Wheel-Mounted Battery Layout for Stable Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric and hybrid vehicles face challenges with large, heavy batteries that occupy chassis space, elevate the center of gravity, and reduce stability due to their placement on the chassis, which could be utilized for other components.
Innovation Solution
The integration of wheel-mounted batteries directly coupled to the wheel assemblies, which are electrically connected to an electric motor for propulsion, allowing for a modular and distributed energy storage system that lowers the center of gravity and optimizes space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If large and heavy batteries are stored onboard the chassis to maximize energy storage capacity, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the center of gravity is elevated and vehicle stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented from the chassis and integrated into the wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly contains its own battery pack, dividing the centralized energy storage system into distributed modular units located at the wheels, thereby lowering the center of gravity and improving stability while maintaining energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery storage location is moved from the vertical dimension (chassis height) to the horizontal dimension (wheel periphery). By placing batteries in the wheel assemblies rather than on the chassis, the center of gravity is lowered closer to the ground, improving vehicle stability without sacrificing energy storage capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If large and heavy batteries are stored onboard the chassis to maximize energy storage capacity, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the space on the chassis for other components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The batteries are extracted from the chassis and relocated to the wheel assemblies. This extraction frees up valuable chassis space for other components while maintaining the energy storage capacity through the distributed battery system integrated into the wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is segmented into modular units distributed across the wheel assemblies. This segmentation allows the batteries to be positioned in previously underutilized space (the wheel assemblies) rather than competing for chassis space, thereby maximizing both energy storage capacity and available chassis space for other components.
3Length of stationary object
If batteries are raised with the chassis to increase ground clearance, then the ground clearance is improved, but the center of gravity is elevated and vehicle stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented from the chassis and relocated to the wheel assemblies. This segmentation allows the chassis to be raised for increased ground clearance while the batteries remain positioned low in the wheel assemblies, maintaining a low center of gravity and vehicle stability independent of chassis height.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery positioning is moved from the vertical dimension (chassis height) to the horizontal dimension (wheel assembly location). By placing batteries in the wheel assemblies rather than on the chassis, the center of gravity remains low regardless of chassis height, allowing ground clearance to be increased without compromising stability.
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 reduces the vehicle's center of gravity, enhances stability, and optimizes space by integrating batteries directly into the wheel assemblies, providing efficient energy storage and propulsion without compromising vehicle stability.
Implementation Method 1
The electric motor is configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and drive movement of the tractive assembly relative to the chassis to propel the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a chassis, a tractive assembly coupled to the chassis, the tractive assembly including a tractive element configured to engage a support surface, a battery directly coupled to the tractive assembly, and an electric motor coupled to the tractive assembly. The electric motor is configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and drive movement of the tractive assembly relative to the chassis to propel the vehicle.