Methods and Systems for Energy Exchange Between Vehicles

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This invention relates to a method and system for direct exchange of electric energy between two or more moving, electrically-powered vehicles, such as electric cars, while they are in motion. The system allows vehicles with surplus battery energy to transfer electricity to vehicles in need via physical or wireless coupling methods, such as inductive, direct contact, or laser-based energy transfer. Vehicles coordinate their routes so that they travel closely together for a certain distance to enable the energy transfer without stopping, and the system can work autonomously or with centralized coordination.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Peer-to-peer energy sharing among electric vehicles (EVs) on highways or in urban environments.
• Mobile EV "rescue"—an EV with excess charge assists another that would otherwise run out of power before reaching a charging station.
• Fleet management for ride-sharing or logistics companies to distribute energy within vehicle fleets for optimized operations.
• Temporary mobile charging for autonomous vehicles to extend range during long trips without stationary charging infrastructure.
• Convoy or platoon travel, where leading vehicles replenish the batteries of following vehicles in real time.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Greatly extends the effective range of electric vehicles, reducing range anxiety and dependence on fixed charging infrastructure.
• Minimizes downtime caused by charging stops, improving the efficiency of electric vehicle use.
• Enables flexible, dynamic energy distribution within vehicle fleets, supporting autonomous and on-demand vehicle applications.
• Reduces the need for a dense network of stationary charging stations, potentially lowering infrastructure costs.
• Improves operational resilience, offering backup charging options in situations where access to power is limited.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the exchange of electrical energy between at least two moving, electrically powered vehicles, comprising the following steps: providing a first and a second electrically powered vehicle, having a respective electrical energy store, wherein the vehicle can be electrically powered by means of energy stored therein, the energy store of the first and the second vehicle can emit or receive electrical energy, and the first and second vehicles move or are to be moved along a first or second route; changing the first and second routes in such a way that both changed routes coincide along a route section; steering the first and second vehicle along the changed first and second route in such a way that both the vehicles move along the coinciding route section at a distance to one another that is smaller than a predefined maximum distance; and transferring electrical energy from the energy store of the first vehicle to the energy store of the second vehicle while both the vehicles move along the coinciding route section. The invention also relates to a system and an electrically powered vehicle.