Battery exchange system for electric vehicles

An integrated battery exchange system for battery powered electric vehicles comprising:

• an interchangeable battery platform structured to hold an assembly of batteries for powering the electric vehicle, said battery platform being formed to enclose said assembly of batteries and to be mounted in the electric vehicle, said platform further comprising:
• an electrical power receptacle for electrically connecting said platform to the vehicle for powering the vehicle and to a power source for charging said assembly of batteries;
• and
• connection means for use in grasping said platform for lifting and maneuvering thereof;
• a battery-platform support structure defined in an electric vehicle for receiving and holding said battery platform, comprising:
• means defining a housing bay at the underside of the electric vehicle structured and arranged to receive said battery platform;
• retaining means for retaining said platform in said housing bay, said retaining means having an engaged position for securely retaining said platform in said housing bay under conditions of operation of the vehicle and a release position for removing said platform from said housing bay;
• and
• electrical communication means for electrically connecting said vehicle to said battery platform, said electrical communication means having a contact configuration making an electrical connection with said platform for communicating power to the vehicle and a release configuration for removing said platform from said housing bay;
• and
• a service station including an exchange substation, at which a spent battery platform in a vehicle at said exchange station is exchanged with a charged battery platform, and a staging substation, at which battery platforms are prepared for exchange, said exchange substation comprising:
• means defining a vehicle base position at said exchange station for placing said vehicle in position for battery platform exchange;
• a lift comprising:
• a primary lift assembly for raising and lowering said lift;
• a secondary lift assembly mounted on said primary lift assembly for raising and lowering said lift by smaller amounts than said primary lift assembly;
• and
• a platform receiving member mounted on said secondary lift assembly for receiving a battery platform;
• wherein said lift is positionable underneath a vehicle in said base position;
• and
• alignment means for determining the alignment of said spent battery platform as the spent platform is removed from the vehicle in registration with said housing bay and for aligning said charged battery platform corresponding to the spent platform alignment, whereby said charged battery platform is in registration with said housing bay as the charged battery platform is introduced into the housing bay;
• and
• said staging substation comprising:
• a storage rack for housing a plurality of battery platforms;
• a platform manipulator for automatically removing a battery platform from said storage rack and for transporting said battery platform therefrom;
• and
• a platform conveyance means for conveying said battery platform from said staging substation to said exchange substation;
• and
• transfer means for transfering a battery platform from said platform conveyance means to said platform receiving member for installation into said housing bay.