Vehicle energy-storage systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for storing energy for use by an electric vehicle are disclosed. Systems can include an electric vehicle battery pack including a rack configured to couple a plurality of independently removable battery strings to the vehicle, the battery strings configured to be selectively coupled in parallel to a vehicle power bus. The battery strings may include a housing, a plurality of electrochemical cells disposed within the housing, a circuit for electrically connecting the electrochemical cells, a positive high-voltage connector, a negative high-voltage connector, a switch within the housing, and a string control unit configured to control the switch. Each battery string can include a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet configured to couple with and sealingly uncouple from an external coolant supply conduit and an external coolant return conduit, and an auxiliary connector configured to couple with an external communications system and/or an external low-voltage power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of servicing an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
 uncoupling a coolant supply conduit of the electric vehicle from a coolant inlet of a first battery string located within a chassis of the electric vehicle;   uncoupling a coolant return conduit of the electric vehicle from a coolant outlet of the first battery string;   uncoupling from an auxiliary connector of the first battery string at least one of a communications system of the electric vehicle and a low-voltage power supply of the electric vehicle;   uncoupling at least one high-voltage connector of the first battery string from a power bus of the electric vehicle; and   removing the first battery string from the chassis of the electric vehicle;   wherein the first battery string comprises one of a plurality of independently removable battery strings of the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the first battery string comprises moving the battery string in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disengaging the at least one high-voltage connector comprises removing the battery string from the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing a second battery string into the chassis of the electric vehicle;   coupling at least one high-voltage connector of the second battery string to the power bus;   coupling an auxiliary connector of the second battery string to at least one of the communications system and the low-voltage power supply;   coupling the coolant supply conduit to a coolant inlet of the second battery string; and   coupling the coolant return conduit to a coolant outlet of the second battery string.