Charging Service Vehicle Network

Abstract

Charging service vehicle networks are among the embodiments disclosed herein, including battery module-powered EV charging roadside service vehicles. Battery modules are removably mounted to the service vehicles and manually exchanged within a system of battery module storage locations. Some embodiments provide resupply vehicles for delivering battery modules between storage locations and / or service vehicles, and may be used to exchange battery modules. Controllers are used to reserve battery modules at the storage locations to ensure availability for high priority activities. Some storage locations have charging apparatus to recharge battery modules stored there, and some storage locations are repositionable mobile units. Multiple tiers or levels of system controllers used by service vehicles to control centers are implemented to manage operations and optimize usage of battery modules and charging services across wide areas, including providing additional service vehicles to supply temporary needs for charging services.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Priority is claimed to the following related co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Applications, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: (1) Ser. No. 61 / 489,849, filed May 25, 2011, (2) Ser. No. 61 / 489,879, filed May 25, 2011, (3) Ser. No. 61 / 493,970, filed Jun. 6, 2011, (4) Ser. No. 61 / 494,878, filed Jun. 8, 2011, and (5) Ser. No. 61 / 497,216, filed Jun. 15, 2011.BACKGROUND[0002]The present invention is directed to the fields of roadside assistance, electric vehicle charging, modular energy storage systems, and related fields.[0003]In recent years, the popularity and affordability of electric vehicles (EVs) such as battery-powered EVs, hybrid gasoline-electric EVs (or HEVs), and other vehicles having motors and engines powered by electrical energy has grown dramatically. As these vehicles gain more market penetration and presence, there will be a need for increased on-the-road-services for EVs, such as providing a “boos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a roadside assistance and rescue vehicle charging system that uses modular battery modules to charge electric vehicles (EVs) in need. The system allows for quick disconnection and replacement of battery modules, as well as the ability to add more modules to increase capacity. The battery modules are designed to be easily installed and accessed by rescue vehicle operators, and can be quickly disconnected and reconnected for efficient redeployment of the vehicle. The system also allows for remote recharging of the battery modules, which reduces the time required for charging and maximizes the use of the rescue vehicle. Overall, the invention improves the efficiency and flexibility of the rescue vehicle charging system."

Problems solved by technology

One of the challenges in providing these services will be the numerous differing standards used in the batteries of electric vehicles that are coming to market, since their various battery chemistries, capacities, and dimensions make the range and charging requirements of each vehicle quite different.

For example, small EVs will only need a small amount of energy to allow them to travel safely to a dedicated service or charging area, but large electric vehicles will require a relatively large charge of energy to reach a service area due to their larger energy consumption rates.

Furthermore, vehicles involved in roadside assistance will be compelled to recharge or refill their boost charging equipment, resulting in losses due to inefficiency and downtime.

One of the challenges in using removable batteries is the danger to operators that arises from the high powered connectors for the batteries.

Some inventors use plastic shrouds or robotic battery manipulation for personal protection from exposed electrodes or simply use no protection at all, leaving the operator and equipment at risk.

These systems can make it dangerous to use and store a battery-powered EV charging system.

This configuration is not ideal since it doesn't allow for the de-activation of a “live” battery tray during handling without some human intervention, like opening a switch or removing a fuse, and since humans can forget to take these safety measures there is a greater risk of personal injury in these systems.

This is expensive, and the proprietary nature of the swappable battery designs leads to difficulties in compatibility of vehicle systems and swapping stations.

Another challenge in this field relates to how to minimize the size and weight of the battery and the balance of the onboard systems of the rescue vehicle's onboard electrical generation system.

Sizing an onboard battery pack for the most demanding, worst-case stranded vehicle is impractical and expensive.

Some assistance solutions use permanently installed batteries which occupy the battery housing at all times and can only be removed with labor-intensive and time-consuming effort.

Large batteries are also expensive and heavy so a generator system having them is burdensome and oversized when charging events are relatively infrequent when compared to other activities of a rescue vehicle.

Near-term future deployments of rescue vehicles are likely to initially require minimal electrical storage capability due to the limited market penetration of EVs.

Even if charging systems are designed with removable batteries and quick disconnects, swapping them out between one location and another can raise challenges for operators.

Operators may need to rapidly respond to an emergency situation while on heavy trafficked road, and there are many potential safety-related issues associated with moving high-energy battery modules.

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