System and method for tracking and storing battery data, and utilizing the data to appropriately match batteries upon swapping

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring the health of smart battery packs in an electric vehicle and determining when one or more of the smart battery packs needs to be replaced. In addition, the system and method locate optimal smart battery packs to exchange with the one or more battery packs that need to be replaced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart battery pack, the smart battery pack comprising:
 a plurality of battery cells;   a processor;   a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;   one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the processor; and   a communication module communicatively coupled to the processor;   wherein the one or more sensors:   measure one or more measured operational parameters of each of the plurality of battery cells, and   transmit the one or more measured operational parameters to the processor;   wherein the memory stores:   a charge log that includes information on charging of the plurality of battery cells, and   a usage log that includes information on discharging of the plurality of battery cells,   wherein the processor:   receives the one or measured operational parameters for each of the plurality of battery cells;   calculates a health indicator value for each of the plurality of battery cells,   determines a battery pack health indicator value based upon the health indicator value for each of the plurality of battery cells;   wherein the communication module:   transmits the battery pack health indicator value to a receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further determines the battery pack health indicator value based on the charge log. 
     
     
         3 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further determines the battery pack health indicator value based on the usage log. 
     
     
         4 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores an error log;
 wherein the processor further:   determines one or more error conditions of the plurality of battery cells based on the one or more measured operational parameters,   saves the one or more error conditions in the error log, and   further determines the battery pack health indicator value based on the error log.   
     
     
         5 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module further:
 receives geographic location information;   wherein the processor further:   stores the geographic location information in the usage log.   
     
     
         6 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores manufacture information that includes a date of manufacture for the smart battery pack;
 wherein the processor further determines the battery pack health indicator based on the date of manufacture.   
     
     
         7 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a temperature sensor;
 wherein the processor further determines the battery pack health indicator value based on a maximum temperature measured by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The smart battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further determines the battery pack health indicator based upon an ambient temperature external to the battery pack. 
     
     
         9 . A system for monitoring batteries in an electric vehicle, the system comprising:
 a plurality of smart battery packs;   a transceiver communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of the smart battery packs;   an electric vehicle computer communicatively coupled to the transceiver;   a navigation system communicatively coupled to the electric vehicle computer; and   a communication interface communicatively coupled to the electric vehicle computer;   wherein the transceiver:   receives a unique identifier and a battery pack health indicator value for each of the plurality of smart battery packs;   wherein the electric vehicle computer:   determines one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and one or more smart battery packs to remain from the plurality of smart battery packs based on the health indicator values of the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced,   locates one or more replacement smart battery packs from a database based on the health indicator values of the one or more smart packs to remain, and   ascertains geographic locations for each of the one or more replacement smart battery packs;   wherein the navigation system:   calculates a route to be traveled from an origin to a destination, and   modifies the route to include one or more waypoints for the geographic locations;   wherein the communication interface:   transmits the unique identifier and the battery pack health indicator value for each of the plurality of smart battery packs to the database.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more battery sensors;   wherein the one or more battery sensors measure one or more operational parameters of the plurality of smart battery packs;   wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and one or more smart battery packs to remain based on the one or more operational parameters measured by the one or more battery sensors.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer to locate the one or more replacement smart battery packs from the database:
 identifies battery swap centers within a distance of a determined geographic location of the electric vehicle,   searches an inventory of smart battery packs for the identified battery swap centers to locate the one or more replacement smart battery packs based on the health indicators values of the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced, and   reserves the one or more replacement smart battery packs in the database so that the one or more replacement smart battery packs do not appear in subsequent searches of the inventory.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the electric vehicle computer to locate the one or more replacement smart battery packs from the database further:
 compares a count of the battery swap centers within the distance of the determined geographic location to a target number,   if the count is less than the target number, increases the distance to an increased distance and identifies battery swap centers within the increased distance.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further searches the inventory of smart battery packs for the identified battery swap centers based on an acceptable health range,
 wherein the acceptable health range is determined based on a highest health indicator value of the one or more smart battery packs to remain and a lowest health indicator value of the one or more smart battery packs to remain.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a replacement threshold;
 wherein the replacement threshold is determined based on stored usage information of the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a replacement threshold;
 wherein the replacement threshold is determined based on stored information about an owner of the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a telemetric device communicatively coupled to the electric vehicle computer;   wherein the telemetric device measures and records acceleration and braking information as the electric vehicle is driven;   wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a replacement threshold;   wherein the replacement threshold is determined based on stored information about an owner of the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a stored charging history of each of the plurality of smart battery packs. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a stored usage history of each of the plurality of smart battery packs. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on a stored error history of each of the plurality of smart battery packs. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor that measures an ambient temperature surrounding the plurality of smart battery packs when the electric vehicle is not in operation;   wherein the electric vehicle computer further determines the one or more smart battery packs to be replaced and the one or more smart battery packs to remain based on the ambient temperature.