Granted Patent B2

US 12,722,509 · App. 18/218,041 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventor: Morgan D. Rosenberg (Alexandria, VA)

B60L53/20B60L2210/12B60L2210/14B60L2210/30

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . An electric vehicle with a fast charging system, comprising:

a motor for driving at least one wheel of the electric vehicle;

a battery in electrical communication with the motor for providing electrical power thereto;

at least one capacitor in selective electrical communication with the battery for supplying charging current thereto, wherein the at least one capacitor is disposed onboard the electric vehicle;

a charging port in electrical communication with the at least one capacitor for charging the at least one capacitor, wherein the charging port is configured for electrical connection with a power source external to the electric vehicle for charging the at least one capacitor with the power source;

a first switch;

a second switch;

an inductor;

a resistor;

a secondary capacitor; and

first, second and third diodes,

wherein the battery is connected in parallel with the resistor, the secondary capacitor and the first diode,

wherein the first switch is connected between the at least one capacitor and the first diode, such that, when the first switch is closed, the at least one capacitor is connected in parallel with the resistor, the secondary capacitor and the first diode,

wherein the third diode is connected between the secondary capacitor and the resistor,

wherein the inductor and the second diode are connected in series between the first switch and the third diode,

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the second switch is connected in parallel with the first diode, the secondary capacitor, the resistor and the battery,

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the inductor is connected between the first diode and the second switch, and

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the second diode is connected between the second switch and the secondary capacitor.

2 . The electric vehicle with a fast charging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one capacitor comprises at least one supercapacitor.

3 . The electric vehicle with a fast charging system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an inverter in electrical communication with and between the motor and the battery.

4 . The electric vehicle with a fast charging system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an onboard charger in electrical communication with and between the charging port and the at least one capacitor for converting AC charging current to DC charging current.

5 . The electric vehicle with a fast charging system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to selectively discharge the at least one capacitor to charge the battery.

6 . The electric vehicle with a fast charging system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least partially charge the battery from the at least one capacitor while the electric vehicle is in motion.

7 . A method of charging an electric vehicle, comprising the steps of:

charging at least one capacitor from a power source external to the electric vehicle, the at least one capacitor being disposed onboard the electric vehicle;

electrically connecting the at least one capacitor to a battery of the electric vehicle; and

discharging the at least one capacitor to charge the battery from the at least one capacitor,

wherein the step of electrically connecting the at least one capacitor to the battery comprises electrically connecting the at least one capacitor to the battery through a circuit, and wherein the circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, an inductor, a resistor, a secondary capacitor and first, second and third diodes,

wherein the battery is connected in parallel with the resistor, the secondary capacitor and the first diode,

wherein the first switch is connected between the at least one capacitor and the first diode, such that, when the first switch is closed, the at least one capacitor is connected in parallel with the resistor, the secondary capacitor and the first diode,

wherein the third diode is connected between the secondary capacitor and the resistor,

wherein the inductor and the second diode are connected in series between the first switch and the third diode,

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the second switch is connected in parallel with the first diode, the secondary capacitor, the resistor and the battery,

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the inductor is connected between the first diode and the second switch, and

wherein, when the second switch is closed, the second diode is connected between the second switch and the secondary capacitor.

8 . The method of charging an electric vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the step of charging the at least one capacitor comprises charging at least one supercapacitor, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is disposed onboard the electric vehicle.

9 . The method of charging an electric vehicle as recited in claim 7 , further comprising the step of converting AC current from the power source to DC current, wherein the step of charging the at least one capacitor comprises charging the at least one capacitor with the DC current.

10 . The method of charging an electric vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the step of discharging the at least one capacitor to charge the battery occurs at least partially while the electric vehicle is in motion.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (11)