Swappable Rooftop Hydrogen Tanks and Outboard Battery Modules for EV Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
The widespread adoption of hydrogen-based vehicles is hindered by the lack of distributed hydrogen supply infrastructure, lengthy charging times of battery-based vehicles, and safety concerns with lithium-ion batteries, while existing battery swapping and hydrogen tank systems are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid vehicle configuration with a 'magazine' type rooftop swappable fuel cell and hydrogen tank package, and an outboard swappable battery bank, allowing for modular swapping of hydrogen tanks and battery modules, enabling energy replenishment at existing charging stations and anywhere else, and facilitating the integration of hydrogen and battery systems for efficient energy storage and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If battery bank size is expanded to extend EV range, then driving range is improved, but vehicle cost and weight increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into modular battery packs that can be independently installed and removed. Instead of a single large battery bank, multiple standardized modules are used, allowing flexible configuration based on range requirements without proportionally increasing overall vehicle weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters by using sodium-ion battery technology with different energy density characteristics compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, allowing for optimized weight-range trade-offs through parameter adjustment rather than simple scaling.
2Quantity of substance
If centralized large scale hydrogen tanks are used for storage and distribution, then hydrogen storage capacity is improved, but system complexity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized hydrogen storage system is segmented into multiple smaller modular hydrogen tanks distributed throughout the vehicle. Each tank operates independently, reducing the complexity of any single storage unit while collectively providing the required total hydrogen capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrogen storage function is extracted from a single centralized system and distributed across multiple independent tanks. This extraction eliminates the need for complex centralized management systems while maintaining total storage capacity through parallel distributed units.
3Use of energy by moving object
If lithium-ion batteries are used for energy storage, then energy density is improved, but safety concerns and fire risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental material parameter by substituting sodium-ion battery chemistry for lithium-ion chemistry. This parameter change maintains acceptable energy density while fundamentally improving safety characteristics by eliminating the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
4Loss of time
If battery swapping stations are established for rapid energy replenishment, then charging time is reduced, but infrastructure cost and land occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is equipped with automated mechanisms that enable it to perform its own battery swapping operation without requiring specialized external swapping stations. The vehicle can autonomously exchange battery packs, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure and reducing dependency on external facilities.
5Adaptability or versatility
If hydrogen supply infrastructure is constructed before widespread vehicle adoption, then hydrogen vehicle deployment is facilitated, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of building extensive hydrogen infrastructure first and then deploying vehicles, the invention inverts the sequence by enabling vehicles to operate with modular hydrogen tanks that can be refilled through distributed small-scale dispensers. This allows vehicle deployment to lead infrastructure development rather than follow it.
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 configuration addresses the intermittence of renewable energy, reduces charging times, enhances safety by using sodium-ion batteries, and lowers costs, while enabling the use of existing infrastructure and allowing for mobile energy supply networks.
Implementation Method 1
a hybrid plug-in battery, rooftop magazine type swappable hydrogen tank package, and outboard magazine type swappable battery bank Electric Vehicle
Implementation Method 2
outboard magazine type swappable battery bank with swappable battery modules
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid plug-in battery, rooftop “magazine” type swappable hydrogen tank package, and outboard “magazine” type swappable battery bank Electric Vehicle comprises: 1) a plug-in full electric vehicle; 2) a rooftop “magazine” type swappable hydrogen tank package; 3) a outboard “magazine” type swappable battery bank; wherein the rooftop “magazine” type swappable hydrogen tank package is electrically connected to the battery bank of the plug-in full electric vehicle the second power source, and the outboard “magazine” type swappable battery bank is electrically connected to the battery bank of the plug-in full electric vehicle the third power source, so that the vehicle can be charged by using any existing charging stations through the plug-in full electric vehicle, get energy replenished by exchanging the hydrogen tanks through the rooftop “magazine” type swappable hydrogen tank package, and get energy replenished by exchanging the battery modules through the outboard “magazine” type swappable battery bank.