Vehicle Body Structural Battery With Parallel Cell Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle body structures lack integrated battery functionality for weight reduction and strength reinforcement, limiting the potential for increased battery capacity and efficient energy management in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating carbon fiber as a negative electrode in fiber-reinforced resin composite materials for vehicle body members, such as roof panels and rails, which also serve as secondary batteries, with a honeycomb reinforcing insulating layer and parallel-connected current collectors for charging and discharging capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel material is used for vehicle body structure, then strength and rigidity are ensured, but weight increases reducing fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fiber-reinforced resin composite materials (specifically carbon fiber reinforced plastic) to replace steel in vehicle body structures. The carbon fiber provides high strength and rigidity while the resin matrix binds the fibers, creating a composite material that achieves steel-level mechanical properties with significantly reduced weight, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the vehicle body member: it serves as both a structural component (providing strength and rigidity) and as a battery component (carbon fiber acts as negative electrode). This multi-functionality allows the same component to address both structural requirements and energy storage needs, indirectly helping to manage weight by consolidating functions.
2Weight of moving object
If fiber-reinforced resin composite material is used to replace steel, then weight is reduced improving fuel efficiency, but battery capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the vehicle body member serve dual purposes: as a structural component and as a battery. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic structure itself becomes the battery housing and the carbon fiber serves as the negative electrode, eliminating the need for separate battery components and maximizing the use of existing materials for energy storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds battery components within the vehicle body structure. The resin matrix contains positive electrode particles and electrolyte, effectively nesting the battery chemistry within the composite material structure itself. This allows the body member to function as both structure and battery simultaneously.
3Quantity of substance
If carbon fiber is used as negative electrode in secondary battery, then battery capacity increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural function and battery function into a single integrated component. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic manufacturing process simultaneously creates both the structural body member and the battery negative electrode, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes for these components.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle body member is designed to perform multiple functions: structural support, electrical insulation, and battery operation. By making the body member itself the battery component, the patent reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall system architecture despite the advanced functionality achieved.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple cell units are connected in parallel to increase battery capacity, then energy storage increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery into multiple cell units (first cell unit, second cell unit, etc.), each with its own negative electrode part, positive electrode part, and electrolyte. These segmented cells are then connected in parallel within the same vehicle body member, allowing scalable capacity increase while maintaining modular organization that manages complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple battery cells are integrated within a single vehicle body member structure. By combining multiple cell units into one integrated component rather than separate battery packs, the patent achieves increased capacity while reducing overall system complexity through consolidation.
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 configuration enhances the vehicle's battery capacity, interlayer shear strength, and rigidity while enabling the vehicle body members to function as secondary batteries, supporting both weight reduction and energy storage needs.
Implementation Method 1
a first positive electrode part disposed in contact with a first surface of the first negative electrode part and formed while including a positive electrode active material and a solid electrolyte
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A vehicle body member includes a first cell unit including a first negative electrode part and a first positive electrode part, a second cell unit including a second negative electrode part and a second positive electrode part, a reinforcing insulating layer interposed between a first surface of the first cell unit and a second surface of the second cell unit, a first positive electrode current collector connected to the first positive electrode part, a second positive electrode current collector connected to the second positive electrode part and connected in parallel to the first positive electrode current collector, a first negative electrode current collector connected to the first negative electrode part, and a second negative electrode current collector connected to the second negative electrode part and connected in parallel to the first negative electrode current collector.