Electric kart and battery
An electric kart has a frame, a seat, four wheels, an electric motor operatively connected to two of the wheels, and at least one battery operatively connected to the electric motor. The at least one battery has a support structure mounted to the frame of the electric kart, and battery cells positioned on the support structure such that there is at least one air passage defined between the battery cells. Air passes through the at least one air passage when the electric kart is in motion to cool at least some of the battery cells. A battery for an electric kart is also disclosed.
1. An electric kart, comprising:
a frame;
a driver seat mounted to the frame;
two front wheels and two rear wheels operatively connected to the frame;
an electric motor operatively connected to the two rear wheels to drive the two rear wheels; and
at least one battery operatively connected to the electric motor to power the electric motor to drive the electric kart, the at least one battery having:
a support structure mounted to the frame of the electric kart, the support structure including a bottom portion mounted to the frame of the electric kart and a top portion spaced from the bottom portion;
a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger positioned on the support structure, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger defining an air passage therebetween,
the first heat exchanger including a first sleeve that extends between the bottom and top portions of the support structure,
the second heat exchanger including a second sleeve that extends between the bottom and top portions of the support structure; and
a first plurality of battery cells disposed inside the first heat exchanger and a second plurality of battery cells disposed inside the second heat exchanger, the first plurality of battery cells being received in the first sleeve, the second plurality of battery cells being received in the second sleeve, the first plurality of battery cells and the second plurality of battery cells being positioned on the support structure such that the air passage is defined between the first plurality of battery cells and the second plurality of battery cells, the air passage being configured such that motion of the electric kart induces airflow through the air passage to cool at least some battery cells of at least one of the first and second pluralities of battery cells.
2. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the air passage has a first open end and a second open end fluidly connected to the first open end; and
the air passage is positioned such that when the electric kart is in a straight forward motion, air passes in the air passage from the first open end to the second open end.
3. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a first rack disposed inside the first sleeve;
the second heat exchanger includes a second rack disposed inside the second sleeve;
at least some battery cells of the first plurality of battery cells are mounted to the first rack; and
at least some battery cells of the second plurality of battery cells are mounted to the second rack.
4. The electric kart of claim 3 , wherein:
the first sleeve has a first plurality of recesses, each recess of the first plurality of recesses having a battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells received therein; and
the second sleeve has a second plurality of recesses, each recess of the second plurality of recesses having a battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells received therein.
5. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a first rack disposed inside the first sleeve;
the first sleeve has a first plurality of recesses;
the first rack and the first plurality of recesses define a first plurality of receptacles;
the first plurality of battery cells is received in the first plurality of recesses;
the second heat exchanger includes a second rack disposed inside the second sleeve;
the second sleeve has a second plurality of recesses;
the second rack and the second plurality of recesses define a second plurality of receptacles; and
the second plurality of battery cells is received in the second plurality of recesses.
6. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
each battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells contacts the first sleeve and at least one other battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells; and
each battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells contacts the second sleeve and at least one other battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells.
7. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the first heat exchanger includes a first rack and a second rack;
the first sleeve is positioned between the first rack and the second rack;
the second heat exchanger includes a third rack and a fourth rack; and
the second sleeve is positioned between the third rack and the fourth rack.
8. The electric kart of claim 7 , wherein:
each of the first and second racks includes a plurality of receptacles;
each of the receptacles of the first and second racks has one battery cell of the first plurality of battery cells received therein;
each of the third and fourth racks includes a plurality of receptacles; and
each of the receptacles of the third and fourth racks has one battery cell of the second plurality of battery cells received therein.
9. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of battery cells is arranged into at least two rows of battery cells; and
the second plurality of battery cells is arranged into at least two rows of battery cells.
10. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the air passage is a first air passage defined by the first and second sleeves; and
the at least one battery includes:
a third heat exchanger having a third sleeve that extends between the bottom and top portions of the support structure, the third sleeve and at least one of the first and second sleeves defining a second air passage therebetween, and
a third plurality of battery cells received in the third sleeve.
11. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery includes a battery management module electrically connected to at least some battery cells of the first and second pluralities of battery cells.
12. The electric kart of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one battery includes a first battery and a second battery;
the first battery is mounted to the frame of the electric kart at least partially on one side of the driver seat; and
the second battery is mounted to the frame of the electric kart at least partially on another side of the driver seat.
13. A battery, comprising:
a support structure;
a plurality of battery cells positioned on the support structure such that there is an air passage defined between the battery cells; and
a plurality of heat exchangers positioned on the support structure to define the air passage between at least two heat exchangers of the plurality of heat exchangers,
each heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers including a sleeve, the sleeve having a plurality of recesses, each recess of the plurality of recesses receiving at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells disposed therein.
14. The battery of claim 13 , further comprising at least one rack received in the support structure, the plurality of battery cells being one of:
a) mounted to and
b) received in
the at least one rack.
15. The battery of claim 13 , wherein:
the battery includes a battery management module, and a battery management module sleeve;
the battery management module sleeve is positioned on the support structure to define an additional air passage between the battery management module sleeve and at least one of the sleeves of the heat exchangers; and
the battery management module is received in the battery management module sleeve.
16. The battery of claim 13 , further comprising a battery management module positioned on the support structure and electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells.