Electric vehicle air cooling system

Abstract

A vehicle that has a propulsion system operable for propelling the vehicle. The propulsion system includes a heat dissipating component that generates heat when the propulsion system is operated. An air cooling system is configured for flowing air across the heat dissipating component to extract heat therefrom and has an intake portion that can include a snorkel. The snorkel has an elongated channel open to the atmosphere at a snorkel intake for drawing in cooling air and is associated with the heat dissipating member to deliver cooling air thereto at a location that is preferably lower than the intake. Also, intake and exhaust plenums can be provided on upstream and downstream sides of the heat dissipating components, respectively, to control and direct the flow of air.

1 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 a propulsion system operable for propelling the vehicle and comprising a heat dissipating component that generates heat when the propulsion system is operated;    an air cooling system configured for flowing air across the heat dissipating component to extract heat therefrom, the air cooling system comprising an intake portion including a snorkel that includes an elongated snorkel channel open to the atmosphere at a snorkel intake for drawing in cooling air, the snorkel channel being associated with the heat dissipating member for delivering the cooling air thereto at a location lower than the first location.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipating component is a vehicle battery.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the battery comprises a plurality of batteries, and the cooling system is configured for flowing the cooling air in parallel across the batteries.  
   
   
       4 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein each battery defines cooling air passages therethrough for directing the cooling air across the batteries for extracting heat therefrom, the air passages being oriented to direct air upwards from a bottom of the batteries, wherein the snorkel is configured to direct the cooling air to the bottom of the batteries.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the air cooling system comprises an exhaust plenum disposed on a downstream side of the heat generating component from the snorkel, the plenum being configured for receiving the cooling air from the heat generating component and exhausting the cooling air to the atmosphere.  
   
   
       6 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the plenum defines separate exhaust channels for air exiting from different locations on the heat generating component.  
   
   
       7 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising a vehicle body comprising a frame portion, wherein the plenum and frame portion cooperatively define an interior cavity in which the heat generating component is housed.  
   
   
       8 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the plenum has sufficient strength and stiffness to significantly increase the stiffness of the vehicle body.  
   
   
       9 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the plenum supports a vehicle seat for a rider mounted thereon.  
   
   
       10 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein plenum defines separate exhaust channels for different locations on the heat generating component, the cooling system comprising an air mover associated with each of the exhaust channels for moving the cooling air therethrough, wherein a first of the air movers is disposed longitudinally forward of the other of the air movers, and one of said locations on the heat generating component is disposed forward of the air mover associated therewith.  
   
   
       11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the plenum defines a ramp separating the exhaust channels from each other, with one exhaust channel extending forward of and above the other at the ramp.  
   
   
       12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust channels are offset laterally with respect to each other downstream of the fans.  
   
   
       13 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the plenum has a forward portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being vertically taller than the forward portion and is disposed under a seat area of the vehicle configured for placement of a seat, wherein the front portion is sufficiently lower to define a step-through of a scooter.  
   
   
       14 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , further comprising an intake plenum connected to direct the cooling air from the snorkel to the heat dissipating component.  
   
   
       15 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the snorkel comprises first and second snorkels, and the intake opening is disposed on an upper side of a wheel space that is configured for placement of a vehicle wheel.  
   
   
       16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the vehicle wheel is a steerable front wheel.  
   
   
       17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , further comprising handle bars in steering association with the steerable front wheel for steering the vehicle.  
   
   
       18 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 a propulsion system operable for propelling the vehicle and comprising a heat dissipating component that generates heat when the propulsion system is operated;    an air cooling system configured for flowing air across the heat dissipating component to extract heat therefrom, the air cooling system comprising an exhaust plenum disposed on a downstream side of the heat dissipating component and to receive the cooling air from the component and direct the cooling air to the atmosphere, wherein the plenum defines separate exhaust channels for different locations on the heat dissipating component; and    separate fans associated with each exhaust channel for moving the cooling air therethrough.    
   
   
       19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the heat generating component comprises a plurality of batteries, and the plenum defines separate exhaust channels for different groups of said batteries.  
   
   
       20 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the cooling system comprises at least one air mover associated with the plenum for moving the cooling air through at least one of the exhaust channels.  
   
   
       21 . The vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the air movers comprise separate movers associated with each exhaust channel for moving the cooling air therethrough.