VEHICLE DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR

Abstract

A vehicle driven by an electric motor includes a drive unit (16) with at least one electric motor (18), with at least one energy storage device (22) permanently installed in the vehicle and an actuating unit (24) for controlling the flow of energy between the at least one electric motor (18) and the at least one energy storage device (22) permanently installed in the vehicle. An interface (30) has with at least one terminal area (32, 34, 36) for a replaceable energy storage device (38, 40).

Claims

1. A vehicle driven by an electric motor, the vehicle comprising: a drive unit comprising at least one electric motor; at least one energy storage device permanently installed in the vehicle; an actuating unit for controlling a flow of energy between the at least one electric motor and the at least one energy storage device permanently installed in the vehicle; and an interface comprising at least one terminal area for a replaceable energy storage device.

2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one replaceable energy storage device connected to a terminal area, wherein the actuating unit is configured to influence a flow of energy between the at least one electric motor and the at least one replaceable energy storage device connected to the at least one terminal area.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises at least another terminal area for a replaceable energy storage device, so as to provide a plurality of terminal areas.

4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a cargo space, wherein the at least one terminal area is provided in the cargo space or/and on a rear carrier or/and in a roof box or/and on a trunk lid or/and on a trailer.

5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an replaceable energy storage device fixing device, the replaceable energy storage device fixing device is associated with the at least one terminal area.

6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a cargo space wherein at least one replaceable energy storage device fixing device is provided in the cargo space or/and on a rear carrier or/and in a roof box or/and on a trunk lid or/and on a trailer.

7. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuating unit is configured to provide information about a state of charge of each replaceable energy storage device connected to the interface.

8. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of replaceable energy storage device connected to a terminal area, wherein: the interface further comprises at least another terminal area for a replaceable energy storage device, so as to provide a plurality of terminal areas, each replaceable energy storage device being connected to one of the terminal areas; the actuating unit is configured to influence a flow of energy between each replaceable energy storage device and the at least one electric motor such that with a plurality of replaceable energy storage devices connected to the interface, the replaceable energy storage devices are run down sequentially.

9. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drive unit further comprises an internal combustion engine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the drawings:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle driven by an electric motor.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to the drawings, a vehicle 10 driven by an electric motor shown in FIG. 1 comprises a drive unit 16 associated with wheels 12, 14 to be driven. The drive unit 16 comprises at least one electric motor 18 and may additionally have an internal combustion engine 20 in case of a so-called plug-in hybrid drive.

[0018] Electrical energy, from which the at least one electric motor 18 is fed with electrical energy in order to drive the vehicle 10, is stored in an energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle 10. Other consumers of electrical energy present in the electrical system of the vehicle 10 may also be fed from the energy storage device 22. An actuating unit 24 controls or regulates the exchange of electrical energy between the energy storage device 22 and the at least one electric motor 18. This pertains to a state of traction, in which the at least one electric motor 18 delivers a drive torque, in order to drive the vehicle and thus is fed with electrical energy from the energy storage device 22. The actuating unit 24 may also influence, i.e., control or regulate, the flow of energy between the at least one electric motor 18 and the fixed energy storage device 22 in a coasting state, in which the at least one electric motor 18 may be operated as a generator, to provide electrical energy for storage in the energy storage device 22. Further, for charging the energy storage device 22, the actuating unit 24 may control or regulate the flow of energy between a charging terminal 26, to which an external charging station may be connected, and the energy storage device 22, and may establish a connection between the charging terminal 26 and the energy storage device 22.

[0019] It should be pointed out that the energy storage device 22 may comprise a plurality of energy storage units, which may be structurally linked with one another, but, in principle, may also be accommodated at different positions of the vehicle 10 for the efficient utilization of the space available for installation.

[0020] The vehicle 10 further comprises an interface 30 with a plurality of terminal areas 32, 34, 36, for example, in a cargo space 28, e.g., trunk in a passenger car. A replaceable energy storage device 38, 40 may be connected to each terminal area 32, 34, 36. For this purpose, each energy storage device receiving area 42, 44, 46 is provided with an energy storage device fixing device 48, 50, 52 in the area of the interface 30 or of the terminal areas 32, 34, 36 associated with each terminal area 32, 34, 36. The energy storage device receiving areas 42, 44, 46 may be shaped in coordination with the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 to be arranged therein such that the energy storage device receiving area 42, 44, 46 predefine a defined positioning of the energy storage devices 38, 40, for example, by means of positive locking, in which position the energy storage devices 38, 40 are held by the respective, associated energy storage device fixing device 48, 50, 52, for example, by a clamping or tensioning device that is a part of each energy storage device receiving area 42, 44, 46. For example, the energy storage device fixing devices 48, 50, 52 may have quick-release mechanisms or bolts, which can be tightened for fixing a corresponding replaceable energy storage device 38, 40 to cooperating fixing structure of the energy storage device receiving area 42, 44, 46.

[0021] The actuating unit 24 comprises one or more processor, a memory, selectively controllable switches, and charging circuitry, that is configured to control or regulate the exchange of electrical energy between the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 connected to the interface 30 and the at least one electric motor 18. In this manner, the energy stored in the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 can be used to provide energy for the operation of the at least one electric motor 18 and possibly of other consumers of electrical energy in the vehicle 10 in addition to the energy stored in the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle. The actuating unit 24 may also be configured in coasting mode to send electrical energy provided by the electric motor 18 operating as a generator to the replaceable energy storage device or replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 connected to the interface 30 in order to charge the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 again. Different charging strategies are possible according to the invention. For example, the actuating unit 24 may thus be configured to give preference to the charging of the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle so that during the charging operation it is first ensured that the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle is charged or will be charged before a change is made over to charging one or more replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40. Different strategies may also be selected for the utilization of the energy stored in the different energy storage devices 22, 38, 40. For example, preference may thus be given to the running down of the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40, so that first the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 are run down during traction mode, and only if these can no longer be used to supply the at least one electric motor 18 or other consumers in the vehicle 10, the energy that is stored in the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle is also accessed. If a plurality of replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 are connected to the interface 30, it is advantageous to run these down sequentially, so that a replaceable energy storage device already run down and no longer usable for the supply of the at least one electric motor 18 can be replaced by a charged replaceable energy storage device, while a replaceable energy storage device that is still charged or is not entirely run down can still remain in the vehicle for the time being. To make this possible, the actuating unit 24 may be configured to detect the state of charge of the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 connected to the interface 30 and to couple the individual replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 chronologically sequentially with the at least one electric motor 18 corresponding to the detected state of charge in order to correspondingly run down the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 one after the other.

[0022] In the vehicle 10 configured according to the present invention, it becomes possible to adapt the range of same to the present demand. If the vehicle 10 is used, for example, in a normal, usual operation, in which it can be assumed that the daily travel distance does not exceed a range covered by the energy stored in the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle, the provision of additional replaceable energy storage devices can be dispensed with. If the demand exceeds the energy stored in the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle, one or more replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 may be connected to the interface 30, in turn depending on the demand actually present. Since the storage capacity of these replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 is generally known, it is easily recognizable for a user of a vehicle thus configured how many replaceable energy storage devices are to be connected to the interface 30 in order to be able to cover the present demand.

[0023] For operation of a vehicle 10 configured according to the present invention, for example, a supply system may be configured, in which charged replaceable energy storage devices are kept ready, for example, at gas stations or service areas or facilities specially provided for this. Similar to gassing up fuel-operated vehicles, the user of such a vehicle can replace a run-down replaceable energy storage device with a charged replaceable energy storage device at such a station or facility in case of corresponding demand and thus continue the trip immediately and without the need to have to wait for a charging time. For this, the actuating unit 24 may be configured to provide, for example, to display, information to the user of such a configured vehicle, which information shows the state of charge not only of the energy storage device 22 permanently installed in the vehicle, but also the state of charge of each replaceable energy storage device connected to the interface 30. The user then recognizes which of the replaceable energy storage devices 38, 40 is already run down and, if needed, has to be replaced with a charged replaceable energy storage device. Even in case of a demand first recognized in the course of a trip, the user of such a configured vehicle can head for such a station or facility in order to pick up one or more replaceable energy storage devices there. In principle, the users of such vehicles may also stock up replaceable energy storage devices in order to accommodate one or more replaceable energy storage devices in the vehicle, if needed, before starting a trip.

[0024] It should further be noted that such replaceable energy storage devices may also be accommodated in different areas of a vehicle. It is especially possible to accommodate replaceable energy storage devices also in an area outside of the vehicle, for example, in a rear carrier or in a roof box. Accommodation in the trunk or on the trunk lid or in a trailer is also possible. In principle, it is also possible to distribute replaceable energy storage devices to different accommodation locations of a vehicle, i.e., to accommodate, for example, some replaceable energy devices in a trunk or a cargo space of the vehicle and to accommodate other replaceable energy storage devices in a different area of the vehicle, for example, in a roof box or especially in a trailer in case of trucks. It is also apparent that the precautions explained above for providing an electrical terminal, on the one hand, and for a stable mechanical connection, on the other hand, are to be provided at such areas provided on a vehicle or on a trailer to be coupled with it, in which areas replaceable energy storage devices shall be accommodated. As an alternative, it is possible that the electrical connection to a terminal area provided in the interior of the vehicle takes place by means of a connection cable especially in case of accommodation outside of a vehicle interior or cargo space.

[0025] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.