Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION?

The present invention relates to a swappable battery system and a method thereof. It is particularly applicable to a swappable battery system for long range electric vehicles.?

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION?

Conventional swappable battery systems (10) comprise a co-battery arrangement of two batteries - a main battery (12) and a co-battery (14), wherein both the batteries are of same specifications of 21 Ah at 48V and 1.1 kW. In such systems, both the batteries are connected to input power source (16) and load (18) as shown in prior art FIG. 1.

Disadvantage of such conventional swappable battery system is that both the batteries are required to be of same specification. Further, batteries of large sizes cannot be used, as they are heavy to swap during battery swapping.

At present, there is no such vehicle that uses a co-battery system, wherein one battery is of high capacity to provide long-range travelling and other battery is of medium capacity to provide ease of swapping.

Thus, there remains a need for a swappable battery system that address the problems mentioned above and utilizes a co-battery system having a battery of high capacity and another battery of medium capacity, while remaining swappable, economical, efficient and convenient to use.

OBJECTS?

Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.??

Another object of the present disclosure is to a swappable battery system and a method thereof.??

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a swappable battery system, wherein one battery is of high capacity to provide long-range travelling and other battery is of medium capacity to provide ease of swapping.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.?

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE?

The present invention provides a swappable battery system which solves the problem mentioned hereinabove. The swappable battery system is for long range electric vehicles. The swappable battery system comprises a charging socket, a first battery, a second battery, a load and a charge modulator.

The input socket is configured to receive power input for charging. The charge modulator is electrically connected with the charging socket, first battery and second battery. During charging of the swappable battery system, the charge modulator is configured to charge the first battery and second battery from the power supplied to the charging socket. While discharging of the swappable battery system, the charge modulator is configured to charge the first battery from the electric charge available in the second battery.

The charge modulator comprises a buck converter, a boost converter and a switching device. The buck converter is configured to step down the incoming voltage from the charging socket to charge the first battery and the second battery during charging. The boost converter is configured to step up the voltage to charge the first battery from the charge available in the second battery during discharging. The switching device is configured to disconnect the first battery from second battery, while charging the first battery and second battery from the power supplied to the charging socket. The switching device also connects the first battery to the second battery while discharging to charge the first battery from the charge available in the second battery.

The first battery is of first predetermined capacity, wherein the first predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 40 - 1000 ampere hours (Ah). The Voltage potential of the first battery is in range of 12 volts to 240 volts. In a preferred embodiment, specification of the first battery is 52 Ah at 72V and 3.8 kW.

The second battery is of second predetermined capacity, wherein the second predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 10 - 150 ampere hours (Ah). The Voltage potential of the second battery is in range of 12 volts to 240 volts. In a preferred embodiment, specification of the second battery 21 Ah at 48V and 1.1 kW.

In an embodiment, the second battery is the swappable battery in the swappable battery system. During discharging of the swappable battery system, the second battery is also configured to charge the first battery from the charge available in the second battery.

The load is having a power demand in the range of 1 – 25 kW. The load is selected from a driving motor of an electric car, an electric bus, an electric drone, an electric bike, an electric robot or an electric scooter.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of operating the swappable battery system of the present disclosure. The swappable battery system works in two phases, i.e., Charging phase and discharging phase. In the charging phase, the charge modulator charges the first battery and second battery from the power supplied to the charging socket. In the discharging phase, the charge modulator is configured to charge the first battery from the electric charge available in the second battery and the first battery runs the load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS?

FIG.1 is a schematic representation of a conventional swappable battery system.

FIG.2 is a schematic representation of a swappable battery system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a charge modulator of the swappable battery system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERAL?

10

:

Conventional swappable battery system (Prior Art)

12

:

Main battery (Prior Art)

14

:

Co-battery (Prior Art)

16

:

Input power source (Prior Art)

18

:

Load (Prior Art)

100?

:

Swappable battery system

102?

:

Charging socket

104?

:

First battery

106

:

Second battery

108

:

Load

110

:

Charge modulator

112

:

Buck converter

114

:

Boost converter

116

:

Switching device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.?

The terminology used in the present disclosure is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a," "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.??

The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third, etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.?

Conventional swappable battery systems (10) comprise a co-battery arrangement of two batteries - a main battery (12) and a co-battery (14), wherein both the batteries are of same specifications of 21 Ah at 48V and 1.1 kW. In such systems, both the batteries are connected to input power source (16) and load (18) as shown in prior art FIG. 1.

Disadvantage of such conventional swappable battery system is that both the batteries are required to be of same specification. Further, batteries of large sizes cannot be used, as they are heavy to swap during battery swapping.

At present, there is no such vehicle that uses a co-battery system, wherein one battery is of high capacity to provide long-range travelling and other battery is of medium capacity to provide ease of swapping.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a swappable battery system which solves the problem mentioned hereinabove. FIG.2, illustrate a swappable battery system (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The swappable battery system (100) is for long range electric vehicles. The swappable battery system (100) comprises a charging socket (102), a first battery (104), a second battery (106), a load (108) and a charge modulator (110).

The input socket (102) is configured to receive power input for charging. The charge modulator (110) is electrically connected with the charging socket (102), first battery (104) and second battery (106). During charging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) is configured to charge the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102). While discharging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) is configured to charge the first battery (102) from the electric charge available in the second battery (106).

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the charge modulator (110) comprises a buck converter (112), a boost converter (114) and a switching device (116). The buck converter (112) is configured to step down the incoming voltage from the charging socket (102) to charge the first battery (104) and the second battery (106) during charging. The boost converter (114) is configured to step up the voltage to charge the first battery (104) from the charge available in the second battery (106) during discharging. The switching device (116) is configured to disconnect the first battery (104) from second battery (106), while charging the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102). The switching device (116) also connects the first battery (104) to the second battery (106) while discharging to charge the first battery (104) from the charge available in the second battery (106).

The first battery (104) is of first predetermined capacity, wherein the first predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 40 - 1000 ampere hours (Ah). The Voltage potential of the first battery (104) is in range of 12 volts to 240 volts. In a preferred embodiment, specification of the first battery (104) is 52 Ah at 72V and 3.8 kW.

The second battery (106) is of second predetermined capacity, wherein the second predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 10 - 150 ampere hours (Ah). The Voltage potential of the second battery (106) is in range of 12 volts to 240 volts. In a preferred embodiment, specification of the second battery (106) 21 Ah at 48V and 1.1 kW.

In an embodiment, the second battery (106) is the swappable battery in the swappable battery system (100. During discharging of the swappable battery system (100), the second battery (106) is also configured to charge the first battery (104) from the charge available in the second battery (106).

The load (108) is having a power demand in the range of 1 – 25 kW. The load is selected from a driving motor of an electric car, an electric bus, an electric drone, an electric bike, an electric robot or an electric scooter.

In an exemplified embodiment, the conventional electric scooter uses two batteries of 48 volts at 21 Ah that provides 2.016 kWh charge. However, the swappable battery system of the present disclosure uses one battery of 72 V of 52 Ah and one of 48 V of 21 Ah that provides 4.752 kWh charge for running the vehicle. Therefore, the distance travelling range of the vehicles having swappable battery system of the present disclosure is at least twice of that provided by the conventional swappable battery systems.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the swappable battery system uses two second batteries with one first battery to further increase the range of the electric vehicle.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of operating the swappable battery system of the present disclosure. The swappable battery system works in two phases, i.e., Charging phase and discharging phase. In the charging phase, the charge modulator (110) charges the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102). In the discharging phase, the charge modulator (110) is configured to charge the first battery (102) from the electric charge available in the second battery (106) and the first battery (104) runs the load (108).

In an embodiment, when the battery system (100) is completely discharged. The discharged second battery (106) is swapped with a charged battery, then that second charged battery first charges the first battery (104) and then that charged first battery (104) runs the load (108).

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS??

The present disclosure described hereinabove has several technical advantages including, but not limited to a swappable battery system.

The technical advancements are enumerated hereunder:??

In swappable battery system of the present disclosure, one battery is of high capacity to provide long-range travelling and other battery is of medium capacity to provide ease of swapping.

Single on-board charger is required to charge both the batteries.

The range of the electric vehicle having the swappable battery system of the present disclosure is almost twice as compared to the range of electric vehicles having conventional swappable battery systems.

The numerical values given for various physical parameters, dimensions, and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions, and quantities fall within the scope of the invention unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. , Claims:We Claim:??

A swappable battery system (100) for long range electric vehicles, wherein the swappable battery system (100) comprises:

at least one charging socket (102), wherein the charging socket (102) is configured to receive power input for charging.

at least one first battery (104) of first predetermined capacity;

at least one second battery (106) of second predetermined capacity, wherein the second battery is swappable;

at least one load (108) electrically connected with the first battery (104);

at least one charge modulator (110) electrically connected with the charging socket (102), first battery (104) and second battery (106), wherein:

while charging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) is configured to charge the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102); and

While discharging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) is configured to charge the first battery (102) from the electric charge available in the second battery (106).

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charge modulator (110) comprises:

at least one buck converter configured to step down the incoming voltage from the charging socket (102) to charge the first battery (104) and the second battery (106) during charging;

at least one boost converter to step up the voltage to charge the first battery (104) from the charge available in the second battery (106) during discharging;

at least one switching device configured to disconnect the first battery (104) from second battery (106) while charging to charge the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102), and

the switching device also connect the first battery (104) to the second battery (106) while discharging to charge the first battery (104) from the charge available in the second battery (106).

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein voltage potential of the first battery and the second battery is in range of 12 volts to 240 volts.

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 40 - 1000 ampere hours (Ah).

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein preferable specification of the first battery is 52 Ah at 72V and 3.8 kW.

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second predetermined capacity is selected from the range of 10 - 150 ampere hours (Ah).

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein preferably specification of the second battery is of specification is 21 Ah at 48V and 1.1 kW.

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein only one on-board charger capable of charging the first battery (104) is required to charge the swappable battery system (100).

The swappable battery system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load (108) is having a power demand in the range of 1 – 25 kW.

A method of operating the swappable battery system (100), wherein the method comprises following steps:

Charging,

during charging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) charges the first battery (104) and second battery (106) from the power supplied to the charging socket (102); and

Discharging,

during discharging of the swappable battery system (100), the charge modulator (110) charges the first battery (102) from the electric charge available in the second battery (106) and the first battery (104) runs the load (108).