Electric vehicle with secondary battery power storage system

Abstract

The present invention provides a distributed secondary battery type power storage system capable of maintaining the soundness of the secondary battery and of efficient electric power charging and discharging operations. The secondary battery power storage system comprises a secondary battery connected to a load, a charge/discharge unit connectable to a power system and connected to the secondary battery, and a plurality of loads connected to the charge/discharge unit. A power receiving object is selected and a capacity is determined on the basis of information about the operating condition of the plurality of loads, and the surplus electric power remaining in the secondary battery after feeding electric power from the secondary battery to the load is fed to the selected power receiving object through the charge/discharge unit. The secondary battery power storage system is capable of maintaining the soundness of the secondary battery and of efficient charging and discharging operation.

1. An electric vehicle comprising:
 a secondary battery ( 3 );  
 a secondary battery load ( 1 ) being connectable to said secondary battery ( 3 ); and  
 means ( 7 ) for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery ( 3 ) such that electric power in the secondary battery ( 3 ) is discharged when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery ( 3 ) is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery ( 3 ).  
 
     
     
       2. An electric vehicle comprising:
 a connection unit ( 2 ) connectable to at least one load ( 5 );  
 means for connecting said connection unit ( 2 ) to a secondary battery ( 3 ), said secondary battery ( 3 ) being connectable to a secondary battery load ( 1 );  
 means ( 7 ) for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery ( 3 ); and  
 control means ( 6 ) for controlling said connection unit ( 2 ) on the basis of information received from the at least one load ( 5 ), such that electric power in the secondary battery ( 3 ) is discharged to a selected at least one of said at least one load ( 5 ) when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery ( 3 ) is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery ( 3 ).  
 
     
     
       3. An electric vehicle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said connection unit ( 2 ) is connectable to the at least one load ( 5 ) and to at least one electric power storage unit ( 4 ), wherein said control means ( 6 ) is for controlling said connection unit ( 2 ) on the basis of information received from the at least one load ( 5 ) and the at least one electric power storage unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
       4. An electric vehicle comprising:
 a connection unit ( 2 ) connectable to at least one electric power storage unit ( 4 );  
 means for connecting said connection unit ( 2 ) to a secondary battery ( 3 ), said secondary battery ( 3 ) being connectable to a secondary battery load ( 1 );  
 means ( 7 ) for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery ( 3 ); and  
 control means ( 6 ) for controlling said connection unit ( 2 ) on the basis of information received from the at least one electric power storage unit ( 4 ), such that electric power in the secondary battery ( 3 ) is discharged to a selected at least one of said at least one electric power storage unit ( 4 ) when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery ( 3 ).  
 
     
     
       5. A vehicle comprising:
   a secondary battery;        a secondary battery load being connectable to said secondary battery; and        means for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery such that electric power in the secondary battery is discharged when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery.     
     
     
       6. A vehicle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile. 
     
     
       7. A vehicle comprising:
   a connection unit connectable to at least one load means for connecting said connection unit to a secondary battery, said secondary battery being connectable to a secondary battery load;        means for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery; and        control means for controlling said connection unit on the basis of information received from the at least one load, such that electric power in the secondary battery is discharged to a selected at least one of said at least one load when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery.     
     
     
       8. A vehicle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said connection unit is connectable to the at least one load and to at least one electric power storage unit, wherein said control means is for controlling said connection unit on the basis of information received from the at least one load and the at least one electric power storage unit. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile. 
     
     
       11. A vehicle comprising:
   a connection unit connectable to at least one electric power storage unit;        means for connecting said connection unit to a secondary battery, said secondary battery being connectable to a secondary battery load;        means for determining an available discharge capacity of said secondary battery; and        control means for controlling said connection unit on the basis of information received from the at least one electric power storage unit, such that electric power in the secondary battery is discharged to a selected at least one of said at least one electric power storage unit when a determined surplus residual electric power of said secondary battery is within a predetermined range, prior to charging of said secondary battery.     
     
     
       12. A vehicle as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is an automobile.