Battery exchange method

Abstract

To provide a battery exchange method which can improve efficiency of a battery exchange work between an object on which a battery is mounted and a charger and shorten work time.SOLUTION: A battery exchange method inserts or extracts a plurality of batteries into or from a battery storage part where a plurality of replaceable batteries are arrayed in parallel and stored. The battery exchange method includes: preparing a transportation truck including a truck body, and a battery mount plate which can arrange and support a plurality of batteries in parallel with a longitudinal travel direction of the truck body where the plurality of batteries is slidably supported in an arrangement direction of the plurality of the batteries by the truck body; causing the transportation truck to travel in the longitudinal travel direction to be close to the battery storage part, sliding the battery mount plate from the truck body in the arrangement direction of the plurality of the batteries to face the battery storage part; and delivering the plurality of batteries between the battery storage part and the battery mount plate of the transportation truck.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery replacement method for inserting and removing a plurality of replaceable batteries into and from a battery housing that houses the plurality of batteries. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electric motorcycles including an electric motor driven by power supplied from a removable battery (replaceable battery) have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The removable battery is shared by multiple electric motorcycles, and used removable batteries are returned to one of multiple slots in a battery charging device installed in a charging and exchange station. The removable battery is then connected to a connector installed in the slot, charged so that its SOC reaches a predetermined value, and then stored in that slot until it is loaned out to another electric motorcycle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 153477 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, the above-mentioned detachable battery is replaced by an operator, and particularly when multiple batteries are installed in a vehicle such as an electric motorcycle, it is necessary to make it possible to easily and smoothly insert and remove batteries from a battery storage unit in the vehicle or battery charging device in order to improve the efficiency and reduce the time required for battery replacement. However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not disclose or suggest a method for easily and smoothly inserting and removing a detachable battery from a battery storage unit in a vehicle or the like.

[0005] Therefore, the main object of the present disclosure is to improve the efficiency and reduce the time required for battery replacement work by making it possible to easily and smoothly insert and remove multiple replaceable batteries into a battery storage section that houses the batteries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery replacement method disclosed herein is a battery replacement method for inserting and removing multiple replaceable batteries into and from a battery storage section that stores multiple replaceable batteries arranged in parallel, and involves preparing a transport cart that includes a cart body and a battery mounting plate that can support the multiple batteries arranged parallel to the forward and backward movement direction of the cart body and is supported by the cart body so that it can slide freely in the arrangement direction of the multiple batteries, and moving the transport cart in the forward and backward movement direction to bring it close to the battery storage section, sliding the battery mounting plate in the arrangement direction relative to the cart body so that it faces the battery storage section, and transferring the multiple batteries between the battery storage section and the battery mounting plate of the transport cart.

[0007] The battery replacement method disclosed herein uses a transport vehicle to insert and remove multiple batteries from a battery storage unit that stores multiple replaceable batteries arranged in parallel. The transport vehicle includes a vehicle body and a battery mounting plate. The battery mounting plate can support multiple batteries arranged parallel to the forward and backward movement direction of the vehicle body and is supported by the vehicle body so that it can slide in the direction of the battery arrangement. When inserting and removing multiple batteries from the battery storage unit, a transport vehicle carrying multiple batteries or empty is moved forward and backward in the forward and backward movement direction of the vehicle body to approach the battery storage unit. This allows the transport vehicle to move smoothly and stop relative to the battery storage unit, thereby preventing contact between the transport vehicle and a vehicle or charging device including the battery storage unit and facilitating battery transfer. Furthermore, the battery mounting plate is slid relative to the vehicle body in the direction of the battery arrangement so as to face the battery storage unit, and multiple batteries are transferred between the battery storage unit and the battery mounting plate of the transport vehicle. This eliminates the need to precisely adjust the position of the transport vehicle so that the battery mounting plate faces the battery storage unit when moving the transport vehicle forward or backward to approach the battery storage unit, or to move the transport vehicle laterally (left and right) after approaching the battery storage unit.As a result, the battery replacement method disclosed herein makes it possible to easily and smoothly insert and remove multiple replaceable batteries into and from a battery storage unit that stores the multiple batteries, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the time required for battery replacement work.

[0008] In addition, the battery transport cart disclosed herein is a battery transport cart used to move multiple replaceable batteries in and out of a battery storage section that stores the batteries in an array of parallel batteries, and includes a cart body, a battery mounting plate that can support the multiple batteries in an array of parallel batteries in the forward and backward directions of the cart body and is supported by the cart body so as to be able to slide freely in the array direction of the multiple batteries, and a locking mechanism that locks the battery mounting plate to the cart body.

[0009] Such a battery transport cart makes it possible to easily and smoothly insert and remove multiple replaceable batteries into and from a battery storage section that houses the batteries, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the time required for battery replacement work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery replacement method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery case defining a battery housing portion in the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a main part of the battery transport cart of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are explanatory diagrams for explaining a battery replacement method according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Next, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery replacement method according to the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the battery replacement method according to the present disclosure involves using a battery transport cart 100 to load and unload multiple (e.g., three in this embodiment) replaceable batteries (battery packs) 10 into and from an electric vehicle V, such as a commercial vehicle, or an external battery charging device 50. The multiple batteries 10 include a substantially rectangular parallelepiped pack case and multiple cells (e.g., lithium-ion secondary battery cells or nickel-metal hydride secondary battery cells) housed within the pack case, and each battery 10 has the same specifications (including dimensions). Each battery 10 supplies power to a motor generator (electric motor) (not shown) that outputs power for propelling the electric vehicle V, and also stores power generated (regenerated) by the motor generator when braking the electric vehicle V.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 , an electric vehicle V includes a battery case 1 that houses multiple (e.g., three in this embodiment) replaceable batteries 10 arranged in parallel. The battery case 1 is fixed to the floor panel of the electric vehicle V via multiple brackets B so as to be located behind the front seats of the electric vehicle V, thereby defining a battery storage section of the electric vehicle V. As shown in the figure, the battery case 1 includes a case body 2 in the shape of a rectangular cylinder with a bottom and an opening 2o, and a lid 3 that opens and closes the opening 2o of the case body 2. The case body 2 is formed, for example, from multiple pressed metal plates, and includes a bottom 20, a pair of side walls 21 each extending upward from corresponding side edges of the bottom 20, a ceiling 22 facing the bottom 20 at a distance, and an end wall 23. The bottom 20, the pair of side walls 21, and the ceiling 22 form a flat rectangular cylinder, and the end wall 23 closes one end of the rectangular cylinder. As a result, a rectangular opening 2o is defined at the end of the case body 2 opposite to the end wall portion 23 side.

[0014] The case body 2 accommodates a plurality of (three) batteries 10 arranged along the longitudinal direction (width direction) of an opening 2o serving as an insertion port. That is, each battery 10 is inserted into or removed from the case body 2 through the opening 2o in the extension direction of the pair of side wall portions 21. As shown in FIG. 2 , a plurality of partition walls 24 are disposed inside the case body 2 so as to be positioned between adjacent batteries 10. Furthermore, the case body 2 also accommodates a plurality of (three) receptacles (all not shown) that can be coupled to connectors provided on the corresponding batteries 10, and are disposed adjacent to the end wall portions 23. Each battery 10 is connected to an inverter or the like that drives the motor generator via the receptacles or cables (not shown). In this embodiment, the case body 2 is fixed to the floor panel so that the opening 2o faces, for example, the driver's seat side of the electric vehicle V. In this embodiment, the bottom portion 20 and the pair of side wall portions 21 of the case body 2 are integrally formed as shown in FIG. 2, but they may also be formed separately and fixed to each other.

[0015] The lid 3 is formed, for example, from a pressed metal plate, and is supported by the case body 2 via multiple hinges (not shown) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis A. The rotation axis A extends along the lower edge of the opening 2o, i.e., along one side of the bottom 20 that defines the opening 2o. This allows the lid 3 to be opened to expose the opening 2o by rotating the lid 3 from top to bottom about the rotation axis A (tilting it forward). The lid 3 can also be closed to close the opening 2o by rotating the lid 3 from bottom to top about the rotation axis A (flipping it up). The case body 2 is further provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) that locks the lid 3 when it has closed the opening 2o.

[0016] Here, in order to improve the efficiency of the work of replacing the battery 10 in the electric vehicle V, it is necessary to make it possible to easily position and house the battery 10 in the battery case 1. For this reason, in the battery case 1, in order to improve the ease of positioning and housing the battery 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of (in this embodiment, three, for example) case-side guide portions 25 having the same height H and width W are provided on the case main body 2.

[0017] The multiple case side guide portions 25 extend parallel to the side wall portions 21 from the opening 2o toward the end wall portions 23 (inside the case main body 2), and are arranged on the bottom portion 20 so as to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the opening 2o. In this embodiment, each case side guide portion 25 is formed by pressing so as to protrude from the inner surface (top surface) of the bottom portion 20, which serves as the inner bottom surface of the case main body 2, toward the interior of the case main body 2, i.e., toward the ceiling portion 22, and is located below the center in the width direction of each battery 10 housed in the case main body 2. The upper surface of each case side guide portion 25 is formed flat, and an inclined surface that connects the upper surface and the inner surface of the bottom portion 20 is formed at the end of each case side guide portion 25 on the opening 2o side and the end on the end wall portion 23 side.

[0018] 1, in the battery case 1, a plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) lid-side guide portions 35 having the same height and width are disposed on the lid body 3 so as to align with the corresponding case-side guide portions 25 when the lid body 3 is open (fully open). The lid-side guide portions 35 are formed by pressing so as to protrude from the inner surface of the lid body 3 toward the interior of the case body 2 and to be aligned at intervals in the longitudinal direction (width direction) of the lid body 3, and are located below the center in the width direction of each battery 10 to be inserted into or removed from the case body 2. The upper surface of each lid-side guide portion 35 is formed flat and is included in approximately the same plane as the upper surface of the corresponding case-side guide portion 25 when the lid body 3 is open (fully open). Furthermore, an inclined surface 35a is formed at the end of each lid side guide portion 35 on the free end side of the lid body 3, connecting the upper surface of the lid side guide portion 35 to the inner surface of the lid body 3, and an inclined surface 35b is formed at the end of each lid side guide portion 35 on the rotation axis A side, connecting the upper surface of the lid side guide portion 35 to the inner surface of the lid body 3.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2 , the battery 10 also includes a guided portion 11 that engages with the case-side guide portion 25 of the case body 2 and the lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid 3. In this embodiment, the guided portion 11 is a pair of ridges (rails) that protrude downward from the bottom surface of the battery 10 (pack case) and extend in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10. The pair of ridges extend parallel to each other at a distance slightly larger than the width of the case-side guide portion 25 and the lid-side guide portion 35, and are in sliding contact with the corresponding side surfaces of the case-side guide portion 25 and the lid-side guide portion 35 and the inner surface of the bottom portion 20. Furthermore, at least one end surface of each battery 10 (pack case) is provided with an abutment member 15 (see FIG. 1 ) made of an elastic material such as rubber or resin. The abutment member 15 is positioned below the handle portion 12 of the battery 10 and has a surface that slopes away from the end surface of the battery 10 from the top surface to the bottom surface of the battery 10.

[0020] The battery charging device 50 is, for example, a DC rapid charger, and is installed in a parking facility for the electric vehicle V, a loading and unloading facility, or the like. In this embodiment, the battery charging device 50 includes an AC / DC converter that converts AC power supplied from an AC power source outside the vehicle, such as a commercial power source, into DC power, a DC / DC converter that boosts the DC power output from the AC / DC converter, a control device that controls these electrical devices (none of which are shown), a plurality of battery cases 1 (for example, three in this embodiment), a housing 55 that houses these components, and the like. However, the battery charging device 50 may also be an AC charger. In this embodiment, the plurality of battery cases 1 are arranged vertically in the housing 55, as shown in FIG. 1 .

[0021] The multiple battery cases 1 of the battery charging device 50 are identical to the battery cases 1 mounted on the electric vehicle V, and each defines a battery storage section of the battery charging device 50. Therefore, the width a and height b of the battery storage section in the battery charging device 50, the orientation (extension direction) of each case-side guide section 25 relative to the opening 2o, the intervals c1 and c2 between the multiple case-side guide sections 25, and the intervals d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, and d6 between each case-side guide section 25 and the adjacent side wall section 21 or partition wall 24 (all see FIG. 2 ) are all the same as those of the battery storage section in the electric vehicle V. Furthermore, multiple (three) receptacles (all not shown) that can be coupled with connectors provided on the corresponding batteries 10 are arranged adjacent to the end wall section 23 inside the case main body 2 of each battery case 1 of the battery charging device 50. Each battery 10 is connected to the power device (DC / DC converter) of the battery charging device 50 via the receptacle or the like.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the battery transport cart 100 includes a cart body 101 including a base frame, a plurality of (at least three) casters, a handle, etc., and a top plate 110 that is supported by the cart body 101 (base frame) so as to be movable up and down via a lifting mechanism (lifter) 105. The top plate 110 of the battery transport cart 100 has a rectangular planar shape and is supported by the cart body 101 so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the forward and backward movement direction of the cart body 101. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the battery transport cart 100 includes a battery mounting plate 120 that is supported by the top plate 110 (cart body 101) so as to be slidable in the short direction of the top plate 110, and a locking mechanism 150 (see Fig. 4) that locks the battery mounting plate 120 to the top plate 110 (cart body 101).

[0023] The battery mounting plate 120 has a common configuration with the bottom 20 of the battery case 1 (case main body 2), and includes a pair of side walls 121 formed to have a low profile, and a plurality of (for example, three in this embodiment) carriage-side guide portions 125. In other words, the battery mounting plate 120 corresponds to the bottom 20 of the case main body 2, which is integrated with the pair of side walls 21, from which both of the pair of side walls 21 have been partially removed. Furthermore, the length in the extension direction of the carriage-side guide portions 125 of the battery mounting plate 120 is set to be longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10, similar to the bottom 20 of the battery case 1 (case main body 2).

[0024] The multiple cart-side guide portions 125 are formed by press working so as to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the battery mounting plate 120. As shown in FIG. 3, each cart-side guide portion 125 has the same height as the height H of the case-side guide portion 25 of the battery case 1 and the same width as the width W of the case-side guide portion 25, and is capable of engaging with the guided portion 11 of the battery 10. The intervals between the multiple cart-side guide portions 125 are the same as the intervals c1 and c2 between the multiple case-side guide portions 25 of the battery case 1, and the intervals between each cart-side guide portion 125 and the adjacent side wall portion 121 are the same as the intervals d1 and d6 of the battery case 1 (see FIG. 3). The top surface of each cart-side guide portion 125 is flat, and at least the front end of each cart-side guide portion 125 has an inclined surface that connects the top surface to the bottom surface of the battery mounting plate 120.

[0025] 3, a plurality of (for example, two in this embodiment) guide rails (guide members) 130 are fixed to the upper surface of the top plate 110 at intervals in the longitudinal direction so as to extend in the lateral direction of the top plate 110. In addition, a plurality of guided portions 140 including guide rollers that can roll on the upper surface of the top plate 110 along the corresponding guide rails 130 are attached to the rear surface of the battery mounting plate 120. The battery mounting plate 120 is slidably supported by the top plate 110 (cart body 101) via the plurality of guide rails 130 and the plurality of guided portions 140 so that a plurality of cart-side guide portions 125 are aligned at intervals in the lateral direction of the top plate 110 and extend parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the battery transport cart 100 moves forward and backward).

[0026] As a result, the battery mounting plate 120 of the battery transport cart 100 can support multiple batteries 10 (for example, three in this embodiment) arranged parallel to the forward and backward travel direction of the cart body 101. Furthermore, the battery mounting plate 120 is slidable relative to the top plate 110 (cart body 101) in the arrangement direction of the multiple batteries 10. Also, in this embodiment, the locking mechanism 150 includes a pressed plate 151 fixed to the battery mounting plate 120, and a clamp 155 supported by the top plate 110 and capable of pressing the pressed plate 151 against the top plate 110 (see FIG. 4). However, the locking mechanism 150 may have any configuration.

[0027] Next, a procedure for replacing the battery 10 mounted on the electric vehicle V will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Here, a procedure for replacing the multiple batteries 10 (for example, three in this embodiment) that had been housed in the battery case 1 of the electric vehicle V with multiple batteries 10 in a fully charged state that have been charged by the battery charging device 50 will be described in response to a decrease in the SOC of the multiple batteries 10 mounted on the electric vehicle V.

[0028] After the electric vehicle V has stopped, the worker removes the cover and other parts of the battery case 1 and opens the lid 3 to expose the opening 2o of the case body 2. The opened lid 3 extends from the lower edge of the opening 2o to the side opposite the case body 2 (see FIG. 1), and each lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid 3 aligns with the corresponding case-side guide portion 25 formed on the inner surface of the bottom 20 of the case body 2 so as to extend in the insertion / removal direction of the battery 10 (the extension direction of the pair of side wall portions 21). Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the worker moves the empty battery transport cart 100 in the forward / backward direction of the cart body 101, bringing it close to the battery case 1 (battery storage portion) of the electric vehicle V.

[0029] This allows the battery transport cart 100 to move smoothly relative to the battery case 1 of the electric vehicle V, thereby preventing the battery transport cart 100 and the electric vehicle V including the battery case 1 from coming into contact with each other and allowing them to approach each other to facilitate the transfer of the battery 10. Note that while the battery transport cart 100 is moving, the battery mounting plate 120 is locked by a locking mechanism 150. Furthermore, as necessary, the worker adjusts the height of the top plate 110 while operating the lifting mechanism 105 so that the height of each cart-side guide section 125 of the battery mounting plate 120 roughly matches the height of the corresponding lid-side guide section 35 of the lid body 3 and the case-side guide section 25 of the case main body 2.

[0030] 4(c), the worker releases the locking mechanism 150 from locking the battery mounting plate 120, and then slides the battery mounting plate 120 relative to the top plate 110 (cart body 101) in the arrangement direction of the multiple batteries 10 so that it faces the battery case 1, and aligns each cart-side guide portion 125 of the battery mounting plate 120 with the corresponding lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid body 3 and the case-side guide portion 25 of the case body 2. As a result, when moving the battery transport cart 100 forward or backward to approach the battery case 1 of the electric vehicle V, it is no longer necessary to finely adjust the position of the battery transport cart 100 so that the battery mounting plate 120 faces the battery case 1, or to move the battery transport cart 100 laterally (left and right) after approaching the battery case 1. In other words, as long as it is within the movable range of the battery mounting plate 120 relative to the top plate 110 (cart body 101), the battery mounting plate 120 may shift laterally (left and right) relative to the battery case 1 when the battery transport cart 100 stops near the battery case 1, as shown in Figures 4(a) and (b).

[0031] After sliding the battery mounting plate 120, the worker locks the battery mounting plate 120 to the top plate 110 with the locking mechanism 150, as shown in FIG. 4(d), and then engages the guided portions 11 of each battery 10 with the corresponding lid-side guide portions 35 and cart-side guide portions 125. The worker then pulls out the multiple batteries 10 onto the battery mounting plate 120 of the battery transport cart 100 while guiding them with the lid-side guide portions 35 and cart-side guide portions 125, and transfers the multiple batteries 10 from the battery case 1 to the battery transport cart 100. As a result, it is possible to easily and smoothly remove the multiple batteries 10 from the battery case 1 of the electric vehicle V that stores the multiple replaceable batteries 10, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the time required for battery replacement work.

[0032] After placing (pulling out) all of the batteries 10 of the electric vehicle V on the battery mounting plate 120, the worker moves the battery transport cart 100 forward or backward in the forward or backward direction of the cart body 101, bringing it close to the empty battery case 1 (battery storage section) of the battery charging device 50 (see FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)). This allows the battery transport cart 100 to move smoothly and stop relative to the battery case 1 of the battery charging device 50, making it possible to bring the battery transport cart 100 and the battery charging device 50 close to each other so as to facilitate the transfer of the batteries 10 while preventing them from coming into contact with each other. Furthermore, the worker operates the lifting mechanism 105 as necessary so that the height of the battery mounting plate 120 roughly matches the height of the empty battery case 1.

[0033] Next, the worker releases the locking mechanism 150 from locking the battery mounting plate 120, and then slides the battery mounting plate 120 relative to the top plate 110 (cart body 101) in the arrangement direction of the multiple batteries 10 so that it faces the battery cases 1, and aligns each cart-side guide portion 125 of the battery mounting plate 120 with the corresponding lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid body 3 and the case-side guide portion 25 of the case body 2 (see FIG. 4(c)). This eliminates the need to precisely adjust the position of the battery transport cart 100 so that the battery mounting plate 120 faces the battery cases 1 or to move the battery transport cart 100 laterally (left and right) after it has approached the battery cases 1 when moving the battery transport cart 100 forward or backward to approach the battery cases 1 of the battery charging device 50.

[0034] After sliding the battery mounting plate 120, the worker locks the battery mounting plate 120 to the top plate 110 with the locking mechanism 150, and inserts (transfers) the multiple batteries 10 from the battery mounting plate 120 into the battery case 1 of the battery charging device 50 while guiding them with the cover-side guide portion 35 and the case-side guide portion 25 (see FIG. 4(d)). This makes it possible to easily and smoothly insert (store) the multiple batteries 10 from the battery transport cart 100 carrying the multiple replaceable batteries 10 into the battery case 1 of the battery charging device 50, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the time required for battery replacement work. In addition, the battery case 1 and battery transport cart 100 allow the multiple replaceable batteries 10 to be transferred between the electric vehicle V and the battery charging device 50 via the battery transport cart 100 while maintaining their mounted state in the electric vehicle V. As a result, the transfer of the plurality of replaceable batteries 10 between the electric vehicle V and the battery charger 50 can be facilitated smoothly, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the time required for battery replacement work.

[0035] After storing the batteries 10 from the electric vehicle V in the empty battery cases 1 of the battery charging device 50, the worker places (pulls out) the charged batteries 10 stored in the other battery cases 1 of the battery charging device 50 onto the battery mounting plate 120 of the battery transport cart 100 according to the procedure described above. The worker then transfers (stores) the batteries 10 from the battery transport cart 100 into the battery case 1 of the target electric vehicle V. Furthermore, each lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid body 3 protrudes from the inner surface of the lid body 3 toward the inside of the case body 2 and abuts against a contact member 15 provided on the end face of the battery 10 when the lid body 3 is completely closed. This effectively prevents the batteries 10 from rattling inside the battery case 1 while the electric vehicle V is traveling, for example. Additionally, since there is no need to provide a separate support portion for the batteries 10 in the battery case 1, increases in cost and size of the battery case 1 can be effectively prevented.

[0036] The case-side guide portion 25 of the case body 2, the lid-side guide portion 35 of the lid 3, and the carriage-side guide portion 125 of the battery transport cart 100 do not necessarily have to be protrusions protruding from the inner surface of the bottom 20, the lid 3, or the battery mounting plate 120, but may be recesses recessed from the inner surface of the bottom 20, the lid 3, or the battery mounting plate 120. Furthermore, the guided portion 11 of the battery 10 is not limited to protruding from the bottom surface of the battery 10, but may be recesses engageable with the case-side guide portion 25, the lid-side guide portion 35, and the carriage-side guide portion 125. The electric vehicle V may be a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or a hybrid vehicle (HEV, PHEV). The battery case 1 may be mounted on a moving object other than the electric vehicle V, such as a railway vehicle, or may be installed in fixed equipment other than the battery charging device 50. The battery charging device 50 may be a mobile charger that can move toward and away from the electric vehicle V. Furthermore, in the battery charging device 50, the battery case 1 that defines the battery storage section is incorporated into the housing 55, but this is not limited to this. That is, the battery storage section of the battery charging device 50 may be defined by a dedicated member, as long as at least the orientation (extension direction) of the guide section relative to the entrance of the battery storage section and the spacing between the multiple guide sections are the same as those of the electric vehicle V and the battery transport cart 100.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The invention of the present disclosure can be used in various industries that use replaceable batteries. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 battery case, 2 case body, 2o opening, 20 bottom, 21 side wall, 22 ceiling, 23 end wall, 24 partition wall, 25 case side guide, 3 lid, 35 lid side guide, 10 battery, 11 guided portion, 50 battery charging device, 55 housing, 100 battery transport cart, 101 body, 105 lifting mechanism, 110 top plate, 120 battery mounting plate, 125 cart side guide, 130 guide rail, 140 guided portion, 150 locking mechanism, V electric vehicle.

Claims

[Claim 1] A battery replacement method for inserting and removing a plurality of batteries into and from a battery storage section that stores a plurality of replaceable batteries arranged in parallel, comprising: a transport vehicle including a vehicle body and a battery mounting plate capable of supporting the plurality of batteries arranged parallel to the forward and backward travel direction of the vehicle body and supported by the vehicle body so as to be slidable in the arrangement direction of the plurality of batteries; The transporting platform is moved forward and backward in the forward and backward directions to approach the battery storage unit, the battery mounting plate is slid in the arrangement direction relative to the carriage body so as to face the battery storage portion; The plurality of batteries are transferred between the battery storage unit and the battery placement plate of the transporting platform. How to replace the battery.

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