Battery temperature regulating system and method for an electric vehicle, battery housing box for an electric vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same

An electric vehicle comprising:

• a battery placed between a front wheel and a rear wheel in the vehicle;
• said battery comprising a plurality of cells;
• a housing box for receiving said battery therein;
• a lid body having inlet ports and an outlet port formed therein, said inlet ports configured and arranged to receive air from an area forward of the housing box during operation of the vehicle;
• said outlet port being configured to discharge air rearwardly from the housing box;
• a fan for discharging air from the housing box through the outlet port;
• said lid body having a bypass passage formed therein, said bypass passage operatively connecting a downstream side of said fan with the inlet ports;
• a first air flow control valve for selectively controlling flow of air from the inlet ports to the housing box, or from an exit of the bypass passage to the housing box;
• and
• a second air flow control valve for selectively controlling flow of air from the housing box to the outlet port, or from the housing box to an entrance of the bypass passage.

A method of regulating a temperature of a battery in an electric vehicle, said battery being disposed in a battery compartment of a battery housing structure arranged between front and rear wheels of the vehicle;

• the battery housing structure comprising a fan;
• and a lid body having inlet ports, an outlet port and a bypass passage connecting downstream side of said fan with said inlet ports formed therein;
• a first air flow control valve for selectively controlling flow of air from the inlet ports to the housing box, or from an exit of the bypass passage to the housing box;
• a second air flow control valve for selectively controlling flow of air from the housing box to the outlet port, or from the housing box to an entrance of the bypass passage;
• a controller for controlling operations of said first and second air flow control valves;
• and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of said battery;
• said method comprising the steps of
• sensing a present temperature of said battery using a temperature sensor;
• controlling the first air flow control valve and the second air flow control valve such that air flows from said inlets to outlet port via said battery compartment when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than a reference value;
• and
• controlling at least one of the first air flow control valve and the second air flow control valve such that said inlet ports and said outlet port are closed and air re-circulates within said battery housing structure when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is lower than said reference value.