JP2006107764A - Power supply device and electric motor vehicle loading power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly cool a battery module as a whole by making temperature differences of the battery modules less and making temperature differences in a long and slender battery module itself less. <P>SOLUTION: The power supply device houses a plurality of battery modules 2 in a parallel state in a holder case 1 and has it forcibly blown with a blower mechanism. In the holder case 1, an inner shape of a housing room 9 housing each battery module 2 is made larger than an outer dimension of the battery module 2 to arrange a cooling gap 10 between them. The power supply device sends air forcibly to the cooling gaps 10 in an axis direction of the battery modules 2 with the blower mechanism 3 to cool the battery modules 2. The inner shape of the housing room 9 is made in a shape approaching the surface of the battery module 2 in a blowing direction of the air, so that flowing speed of the air blown on the surface of the battery module 2 is made higher toward the blowing direction of the battery module 2 to curtail temperature differences of the battery module 2 in the axis direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus mainly used for running an automobile and an electric vehicle equipped with the power supply apparatus, and more particularly to a power supply apparatus capable of uniformly cooling the entire elongated battery module housed in a holder case. The present invention relates to an electric vehicle to be mounted.

  In an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a battery power source, a power supply device in which a large number of batteries are connected is used as a driving power source.

A power supply device used as a power source for a motor that drives a vehicle discharges with a large current when the vehicle is accelerated rapidly and supplies a large amount of power to the motor. Further, when decelerating the vehicle or going down a slope, it is charged with a large current by a regenerative brake. When charging / discharging with a large current, the battery module generates heat and becomes considerably hot. When the battery module becomes high temperature, the battery performance is lowered and the life is shortened. For this reason, the conventional power supply device forcibly blows air to the holder case to forcibly cool the battery module. At this time, it is important to cool a large number of battery modules to a uniform temperature. This is because, if the battery module has a temperature difference, the electric characteristics of the battery module vary, and the life of the battery module that reaches a high temperature is shortened. For this reason, a mechanism for reducing the temperature difference between many battery modules has been developed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 11-329518 A

  The above Patent Document 1 describes the power supply device shown in FIG. In this power supply device, in order to uniformly cool the windward battery module 20 and the leeward battery module 20, the gap between the leeward battery modules 20 is made narrower than the gap between the windward battery modules 20. ing. When the gap is narrowed, the flow rate of forced air is increased. As the flow rate increases, the cooling effect increases. Incidentally, the effect that the flowing air cools the object, that is, the amount of cooling heat increases in proportion to the 1/2 power of the air flow velocity. Therefore, the clearance on the leeward side is narrowed, the air flow rate is increased, the cooling effect of the battery module is increased, and the temperature difference can be reduced. However, the gap between the battery modules cannot be narrowed to increase the flow speed of the entire surface of the battery module while maintaining the same speed. This is because air can be accumulated in the air flowing in the direction intersecting the battery module, and the flow velocity is reduced at the air reservoir. For this reason, when the gap between the battery modules is narrowed, the temperature of the battery modules is locally lowered, but there is a drawback that cooling cannot be performed while keeping the entire temperature uniform.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the position of the fan 22 is specified in the power supply device that blows air in the direction intersecting the battery module 20. For this reason, in this figure, since the fan 22 is arrange | positioned above the holder case 21, the whole cannot be made low. For this reason, when mounting the power supply device of this structure in a vehicle, there exists a fault which cannot be mounted in the position where height is restrict | limited.

The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. An important object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device that can cool the entire battery module more uniformly while reducing the temperature difference of the entire battery module and reducing the temperature difference of the elongated battery module, and an electric vehicle equipped with the power supply device. It is to provide.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device and an electric vehicle capable of uniformly cooling an elongated battery module while being mounted in an ideal state behind a rear seat of the vehicle.

  The power supply device of the present invention includes a battery module 2 in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in a straight line, a holder case 1 that houses the plurality of battery modules 2, and the battery module 2 that is forcedly blown into the holder case 1. A cooling mechanism 3 for cooling. The plurality of battery modules 2 are stored in the holder case 1 in a parallel posture, with the end portions of the adjacent battery modules 2 positioned in a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the battery module 2. The holder case 1 has a storage chamber 9 for storing each battery module 2, and the battery module 2 is stored in the storage chamber 9. The inner shape of the storage chamber 9 is larger than the outer shape of the battery module 2, and a cooling gap 10 is provided between the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 and the surface of the battery module 2. The power supply device cools the battery module 2 by forcibly blowing air to the cooling gap 10 by the air blowing mechanism 3. The air blowing mechanism 3 cools the battery module 2 by forcibly blowing air in the axial direction of the battery module 2. Further, the power supply device is configured such that the inner shape of the storage chamber 9 approaches the surface of the battery module 2 in the air blowing direction, and the flow rate of the air blown to the surface of the battery module 2 is The battery module 2 is cooled so as to reduce the temperature difference in the axial direction by gradually increasing the speed in the blowing direction.

  In the power supply device of the present invention, a holding rib 11 extending in the axial direction of the battery module 2 is provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 of the holder case 1, and the holding rib 11 is brought into contact with the battery module 2 to 2 can be held in place in the storage chamber 9.

  In the power supply device of the present invention, the electrode terminal 4 is fixed to the end of the battery module 2, and the metal bar bus bar 5 is fixed to the electrode terminal 4, so that the adjacent battery modules 2 can be electrically connected. The electrode terminal 4 and the bus bar 5 can be positioned in a plane parallel to the plane including the central axis of the battery module 2.

  An electric vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a battery module 2 in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in a straight line, a holder case 1 for housing the plurality of battery modules 2, and the holder case 1. A power supply device 15 including a blower mechanism 3 that forcibly blows air to cool the battery module 2 is mounted behind the rear seat 16. The power supply device 15 stores the plurality of battery modules 2 in the holder case 1 in a parallel posture and with both ends positioned on the same surface. Further, the power supply device 15 is provided with a storage chamber 9 for storing each battery module 2 in the holder case 1. The battery module 2 is stored in the storage chamber 9 and the battery module 2 is stored in the holder case 1. ing. Further, the power supply device 15 has an inner shape of the storage chamber 9 larger than the outer shape of the battery module 2, and a cooling gap 10 is provided between the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 and the surface of the battery module 2. In addition, the battery module 2 is cooled by forcibly blowing air by the air blowing mechanism 3. In the electric vehicle, the holder case 1 is mounted on the vehicle in a posture in which the battery module 2 is in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and a blower mechanism is provided on one side of the holder case 1 so as to face one end of the battery module 2. 3 fans 12 are provided. Furthermore, the storage chamber 9 provided in the holder case 1 has an inner shape that approaches the surface of the battery module 2 in the air blowing direction, and the fan 12 blows air to the surface of the battery module 2. The flow rate is gradually increased in the air blowing direction of the battery module 2 to cool the battery module 2 so that the temperature difference in the axial direction is reduced.

  In the electric vehicle equipped with the power supply device of the present invention, the holder case 1 can store a plurality of battery modules 2 in a horizontal plane.

  The power supply device of the present invention and the electric vehicle equipped with this power supply device have the feature that the temperature difference of the entire battery module is reduced, and the entire battery module can be cooled more uniformly while reducing the temperature difference of the elongated battery module. The power supply device of the present invention has a structure in which the battery module is cooled by forcibly blowing air in the axial direction of the battery module, and the inner shape of the storage chamber for storing the battery module is directed toward the air blowing direction. This is because the shape approaches the surface of the battery module. The power supply device with this structure does not forcibly blow air in the direction intersecting the battery module as in the conventional power supply device, but forcibly blows air in the axial direction of the battery module. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the battery module to be cooled from having a temperature difference. Moreover, the power supply device with this structure widens the cooling gap on the windward side and narrows the cooling gap on the leeward side, and gradually increases the flow rate of the air blown to the surface of the battery module in the blowing direction of the battery module. Therefore, the temperature difference in the axial direction of the elongated battery module can be reduced and the whole can be cooled more uniformly. Furthermore, the power supply apparatus of the present invention effectively prevents the overall height from being increased due to the restriction of the arrangement of the air blowing mechanism, as in the conventional power supply apparatus that blows air in the direction intersecting the battery module, There is also a feature that can be ideally mounted on electric vehicles.

  Furthermore, since the electric vehicle of the present invention has the holder case of the power supply device mounted behind the rear seat of the vehicle in a posture in which the battery module is in the left-right direction of the vehicle, It does not poke passengers in the back seat. For this reason, there exists the feature which can improve the safety | security of the passenger of a rear seat. In particular, this structure has a feature that a high safety can be secured without providing a crushable zone behind the power supply device because the power supply device can be mounted in the crushable zone behind the vehicle. Furthermore, the electric vehicle of the present invention is one side part of the holder case, and the fan of the air blowing mechanism is disposed so as to face one end of the battery module. It has the feature that it can be ideally mounted in a narrow trunk room or the rear loading platform of the rear seat.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a power supply device and an electric vehicle for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the power supply device and the electric vehicle as follows.

  Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are indicated in the “claims” and “means for solving problems” sections. It is added to the members. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.

  The electric vehicle shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is equipped with a power supply device 15 that drives a motor 17 that drives the vehicle. The electric vehicle in this figure has a power supply device 15 mounted behind the rear seat 16. Since the sedan-type electric vehicle shown in FIG. 2 has a trunk behind the rear seat 16, the power supply device 15 is mounted on the trunk. Although not shown in the figure, an SUV, van, or wagon type electric vehicle has a cargo room behind the rear seat, and thus a power supply device is mounted in the luggage compartment.

  The power supply device 15 mounted on the electric vehicle includes a battery module 2 in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in a straight line, a holder case 1 that houses the plurality of battery modules 2, and a forced blow to the holder case 1. And a blower mechanism 3 for cooling the battery module 2.

  The battery module 2 shown in the figure has a cylindrical battery unit, since the unit cells of the cylindrical battery are connected in a straight line. The unit cell is a nickel-hydrogen battery. However, the unit cell may be a lithium ion secondary battery or a nickel-cadmium battery. The battery module does not specify a unit cell as a cylindrical battery. A square battery can also be used as the unit cell. A battery module in which a unit cell is a square battery has an elongated quadrangular prism shape. In the battery module, preferably 4 to 6 unit cells are linearly connected in series. However, the battery module can also connect three or less unit cells or seven or more unit cells in a straight line in series.

  The battery module 2 has electrode terminals 4 fixed at both ends. The electrode terminal 4 is fixed so as to be located in a plane including the central axis of the battery module 2. The electrode terminal 4 fixed in this direction allows the air blown to the battery module 2 to pass smoothly. This is because the electrode terminal 4 has a posture parallel to the blowing direction. The electrode terminal 4 is provided through the connecting hole 4 </ b> A connected to the bus bar 5. The connection hole 4 </ b> A of the electrode terminal 4 is a fool hole through which the set screw 6 is inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery module 2 is connected in series via a bus bar 5 fixed to the electrode terminal 4. The bus bar 5 is a metal plate, the end is fixed to the electrode terminal 4, and the adjacent battery modules 2 are connected in series. The electrode terminal 4 and the bus bar 5 are provided with connecting holes 4A and 5A. The bus bar 5 shown in FIG. 5 has a nut 7 fixed to the lower surface, and the nut 7 is provided with a connecting hole having a female screw. The set screw 6 is inserted into the connecting hole 4A of the fool hole of the electrode terminal 4 and the connecting hole 5A of the bus bar 5, and the tip portion is screwed into the female screw of the nut 7 to connect the electrode terminal 4 and the bus bar 5 to the set screw 6. The screw head and the nut 7 are clamped and connected. The bus bar 5 connecting the electrode terminals 4 is located in a plane parallel to the plane including the central axis of the battery module 2, similarly to the electrode terminals 4. The bus bar 5 in this posture allows air blown to the battery module 2 to pass smoothly. This is because air is blown along the surface of the bus bar 5. 4 and 5 covers the electrode terminal 4 and the bus bar 5 with the two insulating caps 8 sandwiched therebetween, and insulates the connecting portion between the electrode terminal 4 and the bus bar 5 from the outside. is doing.

  The plurality of battery modules 2 are stored in the holder case 1 in a parallel posture, with the ends of adjacent battery modules 2 positioned in a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the battery module 2. Adjacent battery modules 2 are connected in series by connecting ends located on the same plane with a bus bar 5. In other words, the bus bar 5 is connected to the electrode terminals 4 at both ends, and the battery module 2 is housed in the holder case 1 in such a posture that both ends are positioned on the same plane.

  The power supply device 15 of FIG. 3 stores a plurality of battery modules 2 in the holder case 1 side by side in the same horizontal plane. In a power supply device in which a plurality of battery modules are arranged on the same horizontal plane, the battery modules can be arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, for example, in two stages in the vertical direction. The power supply device having this structure has a shape that is convenient to be mounted on the floor panel of the vehicle by reducing the overall height of the holder case, that is, by reducing the height.

  The holder case 1 is provided with a storage chamber 9 for storing each battery module 2. The holder case 1 stores the battery module 2 in each storage chamber 9 and stores the battery module 2 in a fixed position of the holder case 1. Furthermore, the holder case 1 has an inner shape of the storage chamber 9 larger than the outer shape of the battery module 2, and a cooling gap 10 is provided between the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 and the surface of the battery module 2. The cooling gap 10 is forcibly blown by the blowing mechanism 3 to cool the battery module 2 in the holder case 1.

  In order to place the battery module 2 at a fixed position in the storage chamber 9 and to provide a cooling gap 10 between the storage chamber 9 and the battery module 2, the holder case 1 has an inner surface of the storage chamber 9 as shown in FIG. Further, a holding rib 11 extending in the axial direction of the battery module 2 is provided so as to protrude. The holding rib 11 is brought into contact with the surface of the battery module 2 to hold the battery module 2 in a fixed position in the storage chamber 9. As shown in FIG. 5, the holder case 1 having this structure is divided into upper and lower parts of the battery module 2, and the divided holder cases 1 are connected to store the battery module 2 in a fixed position in the storage chamber 9. it can. This is because the holding rib 11 comes into contact with the surface of the battery module 2 and the battery module 2 is disposed in the storage chamber 9. The holding rib 11 specifies a gap between the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 and the surface of the battery module 2, and a cooling gap equal to the height of the holding rib 11 between the inner surface of the storage chamber 9 and the surface of the battery module 2. 10 is provided.

  The holder case 1 is not provided with the cooling gap 10 having the same gap in the axial direction of the battery module 2. The holder case 1 has an inner shape of the storage chamber 9 that approaches the surface of the battery module 2 in the air blowing direction. In other words, the inner shape of the storage chamber 9 is narrowed toward the air blowing direction, and the cooling gap 10 is narrowed toward the air blowing direction. In the holder case 1 of FIGS. 5 and 6, the storage chamber 9 is tapered, and the cooling gap 10 is narrowed in the blowing direction.

  The interval of the cooling gap 10 specifies the flow velocity of the air passing therethrough. When the cooling gap 10 is narrowed, the air flow rate is increased. For example, if the cooling gap 10 on the leeward side is narrowed to ½ of the cooling gap 10 on the leeward side, the flow velocity of the air flowing on the leeward side is about twice that on the leeward side. As the air flow rate increases, the amount of cooling heat by which the air cools the battery module 2 increases. In general, the amount of cooling heat by which air cools the battery module 2 is proportional to the 1/2 power of the air flow rate. For this reason, when the air flow rate is doubled, the amount of cooling heat increases by about 40%. Further, the amount of cooling heat by which the air in contact with the surface cools the battery module 2 is proportional to the temperature difference between the air and the battery module 2. For this reason, when the temperature of the air blown in the axial direction of the battery module 2 becomes higher as it is moved in the axial direction, the temperature difference from the battery module 2 becomes smaller and the amount of cooling heat becomes smaller. For example, when the temperature difference between the battery module 2 and air is 40% smaller on the leeward side than on the windward side, the amount of cooling heat is also reduced by 40%. In this case, logically, the flow rate on the leeward side is double that of the windward side, the increase in the amount of cooling heat due to the flow rate on the leeward side is 40%, and the amount of cooling heat on the leeward side and the leeward side can be made substantially equal. Since the leeward cooling gap 10 can be made half of the leeward cooling gap 10 and the leeward flow velocity can be doubled, the leeward cooling gap 10 can be halved on the battery module. The amount of cooling heat on the leeward side and the leeward side of 2 can be made the same.

  As described above, the cooling gap 10 is gradually narrowed from the windward side toward the leeward side, and the amount of cooling heat due to the flow velocity can be increased. Narrowing the cooling gap 10 corrects the temperature of the air gradually rising and reducing the amount of heat of cooling, and cools the entire elongated battery module 2 uniformly. Therefore, how narrow the cooling gap 10 is set to an optimum value in consideration of the temperature difference between the air and the battery module 2. As described above, the amount of cooling heat by which air cools the battery module 2 is proportional to the temperature difference and proportional to the 1/2 power of the flow velocity. Therefore, as the temperature difference between the battery module 2 and the air increases between the windward side and the leeward side, the flow velocity on the leeward side is made faster than that on the windward side. Since the flow rate can be increased by narrowing the cooling gap 10, the cooling gap 10 is narrowed to increase the flow rate and the amount of cooling heat by the flow rate increases as the temperature difference increases. However, if the cooling gap 10 on the leeward side is narrowed to increase the flow velocity, the temperature difference between the leeward side and the windward side becomes smaller. Further, the temperature difference between the windward and leeward air and the battery module 2 varies depending on the thickness of the battery module 2, the air flow velocity, and the like. Therefore, in actuality, the windward and leeward flow velocities are forcibly blown in a state where the battery module 2 is actually charged / discharged, and the temperatures of the battery module 2 on the windward and leeward sides are detected. Design to a value that minimizes the temperature difference.

  The cooling gap 10 becomes narrower in the air blowing direction. Therefore, the holding rib 11 provided in the cooling gap 10 and holding the battery module 2 in the storage chamber 9 becomes lower in the air blowing direction. This is because the holding rib 11 specifies the cooling gap 10.

  The air blowing mechanism 3 cools the battery module 2 by forcibly blowing air to the cooling gap 10. The power supply device 15 of FIG. 3 includes a fan 12 whose air blowing mechanism 3 is rotated by a motor. In the illustrated power supply device 15, the fan 12 is connected to the inflow side of the cooling gap 10. The fan 12 presses cooling air into the cooling gap 10. Although not shown, the fan can be connected to the discharge side of the cooling gap. This fan draws air from the cooling gap and exhausts it to the outside.

  The power supply device 15 in FIG. 3 is connected to the inflow side of the cooling gap 10 that connects the blowout side of the fan 12 in parallel. The fan 12 forcibly blows air toward the storage chamber 9 of the holder case 1 and forcibly blows air into the cooling gap 10 between the storage chamber 9 and the battery module 2. A number of storage chambers 9 provided in the holder case 1 are connected in parallel to each other and connected to the blowing side of the fan 12 so that air does not leak outside. The fan 12 sucks air in the vehicle or the trunk room, or sucks air outside the vehicle through a duct (not shown) and supplies the air to the holder case 1. Although not shown, the power supply device in which the fan discharges air from the cooling gap connects the suction side of the fan to the discharge side of the cooling gap. This fan sucks the air in the cooling gap and exhausts it into the vehicle or trunk room or outside to cool the battery module.

  In the illustrated power supply device 15, the air blowing mechanism 3 includes a fan 12, and the battery module 2 is cooled by forcibly blowing air by the fan 12. The fan 12 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) including a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the battery module 2. The control circuit operates the fan when the temperature of the battery module 2 rises above the set temperature, stops the operation of the fan when the temperature of the battery module 2 becomes lower than the set temperature, and sets the battery module 2 in a set temperature range. To control.

  The air blowing mechanism does not necessarily include a fan. For example, although not shown, the air blowing mechanism may be a mechanism that forcibly vents outside air to the holder case when the vehicle travels. This air blowing mechanism opens the inlet to the part where the pressure increases as the vehicle travels, and blows outside air supplied to the inlet to the holder case through the duct, or the vehicle travels to increase the pressure. A discharge port is opened at a portion where the temperature drops, and the discharge port is connected to the holder case through a duct to forcibly exhaust the air in the cooling gap.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power supply device 15 has the holder case 1 mounted on the vehicle in a posture in which the battery module 2 is in the left-right direction of the vehicle. In an electric vehicle in which the elongated battery module 2 is mounted in a posture parallel to the left-right direction, the battery module 2 does not poke the passengers in the rear seat 16 at the time of a collision from the rear. For this reason, there exists the characteristic which can improve the safety | security of the passenger of the rear seat 16. In particular, the power supply device 15 can be mounted in the crushable zone at the rear of the vehicle, and high safety can be secured without providing a further crushable zone behind the power supply device 15. Further, the power supply device 15 in this figure is provided with the fan 12 of the blower mechanism 3 on one side of the holder case 1 so as to face one end of the battery module 2. The power supply device 15 in which the fan 12 is arranged on the side portion of the holder case 1 can be mounted on a narrow trunk chamber or a rear cargo bed of the rear seat 16 by reducing the front and rear dimensions.

It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional power supply device. It is the schematic of the electric vehicle carrying the power supply device concerning one Example of this invention. It is a horizontal sectional view showing the state where the power supply device concerning one example of the present invention is mounted in an electric vehicle. It is a perspective view of the power supply device concerning one Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the power supply device shown in FIG. It is a horizontal sectional view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the battery module in the holder case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Holder case 2 ... Battery module 3 ... Air blower mechanism 4 ... Electrode terminal 4A ... Connection hole 5 ... Bus bar 5A ... Connection hole 6 ... Set screw 7 ... Nut 8 ... Insulation cap 9 ... Storage chamber 10 ... Cooling gap 11 ... Holding rib DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Fan 15 ... Power supply device 16 ... Back seat 17 ... Motor 20 ... Battery module 21 ... Holder case 22 ... Fan

Claims (5)

A battery module (2) in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in a straight line, a holder case (1) for storing the plurality of battery modules (2), and a battery module ( 2) with a blowing mechanism (3) for cooling,
The plurality of battery modules (2) are in a parallel posture, and the holder case (1) in a state where the ends of the adjacent battery modules (2) are positioned in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the battery module (2) Stored in
The holder case (1) has a storage chamber (9) for storing each battery module (2). The battery module (2) is stored in the storage chamber (9). The inner shape is larger than the outer shape of the battery module (2), and a cooling gap (10) is provided between the inner surface of the storage chamber (9) and the surface of the battery module (2).
A power supply device in which the air blowing mechanism (3) forcibly blows air into the cooling gap (10) to cool the battery module (2),
The air blowing mechanism (3) forcibly blows air in the axial direction of the battery module (2) to cool the battery module (2), and the inner shape of the storage chamber (9) is moved toward the air blowing direction. As the shape approaches the surface of (2), the flow rate of air blown to the surface of the battery module (2) is gradually increased toward the blowing direction of the battery module (2), and the battery module (2) is pivoted. A power supply device that is cooled so that the temperature difference in the direction is small.   The holder case (1) is provided with a holding rib (11) extending in the axial direction of the battery module (2) on the inner surface of the storage chamber (9), and the holding rib (11) is provided on the battery module (2). 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the battery module (2) is held in a fixed position in the storage chamber (9) by contact.   The battery module (2) has an electrode terminal (4) fixed to the end, a metal plate bus bar (5) is fixed to the electrode terminal (4), and the adjacent battery module (2) is electrically connected. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal (4) and the bus bar (5) are located in a plane parallel to a plane including the central axis of the battery module (2). A battery module (2) in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in a straight line, a holder case (1) for storing the plurality of battery modules (2), and a battery module ( Power supply device (15) equipped with a blowing mechanism (3) for cooling 2) is mounted behind the rear seat (16),
The power supply device (15) stores a plurality of battery modules (2) in a holder case (1) in a posture in which both ends are positioned on the same surface in a parallel posture, and in the holder case (1), A storage chamber (9) for storing each battery module (2) is provided. The battery module (2) is stored in the storage chamber (9), and the battery module (2) is stored in the holder case (1). Further, the inner shape of the storage chamber (9) is made larger than the outer shape of the battery module (2), and a cooling gap (10) is formed between the inner surface of the storage chamber (9) and the surface of the battery module (2). ) Is provided, and the cooling mechanism (10) is forcibly blown by the blower mechanism (3) to cool the battery module (2).
The holder case (1) is mounted on the vehicle in a posture in which the battery module (2) is in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and one side of the holder case (1) is opposed to one end of the battery module (2). Arrange the fan (12) of the air blowing mechanism (3) as
Further, the storage chamber (9) provided in the holder case (1) has an inner shape that approaches the surface of the battery module (2) in the air blowing direction, and the fan (12) is connected to the battery module. A power supply device that cools the battery module (2) so as to reduce the temperature difference in the axial direction by gradually increasing the flow rate of air blown to the surface of (2) toward the blowing direction of the battery module (2). Electric vehicle to be installed. The electric vehicle carrying the power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the holder case (1) houses a plurality of battery modules (2) arranged in a horizontal plane.

Images