Electric Snowmobile Battery Heating for Cold-Weather Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric snowmobiles face reduced battery charging efficiency in low-temperature environments due to the lack of an air conditioning function to adjust battery temperature, unlike passenger vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An electric snowmobile equipped with a battery heater driven by external power, a controller to manage charging and heating, and heaters for the grip and seat, which prioritize heating when the battery is sufficiently charged, ensuring efficient charging and operation in cold conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the battery is charged in low-temperature environments, then the charging process can be completed, but the charging efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery heater is activated before charging begins to preheat the battery to an optimal temperature range. The controller detects low battery temperature and initiates heating using power from the external power source, ensuring the battery reaches suitable charging temperature before the charging process starts, thereby preventing efficiency loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery heater acts as an intermediary component between the external power source and the battery. It converts electrical energy to thermal energy to warm the battery, serving as a mediating device that enables efficient charging in cold environments by temporarily decoupling the charging process from low-temperature constraints.
2Temperature
If the battery heater is driven during charging, then the battery temperature is maintained or raised, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery heater operates continuously during the charging process to maintain the battery temperature within the optimal charging range. By keeping the heating action continuous alongside charging, the system ensures stable temperature conditions throughout the entire charging duration, preventing efficiency drops that would occur if heating were intermittent.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors battery temperature and adjusts the battery heater operation accordingly. When the battery temperature falls below the optimal charging threshold, the heater is activated; when the temperature reaches the desired range, the heater operation is reduced or stopped. This feedback mechanism optimizes power consumption by avoiding unnecessary heating while ensuring charging efficiency is maintained.
3Ease of operation
If the grip heater and sheet heater are driven when battery voltage is high, then the heating priority is improved, but the charging time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system provides localized heating to specific areas (grips and seat) when battery voltage indicates sufficient charge level. Instead of uniformly heating the entire battery, the system selectively applies heating power to user-contact areas, optimizing comfort without significantly impacting overall charging time.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters based on battery voltage levels. When voltage reaches a threshold indicating sufficient charge, the system transitions from priority battery heating to priority user comfort heating (grips and seat). This parameter-based control allows flexible allocation of heating resources, improving ease of operation during later charging stages when less critical for overall charging efficiency.
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 effectively maintains or raises battery temperature during charging, reduces load on the battery at startup, and prioritizes heating of grips and seats, thereby enhancing charging efficiency and operational comfort in low temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a battery heater that can be driven by electric power supplied from the external power source and that heats the battery
Implementation Method 2
a grip heater that can be driven by electric power supplied from the external power source and that heats the grip
Implementation Method 3
a sheet heater that can be driven by electric power supplied from the external power source and that heats the driver's seat
Data Source
AI summary
An electric snowmobile that reduces a decrease in charging efficiency is provided. The electric snowmobile includes a body frame, a driver's seat supported by the body frame, an electric motor supported by the body frame, a right ski and a left ski supported by the body frame, a track mechanism including a track belt and supported by the body frame below the driver's seat, a battery that is charged with electric power supplied from an external power source and capable of supplying the electric power to the electric motor, and a battery heater H that can be driven by electric power supplied from an external power source and heats the battery.