Exchangeable Battery Module System for Rapid EV Refueling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicles require lengthy battery charging times, limiting their suitability for long-distance travel and necessitating costly and time-consuming battery replacement when efficiency declines.

Innovation Solution

An exchangeable battery module system with standardized, removable modules that can be easily replaced by users, allowing for quick refueling and optimized charging cycles, featuring a control device for selective discharge and a network of electric filling stations for efficient battery swapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a permanently installed battery pack is used in conventional electric vehicles, then the battery can provide sufficient energy storage capacity, but the charging time becomes excessively long (2-8 hours) and battery replacement becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging timeVSAvoidbattery replacement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple independent, standardized modules that can be individually replaced. Each module contains a complete set of battery cells with standardized connectors and housing, allowing users to swap single modules rather than replacing the entire battery pack. This segmentation enables rapid refueling comparable to conventional vehicles while simplifying replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized battery modules are designed with universal interfaces and dimensions that allow them to be used across different vehicle models and applications. The same module design can serve multiple functions - providing power for different driving ranges, working in various vehicle types, and being recharged at any standardized charging station, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the entire battery pack is replaced when efficiency declines, then the vehicle maintains optimal performance, but the cost and time required for replacement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery efficiencyVSAvoidbattery replacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into replaceable modules, allowing only the specific module that has reached end-of-life to be replaced while keeping other functional modules in service. This selective replacement maintains vehicle reliability by ensuring optimal performance from functioning modules while dramatically reducing replacement time and cost compared to replacing the entire battery pack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

When a battery module reaches the end of its service life, only that specific module is discarded and replaced, while other modules continue to operate. The replaced module can be recovered, recharged, and returned to service, maximizing the utilization of each module's lifespan and reducing overall replacement frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of manufacture

If battery cells are replaced individually when one cell fails, then the cost is reduced, but the complexity of identification and replacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement costVSAvoidmodule identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple battery cells are merged into a single standardized module assembly with unified housing, connectors, and control electronics. This merging allows the entire module to be treated as one replaceable unit, eliminating the complexity of identifying and replacing individual cells while maintaining cost efficiency through standardized manufacturing and inventory management of modular units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Use of energy by moving object

If a large capacity battery is permanently installed to enable long-distance travel, then the energy storage capacity is sufficient, but the charging time remains excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidcharging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The large capacity battery system is segmented into multiple standardized modules that can be quickly swapped. Instead of charging one large battery for hours, the system enables rapid replacement of depleted modules with charged ones, maintaining sufficient total energy storage capacity for long-distance travel while reducing the effective charging time to minutes, comparable to refueling conventional vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2456637B1Replacable battery circulation system for electric vehicles
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 SANLI ISMAIL
  • EP2456637B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2456637B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2456637B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a removable battery circuit system for recharging electric vehicles at electric charging stations. The motor vehicles each comprise a plurality of identical removable batteries, which the user can exchange. A control device selectively controls the extraction of energy from the removable battery modules, such that the removable battery modules are individually discharged in series or in groups. The charging stations have automatic chargers at which the battery array of a motor vehicle can be charged, by selectively replacing the discharged removable battery modules with identical yet charged removable battery modules.