Battery system for heavy duty vehicles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery system for a hybrid or an electric vehicle. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery assembly designed for easy and quick exchange of battery assemblies enabling a vehicle to resume driving much more quickly than traditional charging permits.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A battery assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 a housing having a first outwardly facing side, a second outwardly facing side, and a central portion, the housing forming an upwardly oriented surface between the first outwardly facing side and the second outwardly facing side, the first outwardly facing side and the second outwardly facing side extending in a lengthwise direction relative the electric vehicle when the battery assembly is coupled to the electric vehicle;   one or more battery units disposed within the housing; and   a mounting system disposed at least partially inward of the first outwardly facing side and the second outwardly facing side;   wherein a frame member of the electric vehicle can be disposed inward of the first outwardly facing side and the second outwardly facing side and when so disposed can be coupled to the mounting system inward of the first outwardly facing side and the second outwardly facing side.   
     
     
         3 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises an upward oriented recess formed in part by the upwardly oriented surface. 
     
     
         4 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first outwardly facing side, the second outwardly facing side, and the upwardly oriented surface form an upwardly oriented space, the upwardly oriented space accessible from a forward facing side and a rearward facing side. 
     
     
         5 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a W-shaped housing. 
     
     
         6 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is configured to be exposed to a road beneath the electric vehicle when the battery assembly is coupled to a frame member of the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting system comprises a first component coupled with the housing and a second component configured to be coupled with the frame member, the first component configured to be releasably coupled to the second component. 
     
     
         8 . The battery assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second component is configured to be coupled with a lateral portion of the frame member on an outboard side of the frame member. 
     
     
         9 . The battery assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first component comprises one or more brackets disposed adjacent to the upwardly oriented surface. 
     
     
         10 . The battery assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first component is coupled with the housing and extends away from the upwardly oriented surface to a connection portion configured to couple with the second component to suspend the battery assembly from the frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of one of the one or more battery units is disposed in a first lateral portion disposed between the central portion and the first outwardly facing side and/or in a second lateral portion disposed between the central portion and the second outwardly facing side. 
     
     
         12 . The battery assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion extend upwardly along a vertical portion of the mounting system. 
     
     
         13 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting system is configured to couple the housing to the electric vehicle from beneath the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting system comprises a pin and groove connection facilitating at least partial support of the housing on the frame member of the electric vehicle without additional fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting system is configured to support the battery assembly from only outward sides of a frame assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle assembly, comprising:
 a frame assembly comprising a frame rail; and   a frame rail mounting member coupled with the frame rail;   the battery assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting system comprises one or more brackets coupled with the housing and coupled with the frame rail mounting member at a location spaced away from the upwardly oriented surface.   
     
     
         17 . A battery assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, and a central portion;   one or more battery units disposed within the housing; and   a mounting system comprising a plurality of brackets coupled with the housing;   wherein a frame member of a vehicle can be disposed inward of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion and when so disposed can be coupled to the mounting system inward of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion to suspend the housing from the frame member of the vehicle at a location above at least a portion of an upper surface of the housing.   
     
     
         18 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion extend in a lengthwise direction relative the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a W-shaped housing. 
     
     
         20 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is configured to be exposed to a road beneath the vehicle when the battery assembly is coupled to a frame member of the vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of one of the one or more battery units is disposed in the first lateral portion and/or in the second lateral portion. 
     
     
         22 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion extend upwardly along a vertical portion of the mounting system. 
     
     
         23 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the frame member of the vehicle is a lengthwise frame member of the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting system is configured to couple the housing to the vehicle from beneath the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting system comprises a pin and groove connection facilitating at least partial support of the housing on the frame member of the vehicle without additional fasteners. 
     
     
         26 . The battery assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting system is configured to support the battery assembly from only outward sides of a frame assembly.