Swappable Battery Interface for Continuous Vocational Vehicle Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles, particularly vocational vehicles, face challenges in efficiently managing battery power distribution and swapping to accommodate various applications, leading to inefficiencies and potential power disruptions during battery swaps.
Innovation Solution
A vocational vehicle with a chassis, tractive elements, electric axles, a battery interface, and a power distribution unit that allows for swappable batteries, enabling selective connection and disconnection of batteries while managing power distribution and incorporating a cooling system for efficient battery operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a swappable battery system is implemented in vocational vehicles, then battery replacement efficiency and operational continuity are improved, but system complexity and potential power distribution disruptions during swaps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a fixed primary battery and a removable secondary battery, allowing independent replacement of the secondary battery without affecting the primary battery or vehicle operation. This segmentation enables rapid battery swaps while maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The power distribution unit is pre-configured with detection capabilities that automatically identify when a battery is removed or installed. This preliminary detection mechanism enables the system to proactively manage power distribution transitions, preventing disruptions during battery swaps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a swappable battery system is implemented in vocational vehicles, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but reliability and potential power disruptions during swaps worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The battery interface and power distribution unit are designed with universal compatibility to accommodate different battery configurations and vocational vehicle applications. The system can adapt to various battery types while maintaining reliable power distribution through automated detection and control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The power distribution unit continuously monitors battery status and provides feedback control to manage power distribution. When a battery is removed or installed, the system receives real-time feedback and automatically adjusts power routing to maintain reliability and prevent disruptions.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If battery swapping capability is added to vocational vehicles, then operational continuity is improved, but device complexity and cooling system requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A battery interface unit serves as an intermediary between the swappable battery and the vehicle's cooling system. This interface includes cooling ports that enable controlled thermal management during battery swaps, allowing rapid battery replacement while maintaining appropriate cooling without overly complex system integration.
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
Facilitates seamless battery swapping and power management, ensuring continuous operation by inhibiting power disruption during swaps and optimizing battery performance through cooling, thus enhancing the versatility and efficiency of vocational vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of swappable batteries, wherein each of the plurality of battery interfaces includes a cooling port that enables cooling fluid to flow to and from the plurality of swappable batteries
Data Source
AI summary
An electrified vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the chassis, a plurality of electric axles coupled to at least one of the plurality of tractive elements, a battery interface, a swappable battery configured to be selectively connected to or removed from the battery interface, and a power distribution unit configured to receive electrical power from the swappable battery and supply the electrical power to the plurality of electric axles.