PATENT - GB APPLICATION

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COMPATIBILITY - Before Whitworth standardized thread sizes, engineering compatibility was very hit and miss. Now, we take metric thread sizes for granted, and how much simpler for engineers - not having to invent a new size for each application. But with EVs, we don't seem to have learned that lesson yet. Each model car and van appears to have its own size pack. The SmartNet™ system caters for all sizes of vehicles, battery or hydrogen, cartridge and plug in. One size fits all - and we're going to need that, with 600,000 service stations to replace in the next 29 years - at the very latest.

A HARD SHELL TO CRACK - Help us to help the world electrify. A versatile service system, removes the resistance to Electric Vehicles, and protects private car buyers against making the wrong choice. Development of the proposed energy infrastructure is dependent on car makers and energy suppliers working together to hatch the solution.

Under international patent law, a UK priority application may be used for European and other International filings within 12 months of filing the priority application. The same law applies to initial filings in any country by virtue of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

TITLE: SMART CITIES SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM - SMARTGRID

PATENT ABSTRACT

An electric vehicle rapid recharging or refuelling system using a universal format (loading method, locking mechanism and contacts or connectors) of energy cartridge that is compatible with battery and fuel cell technology and a design of service station for such universal cartridge that is economical to install and operate optionally incorporating smart load levelling technology, thus providing the basis for a cost effective and sustainable infrastructure for zero emission vehicles internationally, by way of a cornerstone for smart cities and communities.

PATENT DESCRIPTION: SMART CITIES SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM

SUMMARY or OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a solid foundation upon which the mobility infrastructure for sustainable cities and communities of the future may be developed ....

DRAFT APPLICATION FROM 2014 - TO BE RE-WRITTEN IN 2020

BACKGROUND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electrically propelled vehicles that are not tethered and so require an energy storage system upon which to draw, to enable such a vehicle to travel a practical distance at a reasonable velocity as necessary for the operators of buses, cars, vans and trucks.

Typically, the range of a vehicle from any given size of battery pack or cartridge is dependent upon the physical dimensions of the cartridge and the energy density of the battery chemistry.

In the last 40 years significant investment in research and development of batteries has focused on improving energy density, life cycle and charging speeds, whereby, there was a transition from lead-acid, to nickel-cadmium, to nickel-metal-hydride, to lithium-ion, and so on, with research continuing apace as to more energy efficient, energy dense and physically stable chemistry.

CHEMISTRY

We are not concerned here with the chemistry of the storage medium other than it is capable of being constructed to provide suitable voltages and amperages, safely and reliably. We are concerned with compatibility and interchangeability, such that upgrades in the chemical delivery system is flexible, but still remains compatible with a universally acceptable infrastructure, without which the spread of sustainable transport will take far longer than it need be, so prolonging dependence on burning fossil fuels that are considered to be responsible for global warming and the generation of carcinogenic airborne chemicals and particulates.

PLUG IN CHARGING

The most common method of recharging an EV is via a plug from a convenient charging location. To get away from the usual 4-8 hour charge time, fast-charge charging points are being introduced in Europe and the USA. The problem with fast charging points is that they still take a long time to recharge a vehicle in relation to the convenience of petrol or diesel transport, long enough that fast charging is not compatible with the speed of city life.

NETWORK DEMAND

The other problem is that there is and will be greater demand for peak generated power if roadside or pavement charging becomes popular. As such that will require additional output from electricity generating stations, perceived as another global warming issue. If follows that if this situation is not addressed in the design of EVs and EV service facilities, that the move to zero emission transportation will not be as successful in halting climate change as politicians and voting citizens now require, but will simply move the problem sideways, rather than dealing with grass roots strategy.

SMART LOAD LEVELING

A means of keeping electricity generation at or near to its present capacity is a desirable feature in the move toward sustainability, where utilities need to run efficiently in order to make profits, but also to provide energy with the minimum of pollution. .......

DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Cars, vans and larger commercial vehicles, especially buses, have been fitted with batteries as a removable unit, or cartridge. This idea is not new and goes back to 1910-1920 with Porsche producing such a system where vehicles had a spent cartridge removed from the underside of the vehicle by a jacking system, lift or hoist.

More recently from 2011, Shai Agassi improved on the concept employed by Porsche with his Better Place company building service stations compatible with the Renault Fluence. These service installations swapped battery units from underside the vehicle using subterranean (below ground level) machinery.

In the US, Tesla are also using a similar but improved system to that developed by Better Place in terms of exchange speed, to swap battery cartridges on their model S sedans (for example). Speed of cartridge exchanges is therefore of considerable importance and may now get more attention with Formula E racing coming on stream. .........

The fastest battery cartridge exchange was, before this present invention, by a converted Rover (Metro) which used two electric motors running at 36 volts to drive its lifting mechanism via gearing and levers to raise a cartridge from the ground until it contacted with the vehicle's chassis and locked in place, also making electrical contact. This process took around 50 seconds, with additional, but far less time to unload the spent cartridge beforehand and relocate. In 2014 Tesla demonstrated a battery pack exchange system timed at about 90 seconds using a below ground (below vehicle) automated (or semi-automated) installation. In 2020, NIO have roadside battery swapping stations that exchange packs in a couple of minutes. None of these battery packs is compatible with the other.

The problem with the Better Place, Tesla and NIO systems is that the complexity and hence cost of the station that is designed to services a customer's vehicle, is/was a major stumbling block to popularizing the concept, and they only catered for cars and batteries.

In addition, the vehicles that may be serviced by the Better Place, Tesla or NIO (BPTNI) systems are designed to use their own cartridge format and these are different in configuration, hence not interchangeable, but rather encourage brand loyalty. .......... They are not compatible with more than 95% of vehicles currently in production ......

AUTONOMY

BPTNI style systems leave consumers entirely dependent on service stations for instant energy replenishment, via cartridge exchange, there is no half way level of autonomy as regards cartridge servicing, such that a vehicle might refuel itself without the need for additional equipment beside a road or perhaps with the help of an AA or RAC or other roadside assistance service such as Green Flag, who might carry a spare cartridge for customers as part of their repertoire of recovery services.

It would though be a significant advance for electric vehicles if they could look after their own needs by virtue of ...... in addition to .....

ADOPTION

BPTNI style systems do not cater for gradual acceptance and introduction where a vehicle might be serviced at local depots without the aid of any external machinery. .......

A local depot might be any arrangement with a shop or supermarket to carry stocks of universal cartridges .......

LOAD LEVELING: We cannot reveal the (proprietary) inner workings of our design for low cost service stations of the future, but this drawing was to scale in 2014, showing that the system we should like to develop for smart cities is a practical proposition for most vehicle sizes on the road today.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This present invention or combination of inventions, overcomes the identified shortcomings of existing technology as follows:-

NOT TO BE RELEASED UNTIL GRANT SAVE UNDER COVER OF A NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

PATENT CLAIMS: SMART CITIES SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM

THE INVENTION CLAIMED IS:

1. An energy ...............................

2. A ......................

NOT TO BE RELEASED UNTIL GRANT SAVE UNDER COVER OF A NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

IP LICENSING & CONTRACTS

We are likely to be granting licenses in respect of this technology to appropriate developers (associates) for a nominal fee with conditions. In addition we are preparing improvement specifications for patent filing to suit our associates and collaborative partners, such that world patent protection is obtained at a time to coincide with new product launches.

Manufacturers and energy companies not directly involved in concept development, may take licenses for service stations and energy cartridges, to supply OEM, or to operate load levelling transport infrastructures. Alternatively, a legal contract might be all that is necessary.

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