Patent · US Expired

Electrical vehicle

US5584355A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 1993
Grant dateDec 17, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/7072
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electrical vehicle, especially a car, comprises bodywork (2) with ground engaging wheels (3, 4) for vehicle motion over the ground, the bodywork (2) carrying an electric motor (5) to drive the vehicle via certain of the wheels (3, 4) and batteries (6A, 6B) to power the electric motor (5). The invention provides additional energy generation means comprising a tunnel (8) extending through the bodywork (2) with a turbine fan/alternator set (7) located in the tunnel at the rear of the vehicle whereby electrical energy is generated by the set (7) during vehicle motion to charge the batteries thereby improving the performance of the vehicle, especially with regard to range. The inlet (8A) to the tunnel, of bell-mouth form, at the vehicle front constitutes the major portion of the vehicles frontal area. A special alternator (15) is provided, and the vehicle can also include solar cell means (32) for battery charging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.