Method and system for power exchange

Abstract

A system and method for vehicle power exchange includes both a system for exchanging a container having a power cell associated with the vehicle and an appropriate vehicle which has been adapted for vehicle power exchange. Advantageously, the system includes at least one power exchange power strip, at least one container with charged power cell associated with the power strip and wireless communication associated with the power exchange strip for communicating with a vehicle to effect power exchange. An advantageous vehicle for power exchange has a removable container with power cell, a computer processor for controlling requisite functions of the vehicle during power exchange (i.e. container exchange) and a mechanism which allows for the depositing of a container with depleted power cell and insertion of a replacement container with charged power cell into the vehicle. The method in one form includes receiving a vehicle for power exchange in a first position along a power strip, communicating instructions wirelessly to the vehicle to release a container with depleted power cell from the vehicle at a first position along a power exchange strip, moving the vehicle to a second position along the power exchange strip, and inserting a container with charged power cell associated with the power exchange strip at the second position, into the vehicle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An on-board vehicle system for power exchange, the on-board vehicle system comprising:
 a removable container comprising a power cell for powering movement of a vehicle;   an computer processor for controlling requisite functions of the vehicle during power exchange including releasing the container having a depleted power cell, movement of the vehicle after the container with depleted power cell is removed and insertion of a replacement container with charged power cell into the vehicle;   a drop mechanism operatively associated with the computer processor for releasing the removable container with depleted power cell; and   a lift mechanism operatively associated with the computer processor for inserting a replacement container with charged power cell into the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary power source which provides power for the drop mechanism and the pick-up mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source powers movement of the vehicle after the container with depleted power cell has been removed from the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a cooler. 
     
     
         5 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable container has a drop mechanism contact point located off-center of a longitudinal axis of the removable container. 
     
     
         6 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 5 , wherein the drop mechanism is in contact with the off-set contact point throughout a process of releasing the container from the vehicle until the container is completely removed and placed on a surface therebelow. 
     
     
         7 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement container has a lift mechanism contact point located off-set of a longitudinal axis of the replacement container. 
     
     
         8 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 7 , wherein the lift mechanism is in contact with the off-set contact point of the replacement container throughout a process of inserting the replacement container into the vehicle, from being disposed below the vehicle until the replacement container is completely inserted into the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . An on-board vehicle system for power exchange, the on-board vehicle system comprising:
 a removable container comprising a power cell for powering movement of a vehicle, the removable container having a drop mechanism contact point located off-center of a longitudinal axis of the removable container.   
     
     
         10 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 9 , further comprising an auxiliary power source which provides power to the vehicle after the removable container has been removed from the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary power source powers movement of the vehicle after the container with depleted power cell has been removed from the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 9 , wherein a drop mechanism is in contact with the off-set contact point of the removable container throughout a process of releasing the container from the vehicle until the container is completely removed and placed on a surface therebelow. 
     
     
         13 . The on-board vehicle system of  claim 12 , wherein a lift mechanism is in contact with a longitudinally off-set contact point of a replacement container throughout a process of inserting the replacement container with charged power cell into the vehicle, from being disposed below the vehicle until the container is completely inserted into the vehicle.