Refuelable battery-powered electric vehicle

摘要

The electrical vehicle energy storage system permits the electric refueling of the electric vehicle just like an automobile would be refueled with gasoline at a gas station. Circuitry on board the vehicle accessible by the electric refueling station enables the determination of the energy content of the battery module or modules returned to the electric refueling station and the owner of the vehicle is given credit for the energy remaining in the battery module or modules which have been exchanged. Selective refueling may take place for given battery modules by removing them from the battery system and charging them at home, office or factory. A process for operating an electric vehicle is also disclosed and claimed.

主权项

1. A process for operating an electric vehicle, said electric vehicle includes a plurality of battery modules, comprising the steps of:
utilizing a battery module interface circuit between each of said plurality of battery modules and an information bus; operating, utilizing a controller, said battery module interface circuit between each of said battery modules and said information bus selectively interconnecting said battery modules to said information bus for measuring, periodically, the state of charge and energy content of each battery module of said plurality of battery modules; each of said battery module interface circuits includes a first switch interposed between a battery information interface circuit and said battery information bus, said controller selectively enabling and closing said first switch interconnecting each of said battery information interface circuits with said information bus; utilizing a battery module interface circuit between each of said battery modules and a load bus; operating, utilizing a controller, said battery module interface circuit between each of said battery modules and said load bus, selectively interconnecting each of said battery modules with said load bus; each of said battery module interface circuits includes a second switch interposed between said battery module and said load bus, said controller selectively enabling and closing said second switch interconnecting each of said battery modules with said load bus, and, a current steering device in series with said second switch enabling current flow only from said battery module to said load bus when said second switch is closed; utilizing a battery module interface circuit between each of said battery modules and a charge bus; operating, utilizing a controller, said battery module interface circuit between each of said battery modules and said charge bus, selectively interconnecting each of said battery modules with said charge bus; each of said battery module interface circuits includes a third switch interposed between said battery module and said charge bus, said controller selectively enabling and closing said third switch interconnecting each of said battery modules with said charge bus, and, a current steering device in series with said third switch enabling current flow only from said charge bus to said battery module when said third switch is closed; connecting said charge bus to a regenerative device for charging a battery module with a regenerative device on-board said electric vehicle; calculating, using said controller and said battery module interface circuit, said energy content remaining in each of said battery modules when each of said battery modules is returned; calculating, using said controller and said battery module interface circuit, the monetary value of each of said returned battery modules for receiving monetary credit for each of said battery modules; and, detaching, slidably, one or more of said battery modules of said plurality of battery modules from said electric vehicle for returning said one or more of said battery modules of said plurality of battery modules to an electric filling station.