Swappable Battery Pack Charging for Electric Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face challenges in extending battery service time and convenient charging due to limited energy storage capacity and long charging times, which hinder their widespread adoption.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a power maintaining method for electric vehicles that involves swappable battery packs with a different outward appearance, allowing for easy replacement and charging at designated power supply stations, utilizing DC charging devices to rapidly charge the main battery pack, and the use of power conversion units to manage energy transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the battery capacity is increased to provide large current output for long time, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the charging time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into a main battery pack and multiple swappable battery packs. The main battery pack provides sustained energy for long-term operation, while swappable battery packs can be quickly exchanged to extend service time without requiring lengthy charging periods. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both large effective capacity and rapid replenishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Swappable battery packs are pre-charged at power supply stations before being installed in the electric vehicle. This preliminary charging action eliminates the need for on-site charging during vehicle operation, allowing users to simply replace depleted battery packs with pre-charged ones, thus achieving rapid battery replacement without long charging waits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional charging methods are used, then the battery can be charged, but the charging process takes at least 1.5 hours even with quick charge technology

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging convenienceVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The charging function is extracted from the vehicle operation context. Instead of charging the battery while the vehicle is in use or requiring the vehicle to be stationary at a charging point for extended periods, the system extracts the battery replacement function from the charging function. Users can quickly swap depleted battery packs for pre-charged ones at power supply stations, separating the charging process (done beforehand) from the vehicle operation needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Duration of action of moving object

If the battery capacity is made large to ensure long service time, then the power source capability is improved, but the convenience of charging becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice timeVSAvoidcharging convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system transitions from a static single battery configuration to a dynamic multi-battery system with swappable components. The electric vehicle can dynamically exchange battery packs based on power needs and charge status. Power supply stations dynamically manage inventories of charged and depleted battery packs, enabling flexible and convenient battery replacement that adapts to user needs without being constrained by fixed charging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution prolongs the service time of electric vehicle batteries, enhances convenience by reducing charging time, and allows for efficient power management through the use of swappable battery packs and DC charging devices, thereby facilitating the popularization of electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

making electrical connection between the first swappable battery pack and the main battery pack of the first electric vehicle so as to charge the main battery pack by the first swappable battery pack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

electrically connecting a first DC charging device to the main battery pack to charge the main battery pack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDC charging: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10464431B2Electric vehicle, power supply station, and power maintaining method for electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 GER CHIH CHAN

AI summary

A power maintaining method of electric vehicle includes the following step. In step 01, an energy power is provided by a main battery pack to drive a first electric vehicle (EV) moving to a first power supply station. In step 02, a first swappable battery pack is installed on the first EV at the first power supply station, and the first swappable battery pack is electrically connected to the main battery pack of the first EV so that the main battery pack is charged by the first swappable battery pack. In step 03, the first EV is driven to a second power supply station from the first power supply station. In step 04, the first swappable battery pack is uninstalled from the first EV at the second power supply station. In addition, an electric vehicle and a power supply station is disclosed in the present application.