A swappable modular battery and electronic speed controller system for electric vehicles is provided. The system includes a plurality of modular rail elements configured to attach to one or more electric vehicles. A desired number of modular battery units are configured to slide into and connect with at least one modular rail element of the plurality of the modular rail elements. A modular electronic speed controller (ESC) is configured to slide into and connect with at least one modular rail element of the plurality of the modular rail elements. The modular battery unit and the ESC are removable from the modular rail elements, allowing for transfer between the electric vehicles.

Typically, the recharging process for a battery-powered mobile equipment involves driving or otherwise moving the mobile equipment to the location of a stationary recharging station, and recharging the battery of the mobile equipment at the recharging station. During the time of travel and recharging, the mobile equipment is not performing a task in the field. Disclosed embodiments eliminate or reduce the need to transport the mobile equipment to recharging stations. In particular, disclosed embodiments comprise a frame that enables battery packs to be quickly swapped, potentially in the field. Embodiments may comprise movement elements to facilitate swapping and/or a mobile battery-swapping system that can transport battery packs to and from the mobile equipment in the field.

Typically, the recharging process for a battery-powered mobile equipment involves driving or otherwise moving the mobile equipment to the location of a stationary recharging station, and recharging the battery of the mobile equipment at the recharging station. During the time of travel and recharging, the mobile equipment is not performing a task in the field. Disclosed embodiments eliminate or reduce the need to transport the mobile equipment to recharging stations. In particular, disclosed embodiments comprise a frame that enables battery packs to be quickly swapped, potentially in the field. Embodiments may comprise movement elements to facilitate swapping and/or a mobile battery-swapping system that can transport battery packs to and from the mobile equipment in the field.

The present invention discloses an unlocking mechanism, a support assembly, a battery pack unlocking method, and a battery pack locking method. The unlocking mechanism is used for unlocking a battery pack locked on a support of an electric vehicle. The unlocking mechanism comprises an unlocking input member and an unlocking output member; the unlocking input member is adapted to be connected to an external unlocking drive portion, and is driven by the external unlocking drive portion to drive the unlocking output member to move; the unlocking output member is adapted to be connected to a locking mechanism on the support and drive the locking mechanism to move to unlock or lock the battery pack. The unlocking input member is connected to the external unlocking driving portion to be driven to move, to drive the locking mechanism to move to achieve the purpose of unlocking or locking the battery pack.

A system is provided for locking and/or unlocking an object, such as a power battery of a drive engine of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, under a structure such as a chassis of the vehicle, including a plurality of locks ensuring the attachment of the object under the structure. The locks are secured to the object and/or structure and each include a hook configured for drawing the object to the structure by compressing an elastically deformable member inserted between the object and the structure and for supporting the object relative to the structure at the end of the approximation travel, as well as a transmission device driving the hook during the drawing travel and configured such as to be actuated by an actuation tool that is separate from the structure and the object.

Methods and systems for processing communication with electronics associated with a vehicle and with a portable device to provide access to the vehicle. One method includes receiving, at a server, a request from a user via the portable device to grant access to use the vehicle via an electronic key (e-key). The vehicle is pre-associated to a user account that defines use options of the vehicle. The server is configured to generate a unique access code for the request, and the unique access code is configured with privileges for use of the vehicle. The privileges are defined for the unique access code based on an identity of the user and the privileges being active for use of the vehicle. The server is configured to encrypt the unique access code. The encrypting is predefined for decryption by the electronics associated with of the vehicle. The unique access code is sent as an encrypted unique access code to the portable device over a wireless network. The encrypted unique access code is configured for local wireless transmission to the electronics associated with said vehicle. The electronics associated with said vehicle is configured to decrypt the encrypted access code and enable access to use said vehicle in accordance with the privileges for use defined by said unique access code. The privileges for use further defining a period of time during which the unique access code is to remain active for use of the vehicle. The unique access code when active operates as the e-key for the vehicle to enable one or more functions of unlocking of the vehicle, starting the vehicle, driving the vehicle, or locking the vehicle.

Provided are systems and methods for configuring battery packs in electric vehicles. A battery pack may include a plurality of battery modules, a support part, and at least one opening provided on the support part. The support part may be provided with a bottom for supporting the plurality of battery modules, sides, a top, and an accommodation space formed by the bottom, the sides, and the top for accommodating the plurality of battery modules. The opening provided on the bottom of the support part may enable the plurality of battery modules to be passed through the at least one opening and be detachably mounted to the bottom of the support part so as to be supported by the bottom.

A battery replacement robot with a mobile storage rack includes a mechanical part and an electrical control part. The electrical control part controls a battery replacement device to place, in one step, all battery boxes required by one side of an electric bus that needs battery replacement onto a battery box storage rack. A horizontal moving unit moves to a position where a battery needs to be replaced. A battery box replacement device takes down a spent battery box from the electric bus; the battery box replacement device rotates towards one side around a Y axis, and raises or lowers the spent battery box so as to put the spent battery on the battery box storage rack; then the battery box replacement device takes down a charged battery box from the battery box storage rack, rotates to the original position, and installs the battery box in the electric bus.

A unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base station for automated battery pack exchange and methods for manufacturing and using the same. The UAV base station includes a battery-exchange system disposed within a housing having a top-plate. The housing contains a battery array having a plurality of UAV battery packs and a mechanical mechanism for automatically removing an expended battery pack from a UAV that lands on the top-plate and replacing the expended battery pack with a charged battery pack. Thereby, the UAV base station system advantageously enables extended and autonomous operation of the UAV without the need for user intervention for exchanging UAV battery packs.

An apparatus for energy storage device exchange includes a central pillar; a first carrier that is mounted on the central pillar for motion generally parallel to and around a generally vertical working axis, and that is configured to engage a lifting structure of an energy storage device; at least one motor; and a controller configured to operate with the at least one motor to: rotate the first carrier around the working axis to a removal position adjacent to the lifting structure of the energy storage device mounted on a vehicle; engage the first carrier with the lifting structure and lift the energy storage device generally along the working axis; rotate the first carrier around the working axis to a deposit position adjacent to an energy storage device receptacle; and lower the first carrier generally along the working axis to deposit the energy storage device at the energy storage device receptacle.