Onboard Supercapacitor Charging for Reduced EV Parking Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicle charging systems require vehicles to be parked for 20 to 40 minutes to charge the battery, which is slower compared to refueling a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle equipped with an onboard capacitor, such as a supercapacitor, that is charged externally and then uses this stored energy to charge the battery while the vehicle is in motion, reducing the parking time required for charging to between 1 and 10 seconds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional charging systems are used to charge the battery, then the battery can be charged, but the vehicle must be parked for 20 to 40 minutes which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the charging system into two independent parts: a capacitor for rapid energy storage and a battery for sustained energy supply. The capacitor is charged externally in 1-10 seconds, then disconnected and used to charge the battery while the vehicle is in motion, eliminating the need for prolonged parking.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor is charged in advance during the brief parking period (1-10 seconds), storing sufficient energy to charge the battery while the vehicle is driving. This preliminary charging action enables the battery to be charged without requiring the vehicle to remain parked for extended periods.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle is parked for extended periods to charge the battery, then the battery charging function is achieved, but the vehicle availability and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the battery to charge itself while the vehicle is in motion by using the capacitor as an intermediate energy source. The capacitor, charged during brief parking, automatically charges the battery during driving, eliminating the need for dedicated charging parking periods.
3Loss of time
If a capacitor-based fast charging system is implemented, then charging time is reduced to 1-10 seconds, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor serves multiple functions: it acts as a rapid charge storage device during parking, a power source for charging the battery during driving, and an energy buffer to smooth power delivery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
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 rapid charging of the battery, allowing the vehicle to resume driving quickly after charging, with the capacitor charging the battery partially or fully while the vehicle is in motion, significantly reducing the time needed to charge the battery compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
An electric vehicle with a fast charging system uses at least one onboard capacitor to charge the battery of the electric vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The electric vehicle with a fast charging system uses at least one onboard capacitor to charge the battery of the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes at least one capacitor, such as a supercapacitor or the like, in electrical communication with the electric vehicle's battery for supplying charging current thereto. The at least one capacitor is disposed onboard the electric vehicle, and is in electrical communication with the charging port of the electric vehicle for receiving charging current to charge the at least one capacitor. When the charging port is connected to an external power supply, the at least one capacitor is charged rather than the battery. Once the at least one capacitor is charged, the charging port can be disconnected from the external power supply and the vehicle can begin driving. While driving, the at least one capacitor can charge the battery.