CONNECTED ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drive an electric automobile for a long distance by providing a connecting rod composed of an electrical conductor in the bottom section or on the outer periphery of the body of the automobile. SOLUTION: A power distribution board 1 supplies a DC voltage (or alternating voltage) to the connecting rod 4 of an EV car 3 (which is only driven by means of a battery and a motor) through a contactor 2 based on the power supply from a commercial power source, a solar battery, a battery, etc. The EV car 3 is not different from an ordinary automobile when the car 3 is independently driven, because the connecting rod 4 is folded up in the lower section of the car 3. When the car 3 is connected to another EV car, however, the rod 4 is elongated about the double length. Since the rod 4 is electrically connected to both EV cars, the rod 4 can receive electric power for a long time even when the EV cars are run at a high speed. The EV car 3 can be connected to another EV car for a long time, particularly, on a highway having no intersection. For example, the car 3 approaches another car having the same destination and projecting the connecting rod 4 from the back side near the entrance of the highway by turning on a 'connection mode' switch. When the approaching condition is met, a 'connection mode' lamp is turned on and, thereafter, the car 3 is automatically driven so that the car 3 may follow the preceding car.