A dashboard display of a vehicle includes a display panel having a speed display area that outputs a speed range of the vehicle at a first speed interval and an event display area that outputs an event information, a needle for indicating a current speed of the vehicle by rotating to thereby point to a corresponding position along the displayed speed range, and a controller that is configured to, when one or more preset conditions of the vehicle being satisfied, change a boundary of the speed display area from a first speed display area within the display panel to a second speed display area within the display panel that is different from the first speed display area.

A display device for a vehicle includes: a ring portion and a moving mechanism to display various vehicle information associated with a travel of the vehicle for a viewer within a display area. The ring portion forms an outer periphery of an indicator indicating at least one vehicle information of the various vehicle information, and is visually recognized as a virtual image within the display area. The moving mechanism is able to move a position of the ring portion.

An electric vehicle including an electric motor is provided. The electric vehicle having a receptacle slot integrated in the electric vehicle, and the receptacle slot providing a connection for providing power to the electric motor. A battery is configured for sliding into the receptacle slot to enable electrical engagement of the battery with the connection when in the receptacle slot. The battery is further configured for sliding out of the receptacle slot to remove the battery from electrical engagement with the connection. The battery is configured to store and supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle. The battery is replaceable by sliding the battery out of the receptacle slot and sliding in another battery into the receptacle slot to further supply charge to power the electric motor of the electric vehicle with said another battery. The battery and said another battery each have a respective portion that is accessible for enabling its hand-removal and hand-insertion out of and into the receptacle slot. A computer is on-board the electric vehicle. The computer is interfaced with the connection of the receptacle slot to obtain a level of charge of the battery present in the receptacle slot. A battery level indicator of the electric vehicle is provided. The battery level indicator configured to provide information regarding the level of charge of the battery in the receptacle slot.

A clustered instrument panel on a display of a dashboard in a transportation apparatus is disclosed. The clustered instrument panel may be used to combine multiple individual instrument panels, such as the odometer, tachometer, temperature meter, battery meter, navigation screen and any other instrument panels that are traditionally presented separate and independent from other instrument panels. The individual instrument panels may be layered on top of each other to form the clustered instrument panel, with gradual increase in size from the first instrument panel to the nth instrument panel. Information associated with a given instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel may be presented in the gap area between the given instrument panel and the neighbor instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel. In one embodiment, the clustered instrument panel is a triple-circle meter.

A meter device includes an instrument panel, a coaxial motor, a central light source, a peripheral light source, and units. The coaxial motor includes rotation shafts which rotate around a single axis perpendicular to the instrument panel. The central light source is disposed near the rotation shafts. The peripheral light source is disposed more distantly from the rotation shafts than the central light source. The units rotate together with the rotation shafts, respectively. The units includes indicator parts, respectively. Each of the indicator parts guides light to emit the light, thereby indicating a surface of the instrument panel. The units include a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a light path which guides light from the central light source to the indicator part. The second unit includes a light path which guides light from the peripheral light source to the indicator part, and a non-light guide part that prevents the light of the central light source from being guided to the indicator part.

A clustered instrument panel on a display of a dashboard in a transportation apparatus is disclosed. The clustered instrument panel may be used to combine multiple individual instrument panels, such as the odometer, tachometer, temperature meter, battery meter, navigation screen and any other instrument panels that are traditionally presented separate and independent from other instrument panels. The individual instrument panels may be layered on top of each other to form the clustered instrument panel, with gradual increase in size from the first instrument panel to the nth instrument panel. Information associated with a given instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel may be presented in the gap area between the given instrument panel and the neighbor instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel. In one embodiment, the clustered instrument panel is a triple-circle meter.

Battery carriers that provide replaceable and exchangeable batteries and systems are provided. One example battery carrier is for batteries used in electric vehicles. The battery carrier includes a housing with a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is configured to receive a battery that is configured for hand-insertion and hand-removal from the battery carrier. Each slot and each battery has a form factor that is dimensioned to at least partially fit within ones of the slots. A plurality of electrical connectors are provided, and each electrical connector is disposed inside respective ones of the slots and each electrical connector is configured to mate with an electrical connector of the battery when present in a slot of the plurality of slots and each electrical connector is configured to provide power transfer between a power source to which the battery carrier is connected and a battery when present in one of the slots. The battery carrier includes electronics that include communication circuitry for connecting to a server over a network and circuitry for communicating with batteries when present in slots of the battery carrier to identify a level of charge. The communication circuitry is used to provide information regarding a level of charge of a battery when present in one of the slots and to enable identification of availability. The battery carrier further includes a power outlet cable for connecting the battery carrier to a power source.

Battery carriers that provide replaceable and exchangeable batteries and systems are provided. One example battery carrier is for batteries used in electric vehicles. The battery carrier includes a housing with a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is configured to receive a battery that is configured for hand-insertion and hand-removal from the battery carrier. Each slot and each battery has a form factor that is dimensioned to at least partially fit within ones of the slots. A plurality of electrical connectors are provided, and each electrical connector is disposed inside respective ones of the slots and each electrical connector is configured to mate with an electrical connector of the battery when present in a slot of the plurality of slots and each electrical connector is configured to provide power transfer between a power source to which the battery carrier is connected and a battery when present in one of the slots. The battery carrier includes electronics that include communication circuitry for connecting to a server over a network and circuitry for communicating with batteries when present in slots of the battery carrier to identify a level of charge. The communication circuitry is used to provide information regarding a level of charge of a battery when present in one of the slots and to enable identification of availability. The battery carrier further includes a power outlet cable for connecting the battery carrier to a power source.

A clustered instrument panel on a display of a dashboard in a transportation apparatus is disclosed. The clustered instrument panel may be used to combine multiple individual instrument panels, such as the odometer, tachometer, temperature meter, battery meter, navigation screen and any other instrument panels that are traditionally presented separate and independent from other instrument panels. The individual instrument panels may be layered on top of each other to form the clustered instrument panel, with gradual increase in size from the first instrument panel to the nth instrument panel. Information associated with a given instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel may be presented in the gap area between the given instrument panel and the neighbor instrument panel in the clustered instrument panel. In one embodiment, the clustered instrument panel is a triple-circle meter.

A display device for a vehicle includes: a ring portion and a moving mechanism to display various vehicle information associated with a travel of the vehicle for a viewer within a display area. The ring portion forms an outer periphery of an indicator indicating at least one vehicle information of the various vehicle information, and is visually recognized as a virtual image within the display area. The moving mechanism is able to move a position of the ring portion.