Removable Modular Battery Packs for EV Range and Thermal Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles are limited by non-removable designs that require lengthy recharging times and lack flexibility in energy storage capacity, weight, and compatibility across various applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular, removable battery pack system with integrated thermal management and communication capabilities, allowing for easy swapping of energy modules that provide high energy density and compatibility with diverse applications, including electric vehicles, home, and commercial charging stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If energy storage systems are integrated into electric vehicles, then driving range and energy management are improved, but vehicle weight and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into modular battery packs that can be independently configured and assembled. Each module contains complete functional units including battery cells, thermal management components, and control systems, allowing flexible integration into vehicle platforms while optimizing weight distribution and energy capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular energy storage modules are designed with universal interfaces and standardized dimensions that enable them to serve multiple applications across different vehicle types and energy storage scenarios. The same basic module can be used in electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or standalone energy storage systems, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular energy storage modules are designed for multiple applications, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system architecture is segmented into standardized functional modules with uniform mechanical and electrical interfaces. This segmentation allows complex functionality to be achieved through simple repetition and combination of basic units, reducing design complexity while maintaining versatility across multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows flexibility in configuring system parameters such as capacity, power rating, and physical dimensions by simply varying the number and arrangement of identical basic modules. This parameter-based configuration approach enables adaptation to different applications without redesigning the core module architecture.
3Temperature
If thermal management systems are integrated into energy storage modules, then thermal control and safety are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is merged with the battery module structure itself, where thermal management channels are integrated into the module housing and support structures. This integration eliminates the need for separate thermal management components and simplifies manufacturing by combining multiple functions into unified structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The module design incorporates universal thermal management interfaces and standardized fluid channels that can be directly connected to vehicle-level thermal management systems. This universal design approach simplifies manufacturing by using the same thermal management architecture across all modules and applications.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A removable modular battery pack may include a first housing having a volume of at least 0.125 cubic feet, and a plurality of battery cells providing at least 1 kW of power. The modular battery pack may also include a processing system that aggregates power from the plurality of battery cells, and a first interface that communicates a status of the modular battery pack to a second housing. The modular battery pack may further include a second interface that transmits the aggregated power to the second housing, and a thermal material enclosed in the first housing. The thermal material may be arranged in the housing adjacent to the plurality of battery cells to transfer heat away from the plurality of battery cells and to transfer the heat to the second housing.