Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery System

Introduction

Transportation accounts for 41% of the sources of global warming. Electric vehicles can help dramatically reduce the production of greenhouse gases. Battery systems are the key to the success of electric vehicle technology.

This report describes the technology and patenting trends related to the battery systems used in hybrid vehicles. It also describes in detail the various technical challenges faced by designers of these batteries and the innovative solutions proposed for them. The report also covers the techniques used by Nissan and Toyota's vehicles in this domain.

Rationale

Global warming emissions by sector

New Developments

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The new millennium is bringing a millennial change to the family car. A few years back, the key concerns were: These concerns led to the development of Electric Vehicle (EV?s) powered by batteries. But current battery technology does not provide EV's with a range that is acceptable to consumers. Limitations of EV?s:

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

The Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is just the first step in reducing the environmental impacts of automobile use without losing comfort, performance, storage room and extended driving range.

Advantages of HEV?s:

Components of the HEV Battery System

The battery in an HEV is the energy storage device for the electric motor. Unlike the gasoline in the fuel tank, which can only power the gasoline engine, the electric motor in a hybrid car can put energy into the battery as well as draw energy from it.

Components of the HEV Battery System

HEV battery system design parameters

Factors affecting battery performance:

Design parameters:

These questions are necessary because of the variety of battery types available and the differences between them. The chart below lists the characteristics of the most common types of batteries. (Source [1])

Battery types by descending order of popularity

Comparison of top 3 batteries used in HEVs

During recharging, it is important to maintain the balance of battery. The balance of battery is maintained by controlling battery from overcharging and over discharging.

The battery is controlled by defining State of Charge (SOC) of the battery:

When overcharge is detected, power generation is controlled/cut-off and when over discharge is detected, power supply to electric motor is stopped. Detection is achieved by appropriate sensors.

This report investigates various procedures available/adopted by various assignees in order to maintain balanced battery pack by avoiding overcharge and/or over discharge.


Lead Acid Advanced Lead Acid Nickel-Metal Hydride
Low cost Longer lifecycle than conventional lead acid High cost
Low energy density Valve regulated lead/acid (VRLA) batteries showing promise Higher energy density than lead acid; not as susceptible to heat
Longer recharging time (6-8 hours) Shorter recharging time
Only fair cycle life
Can be ruined by completely discharging them

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HEV battery system concerns

The ultimate goal of HEV can only be achieved with the balance battery pack since the main source of energy is batteries and recharging is carried out on board.

Advantages of balance battery pack:

This, in turn, provides:

Goal

This report attempts to summarize various approaches involved in maintaining battery balance. We have selected a few patents, and will show:

IP activity over the years

IP activity over the years

Assignee wise IP activity

Companies with many patents of HEV battery are arranged in decreasing order in the graph given below. Top three players are Nissan motors with (5) patent records to its credit, followed by Toyota with (4) and Acqueous (3).

Assignee wise IP activity

Competitor and Market Landscape

The left graph given below displays the assignee wise IP activity over years, according to the present data the very first patent pertaining to HEV battery charging system was filed by HYBRICON in 1978 but is not in the race anymore. Though NISSAN, AQUEOUS and TOYOTA seems to be ahead in acquiring max. number of patent to their credits, but not active since 2000. GM and HONDA have bagged single-single patent of same age in 2003.

The right graph given below displays the market (countries) eyed by various competitors. The hot market place for most competitors is Japan (17) followed by United States (11) and Germany (04). According to the present data, Nissan seems to be having strong presence in Japan market that rests with 5 patents protected, followed by Aqueous and Toyota.

We will look into their technologies in competitor approaches section latter in the report.

Competitor and Market Landscape

Distribution of patents based on Technology focus

Distribution of patents based on Technology focus

The above pie chart displaying various factors has effect on battery charge and discharge. The numbers indicating the distribution of patents in that area are from selected list of patents. The distribution of patents is based on technology focused in the patent.

IPMap

Hev ipmap.jpg

Clustering - Technology focus

Clustering - Technology focus

Technology approach

Major Players

In technology approach patent and non-patent literature is used to extract information about the technology profile of various assignees such as

technique)

Toyota Motors

Toyota.jpg

Toyota Motors - Technology Approach2
Findings

Nissan Motors

The battery is charged from the power generated by the generator and regeneration power from a motor.Electric motor functions as a generator to charge the battery when a hybrid vehicle is restarted after an idling stop released.

Nissan Motors - Technology Approach1
Nissan Motors - Technology Approach2
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