Suspension Leveling Lockout During EV Battery Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
During battery replacement in electric vehicles, the automatic levelling system can cause damage due to pressure changes in air springs, as the removal or installation of the battery alters the vehicle's mass, necessitating a method to prevent automatic levelling until safety is ensured.
Innovation Solution
A method involving communication between two electronic control units (ECUs) - one for battery replacement and the other for the suspension system - where the first ECU sends a 'levelling forbid flag' to deactivate the suspension system temporarily, allowing safe battery replacement, and reactivates it upon completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the automatic levelling system is activated during battery replacement, then the suspension system can adjust pressure changes, but the vehicle may move causing significant damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives a signal indicating battery replacement is ongoing before the replacement process completes, and in response sends a command to deactivate the automatic levelling function. This preliminary deactivation prevents the harmful automatic levelling action from occurring during the critical battery replacement period, eliminating the risk of vehicle movement damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system deactivates the automatic levelling function in advance by receiving a deactivation signal when battery replacement status is detected, before any potential harmful movements can occur. This ensures the suspension system is already in a safe state before the battery replacement process fully begins.
2Productivity
If the battery is removed from the vehicle, then battery replacement can be performed, but pressure changes in air springs cause the suspension to lower the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit deactivates the automatic levelling function upon receiving a signal that battery replacement is ongoing, preventing the suspension system from responding to mass changes. This counteracts the natural pressure changes in air springs that would otherwise cause vehicle lowering during battery removal and installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the automatic levelling system remains active during battery replacement, then the suspension can respond to load changes, but safety risks increase due to potential vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic levelling function dynamically changes its operational state based on battery replacement status. The control unit activates or deactivates the levelling function by sending appropriate commands to the suspension system, allowing the system to adapt between fully responsive and fully restricted states depending on whether battery replacement is ongoing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback signals indicating whether battery replacement is ongoing, and based on this feedback, sends commands to activate or deactivate the automatic levelling function. This closed-loop control ensures the suspension system responds appropriately to operational conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention refers to a method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, and a computer-program thereof. The method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, according to invention, operates for an electric vehicle equipped with a first electronic control unit (100) in charge with battery replacement and a second electronic control unit (200) of suspension system, the respective ECUs (100, 200) communicating by means of an internal bus system. The method includes the following steps: (51) Sending an information from the first ECU to the second ECU that the vehicle is prepared to perform a battery replacement; (52) Once said information is received by the second ECU, triggering a leveling forbid flag to the suspension system and deactivating it; (53) Once said deactivation has been performed, setting a feedback signal to inform that battery replacement can commence; (54) during battery replacement, setting said feedback signal to inform that battery replacement is ongoing; (55) Upon completion of battery replacement, informing the second ECU that the battery replacement has been finished successfully, and allowing the activation of suspension.