Dual Battery Layout for Collision Protection in Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with liquid battery cells are prone to internal short circuits and thermal runaway during collisions, leading to potential fires or explosions, which limits battery capacity and vehicle range due to the need for crushable zones that absorb impact energy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a first battery unit with liquid cells and a second battery unit with all-solid-state cells, where the second unit is positioned to absorb collision loads and protect the first unit, using energy absorption members to dissipate impact energy and disconnect power when damaged, allowing continuous vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid battery cells are used to increase battery capacity, then vehicle range is improved, but the risk of internal short circuits and thermal runaway during collisions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into two separate battery units: a first battery unit with liquid battery cells and a second battery unit with all-solid-state battery cells. This segmentation allows the liquid cells to provide high capacity while the solid-state cells provide collision safety, resolving the contradiction between capacity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The all-solid-state battery cells act as an intermediary protective layer between external collision forces and the liquid battery cells. The solid-state cells absorb impact energy and prevent direct transmission to the liquid cells, thereby protecting them during collisions while maintaining overall battery capacity.
2Reliability
If crushable zones are added to protect battery cells during collisions, then safety is improved, but battery capacity and vehicle range are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the battery cells themselves by using all-solid-state cells in the second battery unit. These cells inherently possess better collision resistance and energy absorption properties, eliminating the need for separate crushable zones and preserving battery capacity.
3Device complexity
If a single battery unit is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to isolate damage and maintain continuous operation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into two independent battery units that can operate separately. When collision damage occurs, the control unit can isolate the damaged unit and continue operation using the undamaged unit, enabling continuous vehicle operation despite partial damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit creates a protective electrical environment by disconnecting and isolating the damaged battery unit from the electrical system. This prevents propagation of damage and allows the healthy battery unit to continue supplying power to the motor.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a motor, a first accommodation member, and a second accommodation member. The first accommodation member is configured to accommodate a first cell configured to supply electric power to the motor. The second accommodation member is configured to accommodate a second cell configured to supply electric power to the motor. The second accommodation member is disposed so as to cover at least a part of the first accommodation member. A strength of the first accommodation member is greater than a strength of the second accommodation member.