# US 12,603,376 B2 · Modular shareable battery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,376 B2 - Document ID: US12603376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/924,002 - Filed: 2024-10-23 - Published: 2025-04-24 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-10-23 - Assignees: Alfred S. Fairbanks - Applicants: Alfred S. Fairbanks; Douglas N. Modlin - Inventors: Alfred S. Fairbanks; Douglas N. Modlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603376B2 ## CPC - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - H01M 50/258: Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 1/006: {to power outlets} - B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors} - B60L 3/04: Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions (protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H) - B60L 3/12: Recording operating variables {; Monitoring of operating variables} - B60L 53/80: Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries - B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules - B60L 58/22: Balancing the charge of battery modules - B60L 58/24: for controlling the temperature of batteries - B60R 16/033: characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/443: {in response to temperature} - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/615: Heating or keeping warm - H01M 10/625: Vehicles - H01M 10/6563: with forced flow, e.g. by blowers - H01M 10/6572: Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices - H01M 16/00: Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators - H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) - B60L 2210/40: DC to AC converters - B60L 2240/54: related to batteries - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Examples relate to vehicle battery systems comprising a base unit connectable to a vehicle's electrical system, a removable modular replaceable battery, and a secondary battery within the base unit. The base unit is configured to interchangeably use modular replaceable batteries of different chemistries. Control circuits optimize charging and discharging parameters based on battery chemistries. The secondary battery provides power when the modular battery is removed. The system includes thermal management, compatibility with lead-acid charging systems, and mobile base unit functionality. The modular battery can power external devices and can foreseeably store energy up to and beyond 1 kWh. The system operates at various voltages suitable for different vehicle types. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle battery system comprising: a modular replaceable battery comprising one or more battery cells configured as a battery pack and an electrical connector for establishing electrical connection to the battery pack; a base unit connectable to an electrical system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle; the base unit comprising: a housing installable and securable in the ICE vehicle in place of a standard-size vehicle battery; positive and negative electrical terminals to connect the housing to the electrical system of the ICE vehicle; a bay defined at least partially within the housing to removably secure the modular replaceable battery within the base unit, the bay further comprising: a compatible electrical connector to electrically connect to the electrical connector of the modular replaceable battery when the modular replaceable battery is inserted into the bay; and an alignment mechanism to operatively orient the modular replaceable battery within the bay and to align the electrical connector of the modular replaceable battery with the compatible electrical connector of the bay; a secondary battery within the base unit and electrically connected to the base unit, the secondary battery to provide power to the base unit and to at least one of: function as a keep-alive battery to provide power to at least a subset of electronic systems of the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is at least one of removed from the base unit or discharged; or enable starting of the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is at least one of removed or discharged, wherein the modular replaceable battery is interchangeable between the base unit and a compatible base unit, the compatible base unit having a compatible bay to removably secure the modular replaceable battery within the compatible base unit; and wherein the base unit further comprises a start-disable switch to selectively enable or disable the secondary battery from being able to start the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is removed from the base unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is configured to interchangeably use modular replaceable batteries of different chemistries, and wherein the base unit further comprises control circuits designed to control charging and discharging parameters based on detecting the chemistries of the modular replaceable battery and the secondary battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a distributed battery management system across the base unit, the modular replaceable battery, and the secondary battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the secondary battery comprises at least one of: a super capacitor to enable the starting of the ICE vehicle, or a chemical battery to function as the keep-alive battery to provide power to at least the subset of electronic systems of the ICE vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is configured to be recharged from the modular replaceable battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal management system configured to maintain a temperature of the modular replaceable battery within a determined operating temperature range and regulate the temperature based on thermal characteristics of a battery chemistry of the modular replaceable battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle battery system of claim 6, wherein the thermal management system comprises at least one of an inward facing air circulation device, an outward facing air circulation device or a thermoelectric device sandwiched between an inward-facing heat exchanger and air circulation device and an outward-facing heat exchanger and the air circulation device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to monitor and control the modular replaceable battery and the secondary battery, wherein the controller is configured to detect at least one of presence, absence or state charge of the modular replaceable battery and to implement rules for determining whether to allow the ICE vehicle to start or to charge the modular replaceable battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile base unit configured to receive the modular replaceable battery when removed from the base unit, wherein the modular replaceable battery is configured to be removed from the base unit and provide energy storage for the mobile base unit and to enable the mobile base unit to provide electrical power to one or more external devices through one or more electrical connectors, and the mobile base unit further comprises a direct current to alternating current inverter configured to convert stored energy to alternating current for powering the one or more external devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle battery system of claim 9, further comprising a second modular replaceable battery that is hot-swappable allowing the mobile base unit to operationally provide an uninterrupted source of electrical power to the one or more external devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a compatibility controller configured to provide compatibility between a lead-acid battery charging system of the ICE vehicle and the modular replaceable battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the modular replaceable battery comprises a battery management system configured to monitor at least one cell voltage of the modular replaceable battery and manage charging or discharging of the modular replaceable battery when at least one of voltage, current, or temperature limits is exceeded while maintaining a determinable state of operation of the electrical system of a vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises an alignment key mechanism to form a mating and aligned engagement between the modular replaceable battery and the bay of the base unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a casing for the modular replaceable battery with an asymmetrical shape that corresponds to an asymmetrical shape of the bay of the base unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, further comprising a current limiting component within the base unit configured to limit charging current to the modular replaceable battery when the modular replaceable battery is in a depleted state, wherein the current limiting component protects a vehicle alternator of the ICE vehicle from current draw and power output exceeding a predetermined operating capacity of the alternator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle battery system of claim 15, wherein the current limiting component comprises at least one of: a resistor having a resistance value between 0.01 and 5 Ohms; or an active circuit configured to dynamically adjust current flow between the vehicle alternator and the modular replaceable battery based on at least one of a charging state of the modular replaceable battery or a load condition of the ICE vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery system of claim 1, comprising a mechanically or electronically actuated locking mechanism to mechanically retain the modular replaceable battery in the base unit, release of the locking mechanism requiring unlocking of the mechanical or electronic actuated mechanism to prevent theft of the modular replaceable battery from the base unit. ### Claim 18 A base unit for a vehicle battery system, the base unit comprising: a housing installable and securable in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle in place of a vehicle battery; positive and negative electrical terminals to connect the housing to an electrical system of the ICE vehicle; a first compartment configured to removably secure a modular replaceable battery, the first compartment comprising: an electrical connector within the first compartment to electrically connect to a compatible electrical connector of the modular replaceable battery when the modular replaceable battery is inserted into the first compartment; and an alignment mechanism to operatively orient the modular replaceable battery within the first compartment and to align the electrical connector of the modular replaceable battery with the electrical connector of the first compartment; a second compartment configured to secure a secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery comprises at least one of: a chemical battery to provide power to at least a subset of electronic systems of the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is at least one of removed from the base unit or discharged; or a super capacitor to enable starting of the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is at least one of removed or discharged; electrical connections configured to electrically connect the modular replaceable battery and the secondary battery to the electrical system of the ICE vehicle; and a start-disable switch to selectively enable or disable the secondary battery from being able to start the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is removed from the base unit. ### Claim 19 A battery set comprising a modular replaceable battery for an internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicle battery system and an associated secondary battery, the modular replaceable battery comprising: a housing configured to be removably securable within a compartment configured within a base unit, the base unit permanently mountable in place of a standard vehicle battery; one or more battery cells within the housing configured as a battery pack capable of operating an ICE powered vehicle; an electrical connector within the housing and configured to establish electrical connections with a corresponding electrical connector in the compartment when the modular replaceable battery is removably inserted into the compartment; an alignment component incorporated into the compartment, the alignment component ensuring correct orientation and secure positioning when a form-fit modular replaceable battery is removably secured in the compartment; and a communication system configured to communicate information about the modular replaceable battery to the base unit, wherein the information includes at least one of a feature, a state, a characteristic or an identity of the modular replaceable battery, and wherein the base unit further comprises a start-disable switch to selectively enable or disable the secondary battery from being able to start the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is removed from the base unit. ### Claim 20 A method for manufacturing a vehicle battery system, the method comprising: forming a base unit installable and securable in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle in place of a vehicle battery; forming a bay within the base unit to removably secure a modular replaceable battery, the bay comprising: an electrical connector within the bay to electrically connect to a compatible electrical connector of the modular replaceable battery when the modular replaceable battery is inserted into a form-fit compatible bay; and an alignment mechanism to operatively orient the modular replaceable battery within the bay; installing a secondary battery within the base unit and configuring the secondary battery to provide power to at least a subset of electronic systems of the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is at least one of removed from the base unit or discharged; installing a start-disable switch to selectively enable or disable the secondary battery from being able to start the ICE vehicle when the modular replaceable battery is removed from the base unit; and implementing a current limiting component within the base unit configured to any one of limit charging current to the modular replaceable battery when the modular replaceable battery is in a depleted state to at least one of: protect an alternator of the ICE vehicle from a current draw and power output exceeding a predetermined operating limit of the alternator, or protect the modular replaceable battery by limiting the charging current to within a predefined operating limit of the modular replaceable battery.