Sheet-Shaped Solar Battery Deployment for Electric Vehicle Drivability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in being driven when their storage batteries are depleted or hydrogen fuel cells run out, due to the limited availability of charging and hydrogen refueling stations, leading to potential reliance on tow trucks.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a sheet-shaped solar battery that can be stored compactly and deployed for photovoltaic power generation, connecting to the electric motor or storage battery to generate power, allowing the vehicle to continue operating even without traditional charging or fueling infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a storage battery is used as the only power source for electric vehicles, then the vehicle can be driven using electrical power, but the vehicle cannot be driven when the storage battery is depleted due to limited charging station availability
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is equipped with multiple power sources including a storage battery, solar battery, and internal combustion engine, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and environments. This multi-functional power system ensures the vehicle can be driven regardless of charging infrastructure availability.
Solution Approach 2:
A portable charging device is provided that can be carried on the vehicle to enable charging at locations without fixed charging stations. This preliminary preparation of mobile charging capability ensures the vehicle can be recharged even in remote areas or when conventional charging infrastructure is unavailable.
2Reliability
If a fuel cell is used as the power source, then electric power can be generated through electrochemical reaction, but the vehicle cannot be driven when hydrogen fuel is depleted due to limited hydrogen station availability
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle incorporates multiple fuel and power sources including hydrogen storage for fuel cells, a storage battery, and an internal combustion engine. This diverse fuel system allows the vehicle to operate using different energy sources depending on availability, ensuring continuous drivability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle carries a portable charging device and multiple fuel sources in advance, enabling operation in areas without hydrogen refueling infrastructure. This preliminary preparation ensures the vehicle can continue operation even when hydrogen stations are unavailable.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a sheet-shaped solar battery is deployed to generate power, then the solar surface area increases for efficient power generation, but the device complexity increases due to deployment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The solar battery is designed as a flexible sheet that can be dynamically deployed and retracted. The deployment mechanism allows the solar surface area to be adjusted based on operational needs, maximizing power generation when required while minimizing complexity when folded.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible sheet-shaped solar battery is used instead of rigid panels. This flexible design enables compact storage and simpler deployment mechanisms while maintaining large solar surface area when deployed, improving power generation efficiency without excessive complexity.
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 electric vehicles to be driven using solar-generated power, increasing travel distance and providing a means to charge the storage battery, especially in areas without charging stations, by utilizing a larger solar surface area for efficient power generation.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet-shaped solar battery for electric power generation; when the sheet-shaped solar battery is used to perform electric power generation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an electric vehicle including a power source, an electric motor adapted to be supplied with electric power from the power source for vehicle driving, a sheet-shaped solar battery for electric power generation, a storing portion for storing the sheet-shaped solar battery in its nonoperating condition, and a connecting unit for allowing the supply of electric power from the sheet-shaped solar battery to at least one of the electric motor and the power source, wherein when the sheet-shaped solar battery is used to perform electric power generation, the sheet-shaped solar battery is taken out of the storing portion and then spread to effect photovoltaic power generation.