Metal-Air Range Extender for Lightweight EV Battery Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for electric vehicles and drone devices are hindered by the weight and size of lithium-ion batteries required for long-distance movement, leading to poor fuel efficiency and increased frequency of breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that incorporates a metal-air battery as the power source for a range extender unit, which supplements the battery system when its charge capacity decreases, thereby minimizing the capacity and weight of the primary batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the battery capacity is increased for long-distance movement, then the operating range is extended, but the weight of the power supply system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is divided into two independent battery systems: a primary battery system for essential operations and a secondary battery system for extended range. This segmentation allows the primary battery to be sized for minimum necessary operations, reducing its weight, while the secondary battery provides additional capacity for extended range when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing full battery capacity for maximum range from the start, the system uses a primary battery sized for partial operation (essential functions) and supplements with a secondary battery only when extended range is required, avoiding the weight penalty of carrying full capacity batteries continuously.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of lithium-ion batteries is increased, then the battery capacity increases, but the fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The total battery capacity is segmented into a primary battery system for essential operations and a secondary battery system for extended range. This allows the primary system to be optimized for fuel efficiency with minimal necessary capacity, while the secondary system provides additional capacity only when required, preventing continuous energy loss from transporting excess battery mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by switching between primary and secondary battery systems based on range requirements. When extended range is needed, the secondary battery is activated; when not needed, only the lighter primary battery operates, optimizing fuel efficiency by adjusting the effective battery capacity parameter according to actual requirements.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a fuel oil generating unit or hydrogen fuel cell is added, then the operating range is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fundamentally different power generation technologies (fuel cells or combustion engines), the system uses a second battery system that copies the proven, simple electric battery technology already used in the primary system. This maintains simplicity while achieving extended range, avoiding the mechanical and chemical complexity of alternative power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply system uses homogeneous technology throughout - two battery systems with similar chemical and operational characteristics - rather than combining heterogeneous technologies like batteries with fuel cells or combustion engines. This homogeneity simplifies the overall system architecture, control, and maintenance while achieving the extended range objective.
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
This configuration allows for a smaller, lighter, and simpler power supply system by reducing the need for high-capacity batteries, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing the likelihood of breakdowns.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply source of the range extender unit is a metal-air battery
Data Source
AI summary
A small and lightweight power supply system included in an electric vehicle is provided. A power supply system for an electric vehicle includes a battery system for supplying power to a drive unit of the electric vehicle and a range extender unit for supplying power to the battery system when a charge capacity of the battery system decreases, in which a power supply source of the range extender unit is a metal-air battery.