Portable EV Charging Power Unit for Home and Office Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an automotive battery power system that can efficiently charge and discharge hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, particularly in home or office settings, as public charging stations are often unavailable or inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A modular and portable automotive power system that includes power electronics circuitry, a charge cable, and a housing assembly, capable of using mains power or a power bank to charge vehicles, with features like wireless charging, smart charging protocols, and cable management systems to facilitate convenient and efficient charging and discharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If public charging stations are used, then charging speed and power can be sufficient, but availability and accessibility are limited especially in rural areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the charging system into two independent parts: a portable charging unit that can be moved anywhere, and a fixed power source unit that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the charging function to be separated from fixed infrastructure, enabling use in locations without public charging stations while maintaining sufficient power capacity in the fixed unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable charging unit acts as an intermediary between the fixed power source and the vehicle. It receives power from the fixed source and can independently charge vehicles at any location, bridging the gap between fixed infrastructure limitations and mobile charging needs.
2Ease of operation
If home charging is implemented, then accessibility and convenience improve, but charging speed and power capacity may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the power source from the charging unit, the system allows the fixed power source to maintain high power capacity while the portable unit provides convenient mobile charging. The fixed source can be connected to high-capacity power supply, and the portable unit simply needs to transfer this power to the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different power source configurations. The fixed power source can be connected to various power supplies (grid, generator, solar), and the portable charging unit automatically adjusts to deliver appropriate charging power based on the available source capacity and vehicle requirements.
3Power
If a fixed charging station is installed, then power and charging speed are sufficient, but portability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is divided into a fixed power source component that maintains high power capacity and a portable charging unit that provides mobility. This allows the power-generating part to remain stationary with sufficient capacity while the charging-delivery part can be moved to any location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single fixed-point charging model to a distributed mobile charging model. By adding the dimension of portability through the mobile charging unit, the system can deliver high power charging to multiple locations rather than being constrained to a single fixed installation point.
4Reliability
If conventional charging systems are used, then infrastructure requirements are met, but deployment flexibility and location independence are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging functionality from fixed infrastructure and places it in a portable unit. This removes the dependency on installed charging stations, buildings, or dedicated infrastructure, allowing charging to occur anywhere while maintaining full charging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable charging unit is designed to work with multiple types of power sources (grid electricity, generators, solar panels) and can charge various vehicle types. This universal design reduces infrastructure dependency by making the charging system adaptable to different environments and power availability scenarios.
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
Enables convenient and efficient charging and discharging of hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles at home or office, reducing reliance on public charging stations and providing backup power options during outages, while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
power electronics circuitry, a charge cable electrically connected with the power electronics circuitry and configured to convey the charging power from the power electronics circuitry to the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an automotive power system configured to facilitate monitoring and charging (and/or discharging) of a vehicle. The vehicle may be a hybrid electric vehicle or an electric vehicle. The automotive power system may further comprise a cable management system. In some examples, the automotive power system may further comprise a reversible dock and/or status indicators on the handle.