Onboard Electricity Production for Electric Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional land-based vehicles face inefficiencies in fuel consumption, battery life, and charging limitations, making them less appealing due to low mileage per gallon of petroleum fuel, short battery life, and the need for stationary recharging, which restricts their usage and increases ownership costs.
Innovation Solution
A high-efficiency electric vehicle with onboard electricity production using a brushless generator producing 36, 48, or 72 volts DC, powered by a small internal combustion engine, supplemented by batteries and solar panels for extended charging and peak performance, allowing for continuous operation and conversion of existing vehicles into high-efficiency electric vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a purely electric vehicle with batteries is used, then the vehicle can operate without petroleum fuel, but the batteries require stationary recharging which significantly increases loss of time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle generates its own electricity through onboard photovoltaic panels during operation, eliminating the need for stationary recharging. The system serves itself by converting solar energy directly into electrical power while moving, thus resolving the time loss associated with external recharging infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The photovoltaic panels continuously accumulate electrical energy in batteries during daylight hours and vehicle operation, preparing power reserves in advance. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the vehicle to operate extended periods without external recharging, reducing time loss.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a purely electric vehicle with batteries is used, then the vehicle can operate without petroleum fuel, but the batteries have a short life cycle requiring complete replacement which increases loss of substance and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard photovoltaic system continuously recharges the batteries during vehicle operation, extending their effective service life. By serving as a self-recharging system, the batteries undergo fewer complete charge-discharge cycles and require replacement less frequently, thus extending their duration of action.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a hybrid vehicle with both internal combustion engine and electric motor is used, then the vehicle can achieve better fuel efficiency, but the device complexity increases which raises manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle uses a single internal combustion engine that performs dual functions: directly driving the wheels and simultaneously driving the generator to produce electricity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate electric motors and complex hybrid powertrain systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining improved fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical hybrid system (multiple engines, transmissions, and power distribution mechanisms) with a simpler system where the internal combustion engine mechanically drives a generator to produce electricity, which then powers the electric motor. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving hybrid vehicle fuel efficiency.
4Device complexity
If the rotational output of a large internal combustion diesel engine is used to directly drive the wheels of a locomotive, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases due to lack of adequate transmission apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical transmission system with an electrical system. The diesel engine drives a generator to produce electricity, which then powers electric motors that drive the wheels. This substitution maintains simplicity by eliminating mechanical gear trains while improving productivity through efficient electrical power conversion and distribution.
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
The solution achieves significantly improved mileage per gallon of fuel, extends battery life through solar charging, and enables continuous operation without the need for stationary recharging, reducing ownership costs and increasing vehicle usability.
Implementation Method 1
a high efficiency electricity production unit with high voltage output. The high efficiency electricity production unit, such as a generator of the brushless type
Implementation Method 2
supplemented by batteries and solar panels for extended charging and peak performance
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine, an electricity production unit, batteries and an electric motor combine to provide for an extremely high mileage vehicle which has an extremely long driving range between the vehicle requiring re-fueling. Because the vehicle utilizes petroleum based fuel to power the internal combustion engine the vehicle can be fueled at any location which commercially provides petroleum fuels to the public. The electricity production unit electricity output while being powered by a very low horsepower internal combustion engine. Amplification of amperage and/or voltage of the electricity produced by the electricity production unit preferably occurs by passing the electricity through batteries prior to being utilized by the electric motor to propel the vehicle. Assemblies of the present invention may be easily installed at a very reasonable cost in existing vehicles.