Apparatus, method and article for physical security of power storage devices in vehicles

Abstract

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To avoid theft and tampering of the portable electrical energy storage devices, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is locked in and operably connected to the vehicle to which it provides power unless the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as that in a service center. Once within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device a locking mechanism in the vehicle or within the portable electrical energy storage device unlocks and allows the portable electrical energy storage device to be exchanged or serviced.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 511,900 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 647,936 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 534,753 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR REDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BETWEEN COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 534,761 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a security system for vehicles that includes a controller and comms module to verify the authentication of external devices and decide to unlock the vehicle's locking mechanism for the portable battery. A power interface is also included to provide power to the locking mechanism if the battery is not able to operate it. The technical effect is to improve security and prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle's battery.

Problems solved by technology

Also for example, electrical power may be generated at generation plants that burn relatively “clean burning” fuels (e.g., natural gas), which have higher efficiency than internal combustion engines, and / or which employ pollution control or removal systems (e.g., industrial air scrubbers) which are too large, costly or expensive for use with individual vehicles.

Cities with high numbers of combustion engine scooters and / or motorbikes also tend to be very densely populated and suffer from high levels of air pollution.

Unfortunately, factory specified levels of emission are quickly exceeded as the scooters and / or motorbikes are used and either not maintained and / or as the scooters and / or motorbikes are modified, for example by intentional or unintentional removal of catalytic converters.

Often owners or operators of scooters and / or motorbikes lack the financial resources or the motivation to maintain their vehicles.

Such diseases take large numbers of lives and severely reduce the quality of life of countless others.

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