Electric Bus Heating System Using External Pre-Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric buses face challenges in maintaining passenger compartment heating without depleting battery energy, increasing pollution, and fuel consumption, especially when stationary or in garages.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing an electric heater for pre-heating the passenger compartment when connected to an external electrical source, switching to a combustion heater when in use, allowing heating without draining battery energy and reducing pollution and fuel consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a combustion heater is used to heat the passenger compartment, then the heating function is provided without consuming battery energy, but the pollution generated by the electric vehicle increases and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery energy consumptionVSAvoidpollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating action by using the combustion heater to heat the passenger compartment before the vehicle departs from the garage. This pre-heating phase allows the batteries to remain charged while still providing necessary heating, thereby reducing battery energy consumption during actual operation without significantly increasing overall pollution since the vehicle will be in motion afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If a combustion heater is used to heat the passenger compartment, then the heating function is provided without consuming battery energy, but the fuel consumption of the electric vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery energy consumptionVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion heater is activated during the garage phase before departure to provide heating without drawing power from the batteries. By limiting combustion heater operation to this pre-departure window and utilizing its high power output for rapid heating, the system minimizes total fuel consumption while still achieving the goal of preserving battery energy for propulsion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by stationary object

If the vehicle is stopped in the garage, then the vehicle can be recharged from an external source, but the passenger compartment cannot be heated effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal electrical source chargingVSAvoidpassenger compartment temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes advantage of the garage stop period to perform preliminary heating actions using the combustion heater. During this time, when the vehicle is stationary and connected to external charging, the combustion heater can operate at full power to heat the passenger compartment without consuming battery energy, thus resolving the contradiction between charging and heating needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The garage stop period is utilized for multiple functions simultaneously: external electrical charging of the batteries and heating of the passenger compartment using the combustion heater. This multi-functional use of the stationary period resolves the contradiction by making the heating system adaptable to different operational states of the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient heating of electric vehicle passenger compartments, reducing pollution and fuel consumption by using external energy for pre-heating and combustion heating when in use, while maintaining comfort even when stationary.

Implementation Method 1

pre-heating at least one part of said passenger compartment, in particular a passenger area or a driver's area, by at least one electric heater when said vehicle is connected to an external electrical source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

heating said at least one part of said passenger compartment by means of a combustion heater, when said vehicle is in use

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS10562368B2Method and system for heating a passenger compartment of an electric vehicle, and electric vehicle implementing such a method or system

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 BLUEBUS

AI summary

A method for heating the passenger compartment of an electric vehicle, including the following steps:pre-heating at least one part of the passenger compartment by at least one electric heater when the vehicle is connected to an external energy source, andheating the at least one part of the passenger compartment by a combustion heater when the vehicle is in use.Also provided is a system implementing such a method and an electric vehicle, in particular of the electric bus type, utilizing such a method or such a system.