Future Non static battery placement
Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 9:59 am
So not exactly in the vein of structural battery utilization, maybe heading the alternative direction?
My thinking, here out loud, batteries are a large part of vehicle mass with electrics, beyond the motor itself. It seems it needs to be always considered the battery has a useful limited lifespan, and replacement at least once will be required. Because of its mass and density, its placement on the vehicle is always a consideration, lower, and more centered being normal goals. It also is likely somewhat conformable in final shape, ie, doesn't need to need to be a single unit/mass.
So with new electric PU's on the horizon, which will need greater battery capacity (meaning size/weight) than many current typical auto offerings, and the fact most PU's have higher ground clearance, and my observations most PU operate at effectively zero load carry at 50% of the time ( this number is just my guess), leads me the following questions/idea.
Would an underslung, relatively flat, single unit battery pack, be a significant advantage in ride, handling, aero, replacement, safety, etc, if it was was dynamically moveable to optimise the COG for varying load and/or driving conditions? My thinking in beginning development, the battery movement would be very slow, but if found later to be real world effective, speed of movement of the battery could be increased, almost like a side rider on motorcycle racing sidecar. As electrical technology is improved in capacity/density, using another electrical motor for main battery movement would be an easy adaption. It seems active suspension could address many of the above concerns, with greater complexity, but not as well in the end, as optimized COG is hard to mimic?
My thinking, here out loud, batteries are a large part of vehicle mass with electrics, beyond the motor itself. It seems it needs to be always considered the battery has a useful limited lifespan, and replacement at least once will be required. Because of its mass and density, its placement on the vehicle is always a consideration, lower, and more centered being normal goals. It also is likely somewhat conformable in final shape, ie, doesn't need to need to be a single unit/mass.
So with new electric PU's on the horizon, which will need greater battery capacity (meaning size/weight) than many current typical auto offerings, and the fact most PU's have higher ground clearance, and my observations most PU operate at effectively zero load carry at 50% of the time ( this number is just my guess), leads me the following questions/idea.
Would an underslung, relatively flat, single unit battery pack, be a significant advantage in ride, handling, aero, replacement, safety, etc, if it was was dynamically moveable to optimise the COG for varying load and/or driving conditions? My thinking in beginning development, the battery movement would be very slow, but if found later to be real world effective, speed of movement of the battery could be increased, almost like a side rider on motorcycle racing sidecar. As electrical technology is improved in capacity/density, using another electrical motor for main battery movement would be an easy adaption. It seems active suspension could address many of the above concerns, with greater complexity, but not as well in the end, as optimized COG is hard to mimic?
