MULTI-FUNCTION TANK

1 . A vehicle sub-structure, comprising:

means for arraying pluralities of electrical power cells into a plurality of groups, the plurality of electrical power cells of each of the plurality of groups being connected in series;

a switch set for selectively interconnecting the plurality of groups of electrical power cells in a selected one of a plurality of possible orders; and

a conformal enclosure for the plurality of groups of electrical power cells.

2 . The vehicle sub-structure as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

an auxiliary storage element within the conformal enclosure.

3 . The vehicle sub-structure as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the auxiliary storage element is

a fluid storage tank.

4 . The vehicle sub-structure as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the conformal enclosure is a cylindrical tank.

5 . The vehicle sub-structure as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a fluid storage tank nested within the plurality of groups of electrical power cells.

6 . The vehicle sub-structure as set forth in claim 5 , further comprising:

means for transferring heat relative to the fluid storage tank and the plurality of groups of electrical power cells.

8 . A motor vehicle comprising:

a frame rail;

a storage vessel depending from the frame rail;

an auxiliary vessel located within the storage vessel;

a plurality of electrical power cells arrayed within the storage vessel dispersed around the auxiliary vessel in a plurality of bands; and

switch means for interconnecting the plurality of bands in series in different electrical sequences.

9 . The motor vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:

each of the plurality of bands carrying a plurality of electrical power cells with each of the plurality of the electrical power cells being connected in series.

10 . The motor vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:

the switch means comprising a rotation plate assembly having a rotatable element and a non-rotatable element; and

an indicator located outside of the storage vessel providing visual indication of sequence in which the plurality of bands are connected.

11 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:

a linkage for manually rotating the rotatable element.

12 . The motor vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:

a fuel tank depending from the frame rail;

the storage vessel conforming in cross-sectional width and height to the fuel tank and being located longitudinally aligned with the fuel tank.

13 . The motor vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:

heat transfer lines through the storage vessel.

14 . A storage system comprising:

a tank;

an auxiliary vessel located within the tank;

a plurality of electrical power cells located in the tank; and

switch means for interconnecting the plurality of electrical power cells in series in selected sequences.

15 . The storage system of claim 14 , further comprising:

the plurality of electrical power cells being located radially distributed around the auxiliary vessel in a plurality of bands; and

the electrical power cells of each of the plurality of bands being connected in series.

16 . The storage system of claim 15 , further comprising:

the switch means being operable to connect the plurality of bands in selected orders; and

selection means accessible externally to the tank for operating the switch means.

17 . The storage system of claim 16 , further comprising:

the switch means comprising a rotation plate carrying a plurality of electrical contacts and a fixed plate juxtaposed the rotation plate, the fixed plate carrying a plurality of electrical contacts connected to the plurality of electrical power cells of each of the plurality of bands.

18 . The storage system of claim 17 , further comprising:

coolant tubes disposed adjacent each of the plurality of bands.