ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) EXTERNAL POWER PORT DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE WITH POWER PORT DEVICE

Abstract

A vehicle power port device for use with a vehicle having a rechargeable lithium ion battery, the device including one or more power ports installed in, on, or within the vehicle, the one or more power ports configured to connect to and power an electrical device or equipment located external to the vehicle and a power cable connecting the rechargeable lithium ion battery directly, or indirectly, to the one or more power ports.

Claims

1. A vehicle power port device for use with a vehicle having a rechargeable lithium ion battery, the device comprising: one or more power ports installed in, on, or within the vehicle, the one or more power ports configured to connect to and power an electrical device or equipment located external to the vehicle; and a power cable connecting the rechargeable lithium ion battery directly, or indirectly, to the one or more power ports.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more power panels, wherein the one or more power ports is installed on the one or more power panels.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising one or more housings, wherein the one or more power panels is installed within the one or more housings.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more power ports is multiple power ports installed at different locations on the vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more power ports is configured to connect to an external EV charger for internally charging the rechargeable lithium ion battery.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the one or more housings comprises a sliding access door or a hinged access door.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the access door is provided with a latch for securing the access door in a closed position.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV).

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable lithium ion battery is configured for powering a drive of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle power port system for use with a vehicle, the system comprising: a rechargeable lithium ion battery; one or more power ports installed in, on, or within the vehicle, the power port configured to connect to and power an electrical device or equipment located external to the vehicle; and a power cable connecting the rechargeable lithium ion battery directly, or indirectly, to the one or more power ports.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the system comprises multiple power ports installed at different locations on the vehicle.

12. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a DC to DC converter located between the rechargeable lithium ion battery and the one or more power ports.

13. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a DC to AC converter located between the rechargeable lithium ion battery and the one or more power ports.

14. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a DC to AC converter located between the rechargeable lithium ion battery and the one or more power ports.

15. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a control module for controlling power supplied by the rechargeable lithium ion battery to the one or more power ports.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV).

17. A vehicle, comprising: a body; a drive connected to or associated with the body; a rechargeable lithium ion battery; and one or more power ports electrically connected to the rechargeable lithium ion battery, the one or more power ports configured to connect to and power an electrical device or equipment located external to the vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the drive comprises one or more electrical drive motors connected to the rechargeable lithium ion battery.

19. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the drive comprises one or more electrical drive motors connected to the rechargeable lithium ion battery and one or more internal combustion engines.

20. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the drive comprises one or more internal combustion engines.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an electric vehicle (EV) provided with multiple EV power ports.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the EV shown in FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the EV shown in FIG. 1.

[0044] FIG. 4 is front view of an EV power port panel according to the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view an EV power port incorporating the EV power port panel shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the EV power ports shown installed on the EV shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] An electric vehicle (EV) 10 having one or more EV power ports 12A-E (e.g. single or multiple EV power ports) is shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0048] The one or more EV power ports according to the present invention can be installed and used in, on, and/or within an electric vehicle (EV) having a rechargeable battery (e.g. lithium ion battery) for powering the drive of the vehicle, or installed and used in, on and/or within a hybrid vehicle having both a rechargeable battery (e.g. lithium ion battery) for powering the drive of the vehicle and an internal combustion engine for recharging the rechargeable battery. The EV and the hybrid vehicle are particularly suitable for using the one or more EV power ports, since these types of vehicles already have a large power storage capacity rechargeable battery installed for driving these types of vehicles.

[0049] In addition, other types of powered vehicles (e.g. using fuel, gasoline, diesel, gas, methane, propane, butane, hydrogen cells, capacitors, and other types of power) can be fitted or equipped with a large power storage capacity rechargeable battery and/or capacitor along with one or more EV power ports according to the present invention. Further, these types of vehicles can be fitted or equipped with charging equipment (e.g. alternator, generator, or types of charging equipment) configured to charge the large power storage capacity rechargeable battery and/or capacitor. Alternatively, or in addition, the large power storage capacity rechargeable battery and/or capacitor can be charged using an external charger (e.g. EV charger, high speed EV charger), for example, connected to one of the one or more EV power ports according to the present invention.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the EV power port 12A is located in, on and/or within the front fender of the EV 10, the EV power port 12B is located in, on, and/or within the front door of the EV 10, the EV power port 12C is located in, on, and/or within the rear door of the EV 10, the EV power port 12D is located in, on, and/or within the rear fender of the EV 10, and/or the EV power port 12E is located in, on, and/or within the side mirror of the EV.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the EV power port 12F is located in, on, within and/or behind the vehicle front license plate bracket (e.g. located in front bumper) of the EV 10, the EV power port 12G is located in, on, within and/or behind the front headlight assembly (e.g. front headlight is hinged or slides to open and close) of the EV 10, the power port 12H is located in, on, within, and/or behind the front plague or badge (e.g. located on front grill) of the EV 10, and/or the power port 12I is located in, on, within, and/or under the front hood of the EV 10.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the EV power port 12J is located in, on, within and/or behind the vehicle rear license plate bracket (e.g. located in rear bumper) of the EV 10, the EV power port 12K is located in, on, within, and/or behind the rear headlight assembly (e.g. rear headlight is hinged or slides to open and close) of the EV 10, and/or the EV power port 12L is located in, on, within, and/or under the rear hood of the EV 10.

[0053] Alternatively, or in addition, one or more EV power ports can be located in the passenger compartment of the EV 10. For example, an EV power port can be located in the steering wheel, steering wheel column, steering wheel hub, dash board, below dash board, floor, side window post, door panel, head liner, rear deck, seat, console, center console, gauge, radio, computer, computer screen, and/or other locations within the interior passenger compartment of the EV 10.

[0054] Alternatively, or in addition, one or more EV power ports can be located within a front compartment located under the front hood of the EV 10 and/or within a rear compartment located under the rear hood of the EV 10. In the case of and EV with a rear hatch back door, the EV power port can be located in, on, or within the rear hatch back door.

[0055] The EV power port can also be incorporate into other vehicles such as an EV truck, EV delivery van, EV motorcycle, EV mower, EV watercraft, EV boat, EV aircraft, or other EV vehicles that now exist or exist in the future.

[0056] The EV power port should be located on the EV 10 at a location easily accessible by the user. Further, a standard height location (e.g. from driving surface) can be set to standardize use for users. Further, the EV power port can be provided with a symbol or insignia to designate the accessory as an EV power port for convenience and safety (e.g. labeled, etched, tag, hologram, bar code, color, design).

[0057] An EV power port 10 having a panel 12 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4, the EV power port panel 12 comprises a panel 12A having a POWER PORT IN 14 and a POWER PORT OUT 16, two (2) NC three-prong power receptacles 18, four (4) USB power connectors 20, a visual display 22 (e.g. GUI), additional power ports 24, 26, and a control 28 having a control knob to be rotated to a selected position (e.g. to select 12V or 24V operation, control particular screen or view shown on display 22, control off/on of EV power port 10, and/or control off/on of power ports 14, 16, 24, and 26). The internal electronic of the EV power port 10 (e.g. printed circuit board(s) (PCB), microcontroller, sensors, power connectors or connections, chips, rechargeable battery, communications, display controller, audio controller, video controller, remote controller) can be located within the housing 30 beneath the EV power port panel 12.

[0059] The POWER PORT IN 14 can be a standard or custom EV receptacle configured to connect to an EV connector. The POWER PORT OUT 14 can be a standard or custom EV receptacle configured to connect to a standard or custom AC and/or DC power connector (e.g. power cable assembly with AC and/or DC power connector). Alternatively, the POWER PORT IN 14 can be replaced with another POWER PORT OUT (e.g. different size and/or configuration POWER PORT OUT) resulting in an EV power port having only power out type ports or connections (i.e. no POWER PORT IN).

[0060] As shown in FIG. 5, the EV power port 10 comprises a housing 30. The EV power port panel 12 is installed within the housing 30. The housing 30 comprises a flange 32 having four (4) through holes 34 for connection with fasteners to the EV 10 (e.g. four (4) threaded posts connected to parts or components of the EV 10 along with securing nuts).

[0061] The housing 30 further comprises an access door 36 connected to the housing 30 by a hinge 38. The housing 30 is provided with a seal 32A (e.g. rectangular-shaped O-ring seal adhered or mechanically fastened to the flange 32) so that the inner surface of the access door 36 contacts with the seal when moved into a closed position. A door latch 40A, 40B (e.g. magnetic latch) can be provided to retain the access door 36 in a closed position. The hinge 38 can be configured to resist hinge movement (e.g. having interference fit with parts) so that the access door remains in the position opened or closed when moved to the particular position by the user's fingers.

[0062] A power cable 42 is provided at one end with a stress relief 42A connected to the housing 30 to bring power from the EV battery 50 (FIG. 6) into the housing 30 of the EV power port. Specifically, an opposite end of the power cable 42 is connected directly or indirectly to the EV battery 50. For example, a power converter 84 (FIG. 6) is provided between the EV battery 50 and the one or more EV power ports 12.

[0063] The one or more EV power ports can include, or be connected, to other electrical components, in the system, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0064] For example, one or more EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″ can be connected to an EV battery 50. The EV battery 50, for example, is a high power capacity rechargeable battery configured to storing sufficient energy to drive the EV a significant distance. The one or more EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″ can be selectively operated, or can be simultaneously operated in combination one or more additional EV power ports at the same time.

[0065] A number of electronic components can be connected between the EV battery 50 and the one or more EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″. For example, some of the electronic components can be integrated into the EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″ themselves, or can be located within one or more boxes or containers at different locations within the EV 10.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 6, for example, a DC to DC converter 54, a DC to AC converter 58, and a control module 62 having a controller 64 (e.g. microcontroller) can be installed within a container or box 66 located at a location within the EV 10. A cable 50 connects the EV battery 50 to the container or box 66, and cable 68 connected to a bus 70 electrically connects the container or box 66 to the EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″.

[0067] The DC to DC converter, for example, can change the voltage being supplied from the EV battery 50 supplied to the EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″. The DC to AC converter 58 can change the DC power from the EV battery 50 to AC power supplied to the EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″.

[0068] A power converter 84 can be provided to modify the incoming power from the EV power ports 12, 12′, 12″ to power compatible for charging the EV battery 50.