Wind based load isolated electrical charging system

1. An electric propulsion system for an electric vehicle to supply electric energy to drive a load comprising an electric drive motor of the electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply system including at a least first and second power supply units, each power supply unit having an input and an output and including electric batteries initially charged prior to operation, connected in electrical series or electrical parallel between the input and output and producing electrical energy at the output, a discharge of the batteries determining a driving range of the vehicle;

a wind generator having a generator output and being powered by wind to generate electric energy at the generator output in a recharging mode, and having a rest mode in which the wind generator, when rotating freely, produces no electric energy at the generator output;

a combiner for being coupled to the drive motor and receiving electric energy from one of the first and second power supply units and ensuring a continuous flow of electric supply to the drive motor without intermittence; and

an intermediate section

configured during a first cycle to connect the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and to couple the electric output of the first power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connect the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit, and

configured during a second cycle to connect the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and to couple the electric output of the second power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connect the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit;

with electrical isolation maintained between the recharging circuits and the drive load of the vehicle.

2. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section includes a first cycle of operation, wherein the output from power supply unit is connected to electric drive motor and the input of the second power supply unit is connected to the generator output for recharging, and a second cycle of operation, wherein the input of the first power supply unit is connected to the generator output for recharging and the output from the second power supply unit is connected to the electric drive motor.

3. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , including a bypass switch to switch the energy storage devices of each respective power supply unit to electrical parallel.

4. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section is electro mechanical or electronic.

5. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section has at least two contact members to which the outputs from the power supply units and input from the wind generator are connected.

6. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the contact members are made of electrically conducting material, split with insulation between polarities, and arranged on a common or different shaft driven by a motor.

7. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the wind generator is detachably mountable on the vehicle and suitably positioned to receive maximum headwind during motion.

8. The electric propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the wind generator may be disengaged from the power supply system or fully removed or detached from the vehicle.

9. A power supply system for an electric drive motor, comprising:

at least first and second power supply units, each power supply unit having an input and an output and including electric batteries, initially charged prior to operation, connected in electrical series or electrical parallel between the input and output and producing electric energy at the output, a discharge of the batteries determine a driving rate of the vehicle;

a wind generator having a generator output and being powered by wind to generate electric energy at the generator output in a recharging mode, and having a rest mode in which the wind generator, when rotating freely, produces no electric energy at the generator output;

a combiner for being coupled to the drive motor and receiving electric energy from one of the first and second power supply units and ensuring a continuous flow of electric supply to the drive motor without intermittence; and

an intermediate section

configured during a first cycle to connect the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and to couple the electric output of the first power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connect the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit, and

configured during a second cycle to connect the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and to couple the electric output of the second power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connect the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit;

wherein complete electrical isolation is maintained between the charging of the batteries and the drive motor during each time period.

10. A wind mill using a power supply system as claimed in claim 9 .

11. A method of operating an electric power supply system for a load comprising an electric drive motor, the electric power supply system including first and second power supply units, a recharging system comprising a wind generator for recharging the power supply units with the wind generator having a rest mode and a recharging mode, the power supply units being initially charged prior to operation, wherein a discharge of the power supply units determines a driving range of the vehicle, and a combiner, the method comprising:

operating an intermediate section coupled between the power supply units of the power supply system and the electric drive motor by connecting,

in a first cycle of operation, the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and coupling the electric output of the first power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connecting the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit, and

in a second cycle of operation, the energy storage devices of the second power supply unit in electrical series with the wind generator in rest mode, and coupling the electric output of the second power supply unit to the combiner for supplying electrical energy to the electric drive motor, and simultaneously connecting the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit in electrical parallel with the wind generator for recharging the energy storage devices of the first power supply unit;

maintaining electrical isolation of the recharging system and the load during cycles; and

combining outputs of the first and second power supplies at the combiner coupled to the electric drive motor, wherein the electric drive motor receives electric energy from one of the first and second power supply units which avoids intermittence due to a shifting in the intermediate section.