GB2487939A - Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle - Google Patents

Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2487939A
GB2487939A GB1102200.1A GB201102200A GB2487939A GB 2487939 A GB2487939 A GB 2487939A GB 201102200 A GB201102200 A GB 201102200A GB 2487939 A GB2487939 A GB 2487939A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
removable generator
removable
electric
electricity supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1102200.1A
Other versions
GB201102200D0 (en
Inventor
Ian Hobday
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LIBERTY ELECTRIC CARS Ltd
Original Assignee
LIBERTY ELECTRIC CARS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LIBERTY ELECTRIC CARS Ltd filed Critical LIBERTY ELECTRIC CARS Ltd
Priority to GB1102200.1A priority Critical patent/GB2487939A/en
Publication of GB201102200D0 publication Critical patent/GB201102200D0/en
Publication of GB2487939A publication Critical patent/GB2487939A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/60—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries
    • B60L50/61—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
    • B60L50/62—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/90—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by specific means not covered by groups B60L50/10 - B60L50/50, e.g. by direct conversion of thermal nuclear energy into electricity
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/02—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units comprising more than one electric motor
    • B60L11/002—
    • B60L11/1801—
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/53—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2270/00—Problem solutions or means not otherwise provided for
    • B60L2270/40—Problem solutions or means not otherwise provided for related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/62—Hybrid vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A removable generator may be installed in an all electric or hybrid vehicle to provide a power boost to the electricity supply of the vehicle. The removable generator may be stored in a spare wheel well and plugged into a port which is connected to the vehicle electricity supply unit. The removable generator may comprise a starter motor which is activated by the vehicle battery, and may be started by an instruction from the onboard software indicating that the battery system needs to be topped up. The removable generator may be used to boost the electricity supply of the vehicle when the distance to be driven exceeds the minimal capacity of the electricity supply.

Description

PROPULSION SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRIC POWERED VEHICLES
This invention relates to motive power systems for use in propelling vehicles. The invention particularly relates to electric power systems which can be used to extend the duration of performance of an electric vehicle beyond that provided by the normal electrical power supply.
Traditional hydrocarbon fuel systems suffer from the disadvantage that they produce emissions that pollute the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and diesel engine particulate emissions. Furthermore, they have high noise levels and consume finite resources which are subject to dramatic price swings.
There has therefore been a move towards alternate energy forms of vehicle such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles which employ two or more forms of energy.
Hybrid vehicles employ a combination of electrical energy and hydrocarbon fuels.
Electric vehicles have however, suffered due to the low energy density of the batteries, along with the relatively high capital cost of suitable power electronic systems for implementing regenerative operations. Furthermore, reduced vehicle performance is experienced as the batteries approach a low state of charge.
A difficulty with battery powered electric vehicles is that the battery capacity is limited and frequent recharging is required particularly with heavy vehicles such as large saloon cars, four wheel drive vehicles, trucks and busses. This can therefore lead to limited range and a very short operation span between charging of the battery system.
Conventionally battery packs in electric vehicles are heavy and can constitute up to % of the vehicle mass.
In our application PCT Publication WO 2010/13330 we describe a permanent independent charging system which can be installed to recharge the batteries of an electric vehicle whilst being driven in order to extend the overall range.
* ..Se* * S The range of travel of electrically powered vehicles has been extended recently through improved battery systems. Most electric vehicles particularly all electric.
vehicles are small and light weight so that the battery system can provide the desired range of operation although an all electric four by four vehicle capable of travelling up *S S * S S * *5 to 200 miles on a single battery charge has recently been developed. The distance that can be achieved depends, amongst other factors, on the weight of the vehicle and the amount of power required to drive the vehicle under the prevailing conditions such as traffic congestion, in city or highway driving, weather conditions and the like.
Whatever the battery system that is used there will be a maximum range for the vehicle. In certain instances this may not be sufficient, for example when driving in remote locations, in locations where battery recharging facilities are not provided.
Additional power can be supplied in various ways however, the source of additional power inevitably adds to the weight of the vehicle unnecessarily increasing the power requirements for normal, shorter distance, travel that can be accomplished employing the normal electricity supply.
The present invention overcomes these issues.
The present invention therefore provides a removable generator that can be installed in an electric powered vehicle to provide a power boost to the electricity supply of the vehicle.
The electric powered vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle or an all electric vehicle although the invention is particularly useful in all electric vehicles.
The generator may be installed in the vehicle in preparation for journeys which are likely to exceed the normal capacity of the electric power system and they may be removed when shorter journeys are envisaged thus reducing the weight of the vehicle. The generator may be installed in any suitable location in the vehicle depending upon vehicle design. However, we have found that the space traditionally allocated for a spare wheel is particularly suitable since with modern day tyre and wheel technology many vehicle producers are no longer providing spare wheels and this space is ideal for the location of a removable generator according to the present invention. Wherever the generator is located when it is installed it can be plugged into the normal electricity supply unit so that the power it generates supplements the electricity supply. Thus, if it is located in the spare wheel well it can plug into a port in the spare wheel well which is connected to the normal electricity supply unit such as a battery pack. fle. * * ** * * * * * **
The size and nature of the generator will depend upon the space available within the vehicle and the supplemental amount of electricity that is required. The generator may be such that it can be fitted by a dealer at a garage or owned by the vehicle owner and installed when required. For safety reasons and to ensure reliable operation of the system, it is anticipated that the generator would be obtained from and installed by an automobile dealer. The generator can be provided with a starter motor which could be activated by the vehicle battery system.
Electric and hybrid vehicles have a power management system which usually includes software for management of the battery component of the power supply.
When installed the removable generator of the present invention can be operated by the software of the battery management system by for example, activating the generator starter motor. For example, the generator can be started by an instruction from the on board software and this can be due to an indication that the battery systems needs to be topped up or it can be the result of an indication to the vehicle that the extent of the journey is greater than the current capacity of the battery system in which case the generator may be operated to keep the power in the battery system at the desired level. The generator may be powered by any traditional manner, it may be hydrocarbon fuel powered, it may be powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, gas fired or powered by bio-fuel.
The use of the removable generator according to the present invention has the benefits that the additional weight contributed by the generator is only present when it is required. Furthermore, the ability to remove the generator enables it to be readily maintained increasing it's reliability and in addition, when used with an all electric powered vehicle it is necessary to have combustible fuel in the vehicle only at times when it is required as an additional source of electricity.
An example of the use of a removable generator according to the present invention is as follows. An all electric vehicle may have a journey range of up to 200 miles based on the battery system normally provided with the vehicle. However, the journey * . envisaged may be 300 miles. The generator can then be installed in the vehicle and * * * the software programmed so that the generator is brought into operation after the vehicle has travelled a certain distance, such as for example, 150 miles to increase the range to 300 miles. As a further example, if the maximum distance is required from the vehicle the generator can be used to recharge the batteries throughout the *i*** * * ** S * * S S ** -journey. In this instance the vehicle should be provided with a generator fuel indicator to ensure it is functioning and the fuel can be replenished if necessary.
The invention therefore provides a removable generator for use in an electric powered vehicle to provide a charge to the battery system of the vehicle. The invention further provides an electric powered vehicle comprising an electric power supply and a removable generator adapted when in operation to provide a boost to the electricity supply.
The removable generator is preferably operated by the software that controls the operation of the battery system of the vehicle.
The invention further provides a process for operating an electrically powered vehicle comprising providing a boost to the electricity supply from a removable generator when the distance to be driven exceeds the nominal capacity of the electrical supply.
The electricity supply is typically a battery system operated by a battery management system and the operation of the removable generator may be controlled by the battery management system.
The invention is applicable to any electric powered vehicle including all electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. The invention may be used in all types of vehicles, small, large, two wheeled, three wheeled and four or more wheeled vehicles. It is however, particularly useful in heavy vehicles such as four by four automobiles, sports utility vehicles, trucks and busses weighing more than 2 tonnes whose range is currently limited by the capacity of existing battery systems relative to the weight and size of the vehicles.
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* 55 5S * S *S S * S S * S.
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Claims (11)

  1. CLAIMSS1. A removable generator that can be installed in an electric powered vehicle to provide a power boost to the electricity supply of the vehicle.
  2. 2. A removable generator according to Claim 1 in which the electric powered vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.
  3. 3. A removable generator according to Claim 1 in which the vehicle is an all electric vehicle.
  4. 4. A removable generator according to any of the preceding claims located in the space traditionally allocated for a spare wheel.
  5. 5. A removable generator according to any of the preceding claims located in the spare wheel and plugged into a port in the spare wheel well which is connected to the normal electricity supply unit.
  6. 6. A removable generator according to any of the preceding claims provided with a starter motor which can be activated by the vehicle battery system.
  7. 7. A removable generator according to any of the preceding claims which can be started by an instruction from the on board software indicating that the battery systems needs to be topped up.
  8. 8. An electric powered vehicle comprising an electric power supply and a removable generator adapted when in operation to provide a charge to the battery system of the vehicle.
  9. 9. An electric powered vehicle according to Claim 8 operated by the software that controls the operation of the battery system of the vehicle.
    * **.** *
  10. 10. A process for operating an electrically powered vehicle comprising providing a boost to the electricity supply from a removable generator when the distance to be driven exceeds the nominal capacity of the electrical supply. * * * * ** * * .4 * e
  11. 11. A process according to Claim 10 in which the electricity supply is typically a battery system operated by a battery management system and the operation -of the removable generator is controlled by the battery management system.S*SbSSSS* 0e*. * S *5 * * S. * S.S * I *I II * 50
GB1102200.1A 2011-02-08 2011-02-08 Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle Withdrawn GB2487939A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1102200.1A GB2487939A (en) 2011-02-08 2011-02-08 Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1102200.1A GB2487939A (en) 2011-02-08 2011-02-08 Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201102200D0 GB201102200D0 (en) 2011-03-23
GB2487939A true GB2487939A (en) 2012-08-15

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Family Applications (1)

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GB1102200.1A Withdrawn GB2487939A (en) 2011-02-08 2011-02-08 Removable generator for an electric powered vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2487939A (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4032606A1 (en) * 1990-09-19 1992-03-26 Eckard Design Gmbh Electric powered road vehicle - has auxiliary IC engine driving at constant RPM generator used exclusively for charging batteries of vehicle
US5251721A (en) * 1992-04-21 1993-10-12 Richard Ortenheim Semi-hybrid electric automobile
US20050179262A1 (en) * 2004-02-18 2005-08-18 Wavecrest Laboratories, Llc Portable range extender with autonomous control of starting and stopping operations
US20060076836A1 (en) * 2005-06-03 2006-04-13 Plishner Paul J Electric or hybrid vehicle with a spare electric motor power source
GB2443272A (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-04-30 Wrightbus Ltd Hybrid vehicle with detachable charging module
EP2261069A1 (en) * 2009-05-11 2010-12-15 SCAMBIA Industrial Developments Aktiengesellschaft Vehicle and electricity supply unit for same

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4032606A1 (en) * 1990-09-19 1992-03-26 Eckard Design Gmbh Electric powered road vehicle - has auxiliary IC engine driving at constant RPM generator used exclusively for charging batteries of vehicle
US5251721A (en) * 1992-04-21 1993-10-12 Richard Ortenheim Semi-hybrid electric automobile
US20050179262A1 (en) * 2004-02-18 2005-08-18 Wavecrest Laboratories, Llc Portable range extender with autonomous control of starting and stopping operations
US20060076836A1 (en) * 2005-06-03 2006-04-13 Plishner Paul J Electric or hybrid vehicle with a spare electric motor power source
GB2443272A (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-04-30 Wrightbus Ltd Hybrid vehicle with detachable charging module
EP2261069A1 (en) * 2009-05-11 2010-12-15 SCAMBIA Industrial Developments Aktiengesellschaft Vehicle and electricity supply unit for same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201102200D0 (en) 2011-03-23

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)