WO1986006009A1

WO1986006009A1 - Battery-powered vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1986006009A1
Application number: PCT/US1986/000525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Piet B. Bos
Original assignee: Bos Piet B
Priority date: 1985-04-17
Filing date: 1986-03-18
Publication date: 1986-10-23
Also published as: EP0218632A1

Abstract

A battery-powered vehicle having a dual energy-generating system (12) comprising a combination of a plurality of high-power density batteries and a small internal combustion engine. The vehicle is adapted to long range on-the-road driving with attendant substantial fuel economy, reduction of noise and emission level an simplicity of design.

Description

BATTERY - POWERED VEHICLE Technical Field The present invention relates to a battery-power vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to an electric vehicle adapted for on-the-road long distance driving and being provided with a combined energy-generating system including a plurality of batteries and a small internal combustion engine.

Background and Prior Art As is well known, demand for fuel, especially gasoline, needed for operation of motor vehicles is on constant increase while reserves of crude oil are slowly being depleted in oil-producing countries. Furthermore, internal combustion engines which supply power required for driving various types of motorized on-the-road vehicles, such as passenger automobiles, vans, trucks, etc., release substantial amounts of exhaust gas produced by gasoline alone or in admixture with other fuels. As the exhaust gases released in the atmosphere, particularly in large cities, cause continually increasing problem connected with environmental pollution, attempts have been made to alleviate air pollution and reduce liquid fuel consumption by substituting pollution-causing gasoline-powered engines by air pollution-free electric motors. While various types of electrically powered vehicles have been proposed or developed and described in the patent literature, they all are characterized by a common disadvantage, i. e. a restricted amount of energy required for on-the-road long distance driving and a limited speed range.

Typical of the prior art electric vehicles are patents as follows: U. S. Pat. No. 3,8991,041 which describes an electric vehicle having an electronic solid state controller for governing the speed of the vehicle; U. S. Pat. No. 3,915, 2.51 discloses an electric vehicle using a speed control system including a DC motor in conjunction with a torque converter; U. S. Pat. No. 3,943,420 teaches a battery-powered vehicle having a variable speed controller and a manual range control for changing the speed range capability; U. S. Pat. No. 4,042,055 covers a local transportation vehicle, such as an electrically propelled light service car equipped with a quick change battery pack loadable and unloadable by a manually-operated dolly; and U. S. Pat. No. 4,498,551 describes a battery-driven car having a microprocessor control system for recharging the batteries and controlling the routing of electrical power to and from battery pack and voltage booster.

In view of the foregoing, the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which provides a vehicle having a novel power-generating system featuring a new approach to the battery-driven cars known at this time.

Summary of Invention and Advantages Accordingly, it is the main object of the invention to provide a vehicle having a power supply comprising essentially a plurality of batteries in combination with a small auxiliary internal combustion engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a battery-operated vehicle adapted for on-the-road driving a long distance without the necessity of recharging the batteries. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a high technology and high performance electrically powered vehicle devoid of a variable transmission comprising a combination of a new energy-generating system, a drive train, a power control means and an onboard microprocessor. Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel vehicle characterized by high fuel efficiency, efficient engine operation, simplicity of design, low maintenance requirements, low internal noise level and high overall performance.

These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a battery-powered vehicle adapted for on-the-road long driving range having a chassis including a load-supporting structure and a body, comprising in combination as essential elements:

(a) an energy-generating system comprising a primary power source and a secondary power source;

(b) an electromechanical drive train;

(c) a power control means for control of output of said drive train and integration of said energy-generating system with said drive train; and

(d) an on-board microprocessor system operably interconnected with said (a), (b) and (c) for providing optimum performances thereof. Brief Description of the Drawing The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating in block form the essential components of the vehicle according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates the basic components of the present invention in block form. A battery-powered vehicle, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 is connected to on-board microprocessor means 18 which, in turn, is directly connected to energy system 12, power control 16 and drive train 14. It will be noted that power control 16 is also interconnected to energy system 12 and drive train 14.

Although the invention is described herein for purposes of illustration in connection with a luxury high performance automobile, it is likewise applicable to any four-wheeled passenger automobile of the type currently manufactured or assembled in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. Moreover, the invention is also applicable to other types of motorized personal or commercial vehicles, such as vans, trucks and the like, having an upper body and a chassis including a frame, suspension system, rotatably-mounted wheels, steering mechanism, load-supporting structure and other conventional components connected therewith.

The energy-generating system in accordance with the invention comprises essentially a primary power source comprising a battery pack consisting of a plurality of high power density batteries connected in series and mounted on the load-supporting structure preferably in the front and in tne rear of the vehicle in such a manner that their total weight is substantially evenly distributed thereon. Although the seale bipolar lead-acid batteries with a high ratio of specific power to specific energy are preferred, other types of batteries, such as nickel-iron or nickel-zinc may likewise be employed providing that they are capable of generabing sufficient power in the range of from about 150 watts/kg. up to about 1000 watts/kg., preferably between 200 watts/kg. and 600 watts/kg., for a proper operation of a vehicle, the power requirements being higher for higher acceleration performance. The battery fraction ( the weight of the batteries in relation to the weight of the vehicle) may vary from about 5% to about 25% of the total curb weight of the vehicle, the fraction of about 10% to 20% being normally preferred. Thus, for example, a vehicle having a curb weight of 1400 kg. would generally require a pack of 7 batteries weighing about 30 kg. each.

The batteries are electrically connected in the usual manner to the drive motor for supply of power thereto. While recharging of the batteries by a separate source of power is normally not required for long distance driving of up to about 400 miles (640 km.), the system provides current for recharging the batteries and storing energy therein during downhill braking or deceleration. When a vehicle is driven a long distance, it is often desirable to refuel it so that it would be ready for another long distance drive. An all-electric vehicle, on the other hand, necessitates an overnight recharge of batteries after being driven a relatively short distance.

The secondary power source provided for a vehicle of the invention comprises a separate small, auxiliary internal combustion engine which is adapted to supply additional power to the primary power source for driving the generator, for hill climbing and for the operation of optional equipment aboard the vehicle, such as air-conditioning, heating, ventillation,power windows, audio system, etc. While a conventional internal combustion engine is entirely suitable, a fuel injection engine or a free piston engine are likewise satisfactory. Moreover, a small fuel cell may be employed instead of an engine, if desired.

The auxiliary engine is characterized by low power in the range of from about 10 HP to 40 HP (7.5 kw. to 30 kw.), preferably from about 15 HP to 25 HP (11.25 kw. to 18.75 kw.), compared to a substantially higher power of engines in the conventional vehicles now in use. The weight of the auxiliary engine represents approximately 2% to 10% of the curb weight of the vehicle of the invention, the typical weight thereof being about 60 kg. compared to a normal weight of about 350 kg. for a standard large size automobile. Moreover, a small capacity tank is sufficient to insure adequate liquid fuel supply for the auxiliary engine. It will be understood that both the primary and the secondary power sources cooperate with each other to generate sufficient power for the vehicle which could be operated in the usual manner by depressing a spring-loaded control pedal linked with other drive members. The electromechanical drive train of the invention includes a single motor adapted to be energized by direct or alternating current flow, preferably an AC drive motor, coupled with an appropriate gear reduction means, such as, for example, about 10:1 ratio, required to provide the desired number of revolutions per minute to the differential and shafts as required to transfer power from the motor to the driven wheels. Optionally, the drive train may include an individual motor connected to each wheel or to a pair of wheels. To insure that the motor supplies enough power needed for acceleration of the vehicle of a given curb weight to a specified speed, the selection of a motor is dependent on the curb weight of the vehicle as well as on the desired rate of acceleration, the achievable high rate of which is about 8 seconds from 0 to 60 miles/hour (96 km./hr.). The motor may be connected to front wheel drive disposed in some vehicles. A recently developed two-stroke engine providing a 60% reduction in weight at a given power rating is also suitable for use in the drive train. Moreover, a free-piston engine-alternator having a high overall efficiency and low pollutant emission is likewise satisfactory.

The power control means which is interconnected with the energy-generating system and the drive train comprises a plurality of high power semiconductors or transistors known in the art and is adapted to control the drive train in the acceleration of the vehicle speed from 0 to a desired maximum speed in shortest possible time, thereby insuring optimum performance of the vehicle, for example 8.2 seconds acceleration time from 0 to 60 miles/hour (96 km./hr.).

The on-board microprocessor system which is the fourth essential element of the present invention provides control of the power control means, determines optimum electricity and fuel usage during operation of the vehicle and integrates the drive train, power control means and energy-generating system, thereby being instrumental in achieving highly efficient performance of the vehicle. In addition, the system is designed to calculate the relative usage of the fuel and electrical power, to control acceleration, to monitor all lights in the vehicle and the mechanical components, to indicate the speed of the vehicle and to program on-board battery charging by activating the internal combustion engine when required. Any suitable computer capable of performing the hereinabove mentioned functions and, if desired, augmented to perform any additional functions may be employed in the vehicle of the invention. The high performance of a 5-passenger dual-powered vehicle (DPV) of the present invention is compared with that of an all-electric vehicle (AEV) and an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICV), the vehicles being of substantially the same curb weight of about 1425 kg. (3135 lbs.), the weight of the all-electric vehicle being somewhat higher due to the higher weight of the batteries required to achieve the same acceleration time of 8.2 seconds from 0 to 60 miles/hour. The comparative average figures are shown in Table I hereinbelow.

TABLE I

AEV ICV DPV

Electric Power Usage 1 00% 0 62% Gasoline Power Usage 0 100% 38% Fuel Economy, miles/U. S. gallon - 28 118 Electricity Economy, miles/kw. hr. 2.7 - 4.3 Driving Range*, miles 70 400 400

Battery Weight Fraction 30% 15%

*without refueling or recharging the batteries It is apparent from the consideration of Table I that the fuel economy of the vehicle of the invention is more than 4 times higher than that of a conventional vehicle having an internal combustion engine, the electricity economy is about 1.6 times better than that of an all-electric vehicle, the driving range of the latter being considerably lower and the battery weight fraction being twice as high.

Industrial Applications Λ consideration of the foregoing description indicates that I have devised a novel electrically-powered on-the-road vehicle having a dual power-generating system which is highly useful in the light of the various advantages enumerated hereinabove. The improved arrangement of the combined electric and liquid fuel-generated power distribution of my invention gives as a result a vehicle adapted for long distance driving which is superior in many respects to comparable conventional gasoline-powered vehicles or all-electric cars and is highly beneficial in achieving its basic function, i. e. a substantial reduction of gasoline consumption and of exhaust gas released in the atmosphere by millions of internal combustion engine vehicles operated in the world today, while at the same time a reduction of operating and maintenance costs, abatement of interior and exterior noise level due to a small size of the internal combustion engine and superior smoothness of the ride while at the same time allowing complete elimination of a variable transmission in the vehicle. The vehicle of the present invention has a long sought capability of high performance over a long distance for a period of several hours at a reduced operational cost.

It will be understood that various modifications in the form or in the structural details of my invention as herein described may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A battery-powered vehicle (10) adapted for on-the-road long driving range having a chassis including a load-supporting structure end a body, characterized in that it comprises in combination:

(a) an energy-generating system (12) comprising a primary power source and a secondary power source;

(b) an electromechanical drive train (14);

(c) a power control means (16) for control of output of said drive train and integration of said energy-generating system with said drive train; and

(d) an on-board microprocessor system (18) operably interconnected with said (a), (b) and (c) for providing optimum performances thereof.

2. A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said primary power source comprises a plurality of high power density batteries.

3.A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said secondary power source comprises a small, auxiliary internal combustion engine.

4. A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said drive train (14) comprises an electric motor coupled with a gear reduction means.

5. A vehicle (10) of claim 4, characterized in that said motor is an alternating current drive motor.

6. A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said power control means ( 16) comprises a plurality of high power semiconductors.

7. A vehicle (10) of claim 6, characterized in that said power control means (16) is adapted to control said drive train in acceleration of said vehicle speed from 0 to about 60 miles/hour (96 km./hr.) in less than about 9 seconds.

8. A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said microprocessor system (18) provides control of said power control means (16) and determines optimum power usage during operation of said vehicle.

9. A vehicle (10) of claim 2, characterized in that weight of said batteries is substantially evenly distributed on said load-supporting structure.

10. A vehicle (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said drive train (14) is devoid of variable transmission.