Battery Exchange Kiosks for Electric Vehicle Range Extension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The adoption of zero tail pipe emission vehicles, such as all-electric vehicles, is hindered by high costs, limited driving range, and long recharging times, particularly in densely populated cities with limited financial resources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of collection, charging, and distribution machines that provide fully charged electrical power storage devices, allowing users to exchange depleted batteries for charged ones, and a system for managing and upgrading portable electrical power storage device exchange plans based on user information and vehicle capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If all-electric vehicles are adopted to eliminate tail pipe emissions, then air quality and public health are improved, but the high cost of secondary batteries and limited driving range reduce adoption rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into portable electrical power storage devices that can be exchanged at collection machines distributed throughout the city. This allows the vehicle to remain simple while the battery infrastructure is separated and distributed, addressing cost and range concerns through a modular approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces collection machines as intermediary devices between users and battery charging infrastructure. These machines collect depleted batteries, charge them centrally, and redistribute charged batteries to users, mediating the complex charging infrastructure requirements and making all-electric vehicles more accessible.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If secondary batteries are used in all-electric vehicles, then tail pipe emissions are eliminated, but the limited driving range and long recharging times hinder widespread adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-charging portable electrical power storage devices at collection machines before users need them. Users can exchange depleted batteries for pre-charged ones instantly, eliminating the need for lengthy on-site recharging and maintaining continuous vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the charging process from the vehicle operation by removing batteries from vehicles and charging them separately at collection machines. This separation allows vehicles to be quickly serviced by battery exchange rather than slow on-vehicle charging, dramatically reducing time loss.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If secondary batteries are used in all-electric vehicles, then zero tail pipe emission is achieved, but the high cost of batteries particularly affects populations with limited financial resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated collection machines that handle battery exchange without requiring users to directly interact with expensive battery systems. Users simply exchange batteries at automated kiosks, and the system manages the costly battery assets, making the technology accessible to populations with limited financial resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces collection machines as intermediaries that manage the expensive battery infrastructure on behalf of users. These machines own and maintain the batteries, charging and redistributing them to users who only pay for the service rather than the expensive battery capital investment, thereby improving accessibility.
4Loss of time
If portable electrical power storage devices are exchanged at collection machines, then recharging time is reduced, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by deploying multiple identical collection machines throughout the city, each capable of independent battery exchange operations. This replicated infrastructure approach distributes the complexity across many simple, standardized units rather than requiring one complex centralized facility, making the system more manageable and scalable.
Data Source
AI summary
A network of collection, charging and/or distribution machines collect, charge and/or distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). In some embodiments, if the user selects to change their current portable electrical power storage device exchange plan to a two-portable electrical power storage device exchange plan while exchanging their current portable electrical power storage device, the user will return their current portable electrical power storage device and will receive two portable electrical power storage devices in exchange at the collection, charging and distribution machine. The user may also be required to pay additional fees and/or commit to additional obligations while at the collection, charging and distribution machine in order to change to the different portable electrical power storage device exchange plan.