric drive, to enable the return of the vehicle design to pure electrical power with minimum modification.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising

a first drive system configured to drive a first wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the first drive system comprises a battery powering an electric motor;

a second drive system configured to drive a second wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the second drive system powered by a non-battery power source;

wherein the first and second drive systems operate independent of each other;

wherein the second drive system is configured to operate at a maximum power that is less than the maximum power of the first drive system.

2. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises a gasoline engine having an engine displacement volume of less than 1 liter.

3. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises a gasoline engine having one or two cylinder.

4. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises a motorcycle gasoline engine.

5. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system is configured to operate at a maximum power of 50% of the maximum power of the first drive system.

6. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system is configured to provide a maximum speed that is less than the maximum speed delivered by the first engine.

7. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 further comprising

a controller for automatically switching from the first drive system to the second drive system when the battery of the first drive system reaches a setting level.

8. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 further comprising

a controller for manually switching from the first drive system to the second drive system by a driver of the electric vehicle.

9. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises an engine powered by gasoline or diesel.

10. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises an engine powered by compressed air.

11. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the second drive system comprises an engine powered by natural gas.

12. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 further comprising a solar panel for powering a support system of the electric vehicle.

13. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 further comprising a battery charger system configured for charging the battery from a non-battery power source.

14. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the first drive system drives an axle of the electric vehicle, and the second drive system drives another axle of the electric vehicle.

15. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the first and second drive systems drive an axle of the electric vehicle through a mutually exclusive gearbox.

17. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the manual control is further configured to provide a capability of charging the battery of the first drive system during the control of the second drive system.

19. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the non-battery power source comprises one of gasoline, diesel, compressed air, solar power, and natural gas.

20. An electric vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the support system further comprises a battery charger powered by a solar panel.

16. An electric vehicle comprising

a first drive system configured to drive a first wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the first drive system comprises a battery powering an electric motor;

a second drive system configured to drive a second wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the second drive system powered by a non-battery power source;

wherein the first and second drive systems operate independent of each other;

a manual control operated by a driver of the electric vehicle, the manual control switches control of the electric vehicle between the first and the second drive systems.

18. An electric vehicle comprising

a first drive system configured to drive a first wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the first drive system comprises a battery powering an electric motor;

a support system comprising at least one of air conditioning, heater, fan, lightning, electronic device to the electric vehicle, wherein the support system is configured to be powered by a non-battery power source.