Energy storage system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present development relates to an energy storage system (10) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a carrier (11) for attachment to a body (2) of the motor vehicle, - one or more receptacles (14) which are formed on or integrated into the carrier (11) and which are designed for the optional receiving and fastening of at least one first energy storage module (20) and / or at least one second energy storage module (30), wherein the first energy storage module (20) and the second energy storage module (30) have or contain different energy carriers.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present development relates to an energy storage system for a motor vehicle as well as a motor vehicle body and a motor vehicle which are equipped with such an energy storage system. background

[0002] Motor vehicles now have a wide variety of drive systems, such as combustion engines or electric motors, each requiring the use of a suitable energy storage system. An electric vehicle is typically equipped with one or more batteries. A vehicle equipped with a fuel cell is typically equipped with a hydrogen tank. A vehicle equipped with a combustion engine typically has a fuel tank.

[0003] The variety of different drives and drive systems, as well as auxiliary drives such as fuel cells, which are equipped, for example, to provide electrical energy on board the vehicle, necessitates the provision of appropriate energy carriers in or on the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle configuration, or rather the configuration of the respective drive system, it is necessary to have and / or install a suitable energy storage system for the respective drive or auxiliary drive. From an assembly perspective, and due to the diversity of the different drives and the associated different energy storage systems, separate fastening and connection concepts have been required for each, which involve a comparatively high assembly and manufacturing effort.

[0004] Especially for motor vehicle models or types which are equipped with one and the same body but can optionally be fitted with different drives and consequently also with different energy storage systems, the implementation, connection and attachment of the different energy storage systems to one and the same motor vehicle body sometimes proves to be extremely complex and time-consuming.

[0005] In contrast, the present development aims to provide an improved energy storage system that elegantly and as simply as possible circumvents or eliminates the described disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the present development aims to provide an improved energy storage system that is universally applicable to a wide variety of energy carriers and that can be relatively easily installed or mounted on a vehicle body. Advantageous designs

[0006] This problem is solved with an energy storage system, a vehicle body, and a motor vehicle according to the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent patent claims.

[0007] In this respect, and according to a first aspect, an energy storage system for a motor vehicle is provided. The energy storage system comprises a carrier for attachment to the body of the motor vehicle. The energy storage system further comprises one or more receptacles formed on the carrier. The at least one or more receptacles serve to attach at least one first energy storage module and / or at least one second energy storage module. The first energy storage module and the second energy storage module contain different energy carriers or have different energy carriers.

[0008] The carrier is therefore designed for different energy sources and is thus universally suitable for accommodating various energy storage modules. Battery modules or battery cells, as well as a fuel tank or one or more fuel tanks, or similar energy storage modules, can be universally arranged on the carrier. The carrier features a defined mounting structure for attachment to the vehicle body. It can always be positioned and attached or fixed to the vehicle body in the same manner, regardless of whether it is equipped with primary and / or secondary energy storage modules.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the energy storage system comprises at least one first energy storage module and / or at least one second energy storage module. It is specifically provided that the energy storage system has several first energy storage modules, each of which can be attached to a designated receptacle on the support structure. Furthermore, second energy storage modules can also be attached to one or more receptacles on the support structure instead of first energy storage modules. In this respect, the energy storage system allows for the optional or alternating arrangement of first energy storage modules on one or more receptacles on the support structure, as well as the arrangement of second energy storage modules on one or more receptacles on the support structure.

[0010] In a further embodiment, it is specifically envisaged that the energy storage system is assembled, for example, according to a first configuration. In the first configuration, the energy storage system can have one or more first energy storage modules on at least one or more mountings of the carrier. In a second configuration, the energy storage system can have one or more second energy storage modules on at least one or more mountings of the carrier.

[0011] In the first configuration, where the energy storage modules have one or more fuel tanks, the energy storage system can be designed to supply, for example, an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. In the second configuration, the energy storage system can be equipped with several battery modules or battery cells on at least one of the mounting points of the carrier. In this configuration, it can supply energy to one or more electric motors of the vehicle.

[0012] In a further embodiment, it is also conceivable that first energy storage modules are arranged on one or more mounting points of the carrier, and that further second storage modules are arranged or attached to one or more mounting points of the same energy storage system. Such a configuration of the energy storage system, which is equipped with first energy storage modules and with second energy storage modules in the area of ​​its mounting points, is suitable for supplying, for example, a hybrid vehicle that, in addition to an internal combustion engine, also has an auxiliary drive, such as a fuel cell and / or an internal combustion engine.

[0013] The combustion engine can be supplied with fuel from the second energy storage modules, for example. The electric drive can be supplied with electrical power from one of the first energy storage modules, which can be designed as a battery.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the energy storage system, at least one fastening element is assigned to or formed on the receptacle provided on the carrier. The first energy storage module has a counter-fastening element. The second energy storage module has a second counter-fastening element. The first and second counter-fastening elements are each designed to be complementary to the fastening element of the receptacle.

[0015] The position and geometric design of fastening elements and first and second counter-fastening elements are complementary to each other, so that first energy storage modules with their first counter-fastening elements can be engaged with the fastening elements of the carrier in the same way as the second energy storage modules with their second counter-fastening elements.

[0016] The fasteners and counter-fasteners can be actuated or configured using the same fastening or assembly tool, simplifying the installation and potential replacement of energy storage modules on the carrier. Fasteners and counter-fasteners can, for example, form a screw connection.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the first energy storage module comprises a first module housing and a first energy storage element arranged in or on the first module housing. The energy storage element can be implemented, for example, as a battery module, a battery cell, a fuel tank, or a fuel tank. Similarly, and in a further embodiment, the second energy storage module comprises a second module housing and a second energy storage element arranged in or on the second module housing. The second energy storage element can likewise be designed, for example, as a fuel tank, a fuel tank, a battery cell, or a battery module.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the first module housing and the second module housing have an essentially identical or at least identical fastening or counter-fastening structure with regard to their attachment to the carrier.

[0019] In this way, the first and second module housings, each equipped with different energy storage elements, can be optionally mounted and attached to one of the designated receptacles on the carrier.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the energy storage system, the first or second energy storage element comprises a battery cell, a battery module, a fuel tank, or a fuel reservoir. The first and second energy storage elements can differ in their fuel content. They can also differ in battery voltage or battery current.

[0021] In a further refinement of the energy storage system, the carrier features a surrounding frame with multiple attachment points, allowing it to be fastened to the vehicle body. The individual energy storage modules can only be attached to or connected to the carrier, meaning that the mechanical fixation of all energy storage modules to the vehicle body is achieved via the carrier and its connection to the body.

[0022] The support and / or frame can exhibit a comparatively high inherent stiffness to provide sufficient stability for attaching the energy storage modules to the vehicle body. Furthermore, the support and / or its surrounding frame can exhibit or provide a predetermined deformation behavior under load, such as in a vehicle collision, so that the energy storage modules mounted on it suffer minimal or no damage. In addition, the support or its frame can be designed to absorb mechanical impact energy that may occur under load, such as in a vehicle collision, in a predetermined manner. In this respect, the support or frame can function as a shock-absorbing structure or element.

[0023] Finally, this further development concerns a motor vehicle body. The motor vehicle body comprises a body structure and a previously described energy storage system attached to it. The energy storage system can, for example, be attached to or integrated into an underbody area of ​​the motor vehicle body.

[0024] In a further refinement of the vehicle body, it includes a number of counter-mounting points, which are designed to complement the mounting points of the energy storage system carrier and in the area where the energy storage system carrier can be attached to the vehicle body. On the body side, counter-mounting points specifically tailored to the energy storage system provided here are designed to complement the mounting points of the carrier in terms of their shape and geometry. Furthermore, the number and position of these counter-mounting points correspond to the mounting points of the energy storage system carrier. The mounting points of the carrier can, in particular, be arranged or formed at separate and designated locations on the carrier frame.

[0025] From a further perspective, the present development concerns a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a drive system, and a previously described energy storage system. Since the vehicle body, and thus the vehicle itself, incorporates a previously described energy storage system, all features, advantages, and applications previously described with regard to the energy storage system apply equally to both the vehicle body and the vehicle; and vice versa. Brief description of the characters

[0026] Further objectives, features, and application possibilities of the present development are explained in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the energy storage system, Fig. 3 a schematic perspective representation of the energy storage system with different energy storage modules to be arranged on it, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the mutual arrangement and fastening of an energy storage module in or on a receptacle of the carrier, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a first energy storage module and Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a second energy storage module. Detailed description

[0027] The in Fig. The motor vehicle 1 shown has a body 2 with an interior 3 serving as a passenger compartment. The vehicle 1 also has a drive system 5, which can be, for example, an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. Furthermore, the motor vehicle has an energy storage system 10. Fuel, a propellant, or electrical energy can be supplied to the drive system 5 by means of the energy storage system.

[0028] In addition to the drive 5, the vehicle 1 can also be equipped with an auxiliary drive, such as a fuel cell. The fuel cell can likewise be supplied with fuel via the energy storage system 10 in order to provide electrical energy on board the vehicle.

[0029] The in the Fig. 2 and Fig. The separately illustrated energy storage system 10 has a support 11 which has several mounting points 13 that can be engaged with complementary mounting points 6 of the vehicle body 2. The support 11 can, for example, be designed as a circumferential frame 12. Optionally, the support 11 can have a base 15. Several receptacles 14, 14', 14'', 14''' are provided or formed on the support 11 or base 15. Each of these receptacles 14, 14', 14'', 14''' serves to receive a separate energy storage module 20, 20', 20'', 20''' or 30, 30', 30'', 30'''.

[0030] The energy storage modules 20 and 30 can be essentially or approximately identical or similar in their geometry or geometric design, so that they can be optionally arranged and attached in or to one of the receptacles 14, 14', 14'', 14'''. The energy storage modules 20 and 30 differ in their respective energy carrier.

[0031] In other words, the energy storage modules 20, 20', 20'', 20''' and the energy storage modules 30, 30', 30''', 30''' can have or contain different energy carriers. For example, the energy storage modules 20, 20', 20'', 20''' can have one or more battery cells or be designed as a battery module. The energy storage modules 30, 30', 30'', 30''' can have a tank, for example, for a fuel or other substance.

[0032] The surrounding frame 12 serves to attach all energy storage modules 20, 30 to the vehicle body 2. The frame 12 can perform an energy-absorbing function and exhibit the required deformation behavior under load, such as in a vehicle collision. In particular, and as exemplified in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, one or more fastening elements 16 can be provided or designed on or in the area of ​​the respective recordings 14, which can interact with or engage with complementary counter-fastening elements 26, 36 of the respective energy storage module 20, 30.

[0033] The counter-fastening elements 26 of the first energy storage modules 20 and the counter-fastening elements 36 of the second energy storage modules 30 are essentially identical in design. They enable the first energy storage modules 20 and the second energy storage modules 30 to be optionally arranged and fastened to the respective receptacle 14 of the carrier 11. Thus, one and the same carrier 11, or one and the same frame 12, can be optionally equipped with a number of different energy storage modules 20, 30, depending on the respective drive 5 or drive system.

[0034] The fastening elements 16 and the counter-fastening elements 26, 36 are each identical or precisely designed to fit each other, so that identical and similar tools can be used for the installation and use of first energy storage modules 20, for example for an electric motor, and for the installation and use of second energy storage modules 30, for example for a fuel cell or for an internal combustion engine.

[0035] In Fig. Finally, it is shown in Figure 5 that the first energy storage modules 20 each have a first module housing 21 and a first energy storage element 22. Fig. Figure 6 shows that the second energy storage modules 30 have a second module housing 31 and a second energy storage element 32. The first energy storage element 22 can, for example, be designed as a battery cell or as a battery module. The second energy storage element 32 can, for example, be implemented as a tank, such as a fuel tank or a fuel tank, such as a CNG tank or as an LNG tank, as a tank for diesel or gasoline fuel, or as a hydrogen tank.

[0036] As can be seen in particular from a comparison of the Fig. 5 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, the first and second module housings 21, 31 are essentially identical or at least essentially identical in design with regard to their counter-fastening elements 26, 36, so that they can be optionally arranged and fastened in or on one of the receptacles 14 provided on the carrier 11.

[0037] The energy storage system 10 presented here simplifies and greatly increases the implementation and assembly effort for the production and manufacture of differently configured motor vehicles, i.e., motor vehicles with different drive systems. One and the same frame 12, or one and the same carrier 11, can be optionally equipped with different energy storage modules 20, 30, which are intended for the respective drive 5 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0038] The illustrated embodiments merely show possible configurations of the development, for which numerous further variants are conceivable during development. The exemplary embodiments shown are in no way to be interpreted as limiting with regard to the scope, applicability, or configuration possibilities of the development. The present description merely shows the person skilled in the art one or a few possible implementation(s) of an embodiment. Thus, a wide variety of modifications can be made to the function and arrangement of the described elements without departing from the scope of protection defined by the following claims or their equivalents. Reference symbol list 1 motor vehicle 2 Motor vehicle body 3 Interior 5 Drive 6 Counter-fastening point 10 Energy storage system 11 carriers 12 frames 13 Attachment point 14th entry 15 Floor 16 Fastening element 20 Energy storage module 21 module housings 22 Energy storage element 26 Counter fastening element 30 Energy storage module 31 module housings 32 Energy storage element 36 Counter fastening element

Claims

[1] Energy storage system (10) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a carrier (11) for attachment to a body (2) of the motor vehicle, - one or more receptacles (14) which are formed on or integrated into the carrier (11) and which are designed for the optional receiving and fastening of at least one first energy storage module (20) and / or at least one second energy storage module (30), wherein the first energy storage module (20) and the second energy storage module (30) have or contain different energy carriers. [2] Energy storage system (10) according to claim 1, comprising at least the first energy storage module (20) and / or the at least second energy storage module (30). [3] Energy storage system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one fastening element (16) is assigned to the receptacle (14) provided on the carrier (11) and wherein the first energy storage module (20) has a first counter-fastening element (26), wherein the second energy storage module (30) has a second counter-fastening element (36) and wherein the first counter-fastening element (26) and the second counter-fastening element (36) are each designed to be complementary to the fastening element (16) of the receptacle (14). [4] Energy storage system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first energy storage module (20) comprises a first module housing (21) and a first energy storage element (22) arranged in or on the first module housing (21). [5] Energy storage system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second energy storage module (30) comprises a second module housing (31) and a second energy storage element (32) arranged in or on the second module housing (31). [6] Energy storage system (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first or second energy storage element (22, 32) comprises a battery cell, a battery module, a fuel tank or a fuel tank. [7] Energy storage system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (11) has a circumferential frame (12) with several attachment points (13) in the area in which the support (11) can be attached to the body (2). [8] Vehicle body (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising an energy storage system (10) according to any of the preceding claims. [9] Vehicle body (2) according to claim 8 comprising a number of counter-fastening points (6) which are designed to be complementary to fastening points (13) of the carrier (11) of the energy storage system (10) and in the area in which the carrier (11) of the energy storage system (10) can be fastened to the vehicle body (2). [10] Motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a motor vehicle body (2), - a drive (5) and - an energy storage system (10) according to any of the preceding claims.

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