Electric Vehicle Battery Guide Means for Rapid Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric vehicle battery charging systems are inefficient due to long charging times, vulnerability to vandalism, and lack of standardization in energy transfer methods, which hinder the widespread adoption of electric cars.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable battery system with guide means for easy sliding in and out of a vehicle, incorporating guide channels and rails that function as both positioning and electrical contacts, along with a battery replacement method using an automatic loading/unloading system and standardized battery dimensions, enabling quick battery replacement and charging without the driver leaving the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If charging posts are used for charging the battery, then energy can be transferred to the battery, but charging times are very long
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a replaceable battery unit and a vehicle chassis, allowing the battery to be quickly swapped out for a charged one instead of charging in place. This segmentation enables rapid battery replacement as a substitute for slow charging, directly addressing the charging time versus productivity contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
Batteries are pre-charged at centralized stations before being installed in vehicles. This preliminary charging action separates the charging process from the vehicle operation, allowing batteries to be ready for immediate use and enabling quick replacement rather than on-site charging, thus resolving the time duration issue.
2Reliability
If charging posts are provided along streets, then battery can be charged, but they encourage vandalism and have an impact on the street scene
Solution Approach 1:
The charging function is extracted from the vehicle and relocated to centralized battery swapping stations. By removing charging posts from street locations and consolidating them at dedicated facilities, the system eliminates the vandalism risk and aesthetic impact while maintaining charging availability through the battery replacement infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized battery management system acts as an intermediary between energy supply and vehicle operation. This intermediary system manages battery charging, storage, and distribution at centralized locations, eliminating the need for vulnerable street-side charging posts while ensuring reliable battery availability for vehicles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-standardized energy transfer method is used, then charging can be performed, but the method is by no means standardized
Solution Approach 1:
The battery unit is designed with universal, standardized interfaces for mechanical coupling and electrical connection that work across the entire vehicle fleet using the same battery type. This standardization enables any compatible vehicle to use any charged battery from the system, creating a universal platform that simplifies infrastructure requirements while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes standardized parameters for battery dimensions, electrical connectors, and mechanical mounting interfaces. By defining and enforcing these standard parameters, the system achieves interoperability and simplifies the energy transfer process while maintaining adaptability through the modular battery architecture that can serve multiple vehicle types.
4Productivity
If battery replacement system is implemented, then quick battery replacement is enabled, but guide means must be precisely integrated between battery and vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means employs asymmetric geometric features with complementary shapes on the battery and vehicle sides. This asymmetric design creates a unique fit that guides precise alignment during insertion while preventing incorrect mounting, thereby achieving both rapid replacement and high precision without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channels on the battery nest within corresponding guide rails on the vehicle chassis, creating a nested structural relationship. This nesting arrangement provides self-aligning features that automatically position the battery correctly during insertion, enabling quick replacement while ensuring precise alignment through the hierarchical geometric constraint system.
Data Source
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AI summary
Rechargeable battery for use in a vehicle, comprising a housing; at least one guide means connected to the housing or integrated into the housing and intended for co-action with at least one complementary guide in the vehicle, this such that the battery can be slid into the vehicle.