Modular HV Battery System for Quick Swap and Range Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric vehicles with high-voltage batteries face challenges such as long charging times, inefficient battery utilization, high costs, and laborious replacement processes, which limit their range and acceptance due to the weight and expense of large, non-upgradeable batteries.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle system with a permanently integrated high-voltage primary energy storage device and interchangeable alternative energy storage devices, allowing for flexible energy supply adaptation based on needed range, enabling quick and simple battery replacement, and optimizing battery utilization through modular design and shared usage across multiple applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a large HV battery is installed to increase range, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the vehicle weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the energy storage system into a permanent HV primary battery and removable alternative energy storage devices. This segmentation allows the vehicle to carry only the necessary energy capacity for each trip, reducing overall weight while maintaining the ability to extend range when needed through quick replacement of alternative devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage configuration becomes dynamic and adaptable. The vehicle can switch between using only the primary battery, adding alternative energy storage devices for extended range, or replacing discharged alternative devices with charged ones. This dynamic approach optimizes weight based on actual travel needs rather than maintaining fixed heavy battery capacity for maximum potential range.
2Speed
If quick-charge options are implemented for HV batteries, then charging speed is improved, but charging time remains significantly longer than refueling conventional vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical charging process with a mechanical swap operation. Instead of transferring energy electrically over time, the system physically exchanges discharged alternative energy storage devices with charged ones in minutes, achieving refueling-like speed without the complexity of ultra-fast charging infrastructure.
3Loss of time
If battery replacement is enabled to reduce charging time, then time efficiency is improved, but replacement stations become technically complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into a permanent primary battery and standardized alternative energy storage devices. This segmentation simplifies replacement stations, which only need to handle the standardized alternative devices rather than managing complex integrated battery systems. The standardized interface and modular design reduce technical complexity and infrastructure costs.
4Length of moving object
If large HV energy storage devices are installed to ensure sufficient range, then range capability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alternative energy storage devices are designed for universal use across multiple vehicles and applications. A single charged alternative device can serve multiple vehicles sequentially, and discharged devices can be recharged and reused. This multi-functionality dramatically improves resource utilization efficiency, allowing one energy storage device to support many vehicle-kilometers of travel across a fleet rather than being dedicated to a single vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having an electric drive, wherein the motor vehicle has an HV primary energy storage device to supply energy to the electric drive, wherein the motor vehicle has at least one predetermined mounting area, which is formed such that an HV alternative energy storage device can be mounted in the mounting area and the motor vehicle is formed with an access opening through which the HV alternative energy storage device can be placed in the mounting area and through which an HV alternative energy storage device mounted in the mounting area can be removed from the motor vehicle.