Thermal battery for heating vehicles

Abstract

A system and a method for heating a componenet of an electric vehicle may be particularly beneficial in cold weather places and / or during winter time. The vehicle may be primarily powered by a main battery. The system may include a supplementary battery being metal-air battery including an electrolyte, for extending the driving range of the electric vehicle and a reservoir tank for holding an electrolyte volume for the metal-air battery, the electrolyte may be heated to a desired temperature. The system may further include a heat exchanger for conveying heat from the electrolyte volume, said heat is conveyable to said passenger's cabin.

Description

Background technique [0001] Using a conventional air conditioning system to heat an electric vehicle, especially in colder locations, consumes a large amount of electricity stored in the vehicle's main battery, thus potentially reducing the vehicle's driving range. In vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, the heat generated during combustion is used to heat other components of the vehicle, such as the passenger cabin or driver's seat. This option of using excess heat energy from the vehicle's engine does not exist in electric vehicles. [0002] Metal-air cells are known in the art. Such a metal-air cell or battery includes a metal anode including, for example, aluminum, zinc, lithium, beryllium, calcium, etc.; and a gas diffusion cathode. The chemical reaction that generates electricity in a battery is the oxidation of the metal anode in either an aqueous or non-aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte is used to transport ions between the cathode and anode. In some...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Any use of the electricity stored in the battery to heat or cool the vehicle's cabin will significantly reduce driving range

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