Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of power battery pack technologies, and specifically, to a power battery pack, an energy storage device using the power battery pack, and an electric vehicle using the power battery pack.

In the related art, a power battery pack mainly includes an accommodating device and a plurality of battery modules mounted in the accommodating device. The battery module is assembled mainly by using a plurality of cells, and the accommodating device usually includes a bottom plate and side beams, the side beams being arranged around the bottom plate. To make the accommodating device have sufficient strength, and for convenience of mounting the battery module, a plurality of transverse beams and longitudinal beams are disposed between the side beams. The plurality of transverse beams and longitudinal beams, the side beams, and the bottom plate together define a plurality of accommodating spaces for accommodating the battery modules, and each battery module is arranged in a corresponding accommodating space.

The power battery pack has at least the following defects:.

In addition, to facilitate arrangement of the battery module, the accommodating device is generally designed to be a square or a rectangle, which has a relative low degree of matching with a shape of a chassis of a vehicle body and has a relatively low mounting area utilization of the chassis of the vehicle body. As a result, a quantity of cells mounted on the vehicle body is reduced, and an endurance capacity of a vehicle is weakened. Further background art can be found in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

The present disclosure provides a power battery pack according to claim <NUM>, an energy storage device according to claim <NUM> using the power battery pack, and an electric vehicle according to claim <NUM> using the power battery pack. The dependent claims are directed to optional features and preferred embodiments. The power battery pack can effectively improve the volume utilization of an accommodating device, thereby improving an endurance power capability of the power battery pack.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present disclosure provides a power battery pack, including an accommodating device and a plurality of cells disposed in the accommodating device, where the accommodating device includes a plurality of accommodating regions, each accommodating region has a first side edge and a second side edge disposed opposite to each other along a first direction and cells disposed between the first side edge and the second side edge, a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge along the first direction varies with different accommodating regions, each cell includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other, and a distance between the first end and the second end of at least one cell matches a distance between a corresponding first side edge and a corresponding second side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first end of the at least one cell is supported on the corresponding first side edge, and the second end of the cell is supported on the corresponding second side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a length direction of the cell is substantially perpendicular to the first side edge and the second side edge; and in each accommodating region, the distance between the first end and the second end of the cell is L1, and a distance between an inner surface of the first side edge and an inner surface of the second side edge is L2, where L1/L2≥<NUM>%.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of accommodating regions include a center region and two side regions located at two opposite sides of the center region, and a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the center region is greater than a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the two side regions, so that the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of accommodating regions include a first region and a second region located at one side of the first region, and a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the first region is greater than a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the second region, so that the plurality of accommodating regions form a T-shaped structure.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, cells in different accommodating regions have a same volume and/or a same capacity.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cell is a prismatic cell and has a length, a thickness, and a height between the length and the thickness, the cell is placed laterally and vertically, the cell has the length direction being the first direction, a thickness direction being a second direction, and a height direction being a third direction, the heights of the cells in the different accommodating regions are the same, and a ratio between the lengths of the cells and a ratio between the thicknesses of the cells are reciprocals of each other.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accommodating device is a vehicle tray.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of the cell ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accommodating device is formed on an electric vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accommodating device includes a chamber recessed downward.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chamber includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other, the first side edge is the first side wall of the chamber and an extension portion of the first side wall, and the second side edge is the second side wall of the chamber and an extension portion of the second side wall.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, bottom portions of the chamber are formed by the extension portion of the first side wall and the extension portion of the second side wall.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, <NUM>%≤L1/L2≤<NUM>%.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of cells are arranged along a second direction different from the first direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the power battery pack includes a plurality of layers of cells along a third direction, and all the plurality of cells in each layer are located between the first side edge and the second side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a length direction of each of the plurality of cells is parallel to the first direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accommodating device further includes third side edges and fourth side edges disposed along the second direction different from the first direction, one end of the first side edge far away from the center region and one end of the second side edge far away from the center region of the two side regions are connected by the third side edge, one end of the first side edge close to the center region and one end of the second side edge close to the center region of the two side regions are respectively connected to the first side edge and the second side edge of the center region by the fourth side edge, the cells in the two side regions are arranged between the third side edge and the fourth side edge along the second direction, and the cell in the center region is arranged between the fourth side edges along the second direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the third side edge applies a force, which points toward the two side regions, to the cell disposed adjacent to the third side edge, and the fourth side edge applies a force, which points toward the center region, to the cell disposed adjacent to the fourth side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first end of each cell is fixed to the corresponding first side edge, and the second end of each cell is fixed to the corresponding second side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, a first end plate is disposed between first ends of at least some cells of the plurality of cells and the first side edge; a second end plate is disposed between second ends of the at least some cells of the plurality of cells and the second side edge; the first ends of the at least some cells are supported on the first side edge through the first end plate, and the second ends of the at least some cells are supported on the second side edge through the second end plate; and the first end plate, the second end plate, and the at least some cells form a battery module.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, a module bottom plate is disposed below the at least some cells of the plurality of cells, the module bottom plate is connected between the first end plate and the second end plate, and the module bottom plate, the first end plate, the second end plate, and the at least some cells form the battery module.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, a module top plate is disposed above the at least some cells of the plurality of cells, the module top plate is connected between the first end plate and the second end plate, and the module top plate, the module bottom plate, the first end plate, the second end plate, and the at least some cells form the battery module.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to each other are disposed between the first end plate and the second end plate, and the first end plate, the second end plate, the first side plate, the second side plate, the module top plate, the module bottom plate, and the at least some cells form the battery module.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, a module bottom plate is disposed below the at least some cells of the plurality of cells, and the at least some cells are supported on the first side edge and the second side edge through the module bottom plate; and the module bottom plate and the at least some cells form the battery module.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there are at least two battery modules in each accommodating region along a second direction different from the first direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the power battery pack includes a plurality of layers of battery modules along a third direction.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cell is a prismatic cell having a cuboid structure and has a length, a thickness, and a height between the length and the thickness. Each cell is placed laterally and vertically. Each cell has a length direction being the first direction, a thickness direction being the second direction, and a height direction being the third direction. Two adjacent cells in each accommodating region are arranged with wide surfaces thereof facing each other.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of the length L to the thickness D of the cell meets <NUM>≤L/D≤<NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of a surface area S to a volume V of the cell meets <NUM>≤S/V≤<NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of the surface area S to energy E of the cell meets <NUM>≤S/E≤<NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, the first side edge is provided with a first supporting step, and the second side edge is provided with a second supporting step; and the first end of each cell is supported on the corresponding first supporting step, and the second end of each cell is supported on the corresponding second supporting step.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first side edge is provided with a first fixing portion, and the second side edge is provided with a second fixing portion; and the first end of each cell is fixed to the first fixing portion, and the second end of each cell is fixed to the second fixing portion.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cell is a prismatic cell with a metal housing.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a thermal insulating layer is disposed between the module bottom plate and the cell.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a heat conducting plate is disposed between the module top plate and the cell.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the module top plate is a liquid cooling plate or a direct cooling plate in which a cooling structure is disposed.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a first electrode of the cell is led out from the first end of the cell facing the first side edge and a second electrode of the cell is led out from the second end of the cell facing the second side edge.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an explosion-proof valve is disposed on the first end of the cell facing the first side edge, an exhaust channel is provided inside the first side edge, an air inlet is provided on the first side edge at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of each cell, the air inlet is in communication with the exhaust channel, and the accommodating device is provided with an exhaust hole in communication with the exhaust channel; or an explosion-proof valve is disposed on the second end of the cell facing the second side edge, an exhaust channel is provided inside the second side edge, an air inlet is provided on the second side edge at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of each cell, the air inlet is in communication with the exhaust channel, and the accommodating device is provided with an exhaust hole in communication with the exhaust channel; or an explosion-proof valve is disposed on each of the first end and the second end of the cell that face the first side edge and the second side edge respectively, an exhaust channel is provided inside each of the first side edge and the second side edge, an air inlet is provided on the first side edge at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of each cell, an air inlet is also provided on the second side edge at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of each cell, the air inlets are in communication with the corresponding exhaust channels, and the accommodating device is provided with exhaust holes in communication with the exhaust channels.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first direction is a width direction of a vehicle body, and the second direction is a length direction of the vehicle body; or the first direction is a length direction of a vehicle body, and the second direction is a width direction of the vehicle body.

By using the foregoing technical solutions, in the present disclosure, a first end and a second end of a cell fit a first side edge and a second side edge, that is, the cell extends between the first side edge and the second side edge disposed opposite to each other in an accommodating device, thereby using fewer transverse beams and/or longitudinal beams in the accommodating device in the related art, and even using no transverse beam and/or longitudinal beam in the accommodating device. Therefore, a space occupied by the transverse beam and/or the longitudinal beam in the accommodating device is reduced, a space utilization of the accommodating device is improved, and more cells can be arranged in the accommodating device, thereby improving the capacity, voltage, and endurance capacity of an entire power battery pack. For example, in an electric vehicle, the design may increase the space utilization from the original space utilization of about <NUM>% to more than <NUM>% or even higher, for example, <NUM>%.

In addition, because there is no need to arrange the transverse beam or the longitudinal beam in the accommodating device, on one hand, a manufacturing process of the accommodating device is simplified, the assembly complexity of the cell is reduced, and production costs are reduced; on the other hand, the weight of the accommodating device and the entire power battery pack is reduced, making the power battery pack light-weighted. In particular, when the power battery pack is mounted on the electric vehicle, the endurance capacity of the electric vehicle may be further improved, and the electric vehicle is light-weighted.

Moreover, compared with a cell in the related art, the cell provided in the present disclosure extends between the first side edge and the second side edge, so that the cell may be used as a transverse beam and/or a longitudinal beam reinforcing the structural strength of the accommodating device. In other words, there is no need to further dispose a reinforcing structure in the accommodating device to reinforce the structural strength of the accommodating device, and as a substitution of the reinforcing structure, the cell may be directly used to ensure the structural strength of the accommodating device, thereby ensuring that the accommodating device is not easily deformed under the action of an external force. In addition, in a case of a constant volume, because the cell in the related art has a relatively small size and a relatively short length, two opposite ends of the cell cannot fit two side edges disposed opposite to each other in the accommodating device. However, the cell in the present disclosure has a relatively long length along a first direction, the thickness of the cell along a second direction different from the first direction may be relatively small, so that a surface area of a single cell is greater than a surface area of the cell in the related art. Therefore, a heat dissipation area of the cell may be increased, and a heat dissipation rate of the cell is increased, thereby improving the security of the entire power battery pack, and making the power battery pack safer and more reliable.

In addition, in the present disclosure, the accommodating device further includes a plurality of accommodating regions, and a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge along the first direction varies with each accommodating region, that is, the accommodating device has a plurality of accommodating regions with different shapes and sizes. When the power battery pack is mounted on the electric vehicle, the structure and the shape of the accommodating device may fit a structure and a shape of a mounting space of the power battery pack on the electric vehicle. For example, when the power battery pack is mounted on a chassis of a vehicle body, the shape of the accommodating device may fit a shape of the chassis of the vehicle body, so that as many as cells are arranged, thereby improving the endurance capacity of the electric vehicle.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle is provided, and the electric vehicle includes the foregoing power battery pack.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the power battery pack is disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle, and the accommodating device is fixed to a chassis of the electric vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle includes a power battery pack disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle, the accommodating device is fixed to the chassis of the electric vehicle, the plurality of cells are arranged along the second direction different from the first direction, the first direction is a width direction of a vehicle body of the electric vehicle, and the second direction is a length direction of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of accommodating regions include a center region and two side regions located at two opposite sides of the center region, and a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the center region is greater than a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge in the two side regions, so that the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure, and outer sides of the two side regions along the second direction correspond to wheel regions of the electric vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of a width L3 of the center region along the first direction to a vehicle body width W meets <NUM>%≤L3/W≤<NUM>%.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of a length L4 of the cell in the center region along the first direction to the vehicle body width W meets <NUM>%≤L4/W≤<NUM>%.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an energy storage device is provided, and the energy storage device includes the foregoing power battery pack.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description part.

The accompanying drawings are intended to provide understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of this specification. The accompanying drawings and the specific implementations below are used together for explaining the present disclosure rather than constituting a limitation to the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:.

Specific implementations of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific implementations described herein are merely used to describe and explain the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, orientation terms used for describing an electric vehicle such as "front, rear, left, and right" usually refer to the front, rear, left, and right of the vehicle. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a direction toward the left-side wheel is left, a direction toward the right-side wheel is right, a direction toward the head of the vehicle is front, and a direction toward the tail of the vehicle is rear.

As shown in <FIG>, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a power battery pack <NUM> is provided, including: an accommodating device <NUM> and a plurality of cells <NUM> disposed in the accommodating device <NUM>, where the accommodating device <NUM> includes a plurality of accommodating regions, each accommodating region has a first side edge <NUM> and a second side edge <NUM> disposed opposite to each other along a first direction A1 and cells <NUM> disposed between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> along the first direction A1 varies with different accommodating regions, to form accommodating regions with different shapes and sizes, each cell <NUM> includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other, and a distance between the first end and the second end of at least one cell <NUM> matches a distance between a corresponding first side edge <NUM> and a corresponding second side edge <NUM>.

In other words, each cell <NUM> extends between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>. A plurality of cells <NUM> are arranged along a length direction of the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, that is, along a second direction A2. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there may be one or more accommodating devices <NUM>. Herein, the matching described above means that a distance between two side edges or two side walls described below can match in mounting of one cell <NUM>. The matching may be various matching manners such as a clearance matching, an interference matching, a tight matching, and a stationary matching, to achieve the objectives of the present disclosure.

In the related art, because a cell has a relatively small size and a relatively short length, two opposite ends of the cell cannot fit two side beams disposed opposite to each other in the accommodating device <NUM>. Therefore, a transverse beam <NUM> or a longitudinal beam <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) needs to be disposed in the accommodating device <NUM>, to facilitate assembly of the cell. After the cells are mounted in the accommodating device <NUM> by using a battery module <NUM>, there are a plurality of cells along a first direction A1 of the accommodating device <NUM>. In other words, the cell does not extend between two side edges disposed opposite to each, but extends between two transverse beams <NUM> disposed opposite to each other or along a longitudinal beam <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> is fixed to the adjacent transverse beams <NUM> by using fasteners, or the battery module <NUM> is fixed to the adjacent longitudinal beam <NUM> by using a fastener, or the battery module <NUM> is fixed to the adjacent transverse beams <NUM> and longitudinal beam <NUM> by using fasteners.

Because the transverse beam <NUM> or the longitudinal beam <NUM> is disposed in the accommodating device <NUM> in the related art, the transverse beam <NUM> or the longitudinal beam <NUM> occupies a large mounting space used for accommodating cells in the accommodating device <NUM>, resulting in a low volume utilization of the accommodating device <NUM>. Generally, the volume utilization of the accommodating device <NUM> is about <NUM>% or even lower. In other words, in the related art, only about <NUM>% of the space in the accommodating device <NUM> may be used to mount cells, resulting in a limited quantity of cells accommodated in the accommodating device <NUM>, limiting a capacity and voltage of the entire power battery pack <NUM>, and causing a poor endurance capacity of the power battery pack <NUM>.

However, in the present disclosure, the first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> fit the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, that is, the cell <NUM> extends between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> disposed opposite to each other in the accommodating device <NUM>, thereby using fewer transverse beams <NUM> or longitudinal beams <NUM> in the accommodating device <NUM> in the related art, and even using no transverse beam <NUM> or longitudinal beam <NUM> in the accommodating device <NUM>. Therefore, a space occupied by the transverse beam <NUM> or the longitudinal beam <NUM> in the accommodating device <NUM> is reduced, a space utilization of the accommodating device <NUM> is improved, and more cells <NUM> can be arranged in the accommodating device <NUM>, thereby improving the capacity, voltage, and endurance capacity of the entire power battery pack <NUM>. For example, in an electric vehicle <NUM>, the design may increase the space utilization from the original space utilization of about <NUM>% to more than <NUM>% or even higher, for example, <NUM>%.

In addition, because there is no need to arrange the transverse beam <NUM> or the longitudinal beam <NUM> in the accommodating device <NUM>, on one hand, a manufacturing process of the accommodating device <NUM> is simplified, the assembly complexity of the cell <NUM> is reduced, and production costs are reduced; on the other hand, the weight of the accommodating device <NUM> and the entire power battery pack <NUM> is reduced, making the power battery pack <NUM> light-weighted. In particular, when the power battery pack <NUM> is mounted on the electric vehicle <NUM>, the endurance capacity of the electric vehicle <NUM> may be further improved, and the electric vehicle <NUM> is light-weighted.

Moreover, compared with a cell in the related art, the cell <NUM> provided in the present disclosure extends between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, so that the cell <NUM> may be used as a transverse beam and/or a longitudinal beam reinforcing the structural strength of the accommodating device <NUM>. In other words, there is no need to further dispose a reinforcing structure in the accommodating device to reinforce the structural strength of the accommodating device, and as a substitution of the reinforcing structure, the cell <NUM> may be directly used to ensure the structural strength of the accommodating device <NUM>, thereby ensuring that the accommodating device <NUM> is not easily deformed under the action of an external force. In addition, in a case of a constant volume, because the cell in the related art has a relatively small size and a relatively short length, two opposite ends of the cell <NUM> cannot fit two side edges disposed opposite to each other in the accommodating device <NUM>. However, the cell <NUM> in the present disclosure has a relatively long length along the first direction A1, the thickness of the cell along the second direction A2 different from the first direction A1 may be relatively small, so that a surface area of a single cell <NUM> is greater than a surface area of the cell in the related art. Therefore, a heat dissipation area of the cell <NUM> may be increased, and a heat dissipation rate of the cell <NUM> is increased, thereby improving the security of the entire power battery pack <NUM>, and making the power battery pack <NUM> safer and more reliable.

In addition, in the present disclosure, the accommodating device <NUM> further includes a plurality of accommodating regions, and a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> along the first direction A1 varies with each accommodating region, that is, the accommodating device <NUM> has a plurality of accommodating regions with different shapes and sizes. When the power battery pack <NUM> is mounted on the electric vehicle <NUM>, the structure and the shape of the accommodating device <NUM> may fit a structure and a shape of a mounting space of the power battery pack <NUM> on the electric vehicle <NUM>. For example, when the power battery pack <NUM> is mounted on a chassis of a vehicle body, the shape of the accommodating device <NUM> may fit a shape of the chassis of the vehicle body, so that as many as cells <NUM> are arranged, thereby improving the endurance capacity of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

In some implementations of the present disclosure, a first end of at least one cell <NUM> is supported on a corresponding first side edge <NUM>, and a second end of the cell <NUM> is supported on a corresponding second side edge <NUM>. The first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> may be respectively placed on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in a specific fixing manner described in detail below. A specific support manner and fixing manner are not limited in the present disclosure.

The support may be direct support or indirect support. The direct support means that the first end of the cell <NUM> is in direct contact with, fits, and is supported by the first side edge <NUM>, and the second end of the cell <NUM> is in direct contact with and fits the second side edge <NUM>; and the indirect support means that, for example, in some embodiments, the first end of the cell <NUM> fits and is supported on the first side edge <NUM> through a first end plate <NUM>, and the second end of the cell <NUM> fits and is supported on the second side edge <NUM> through a second end plate <NUM>.

In some exemplary implementations provided in the present disclosure, the first end of each cell <NUM> is fixed to the corresponding first side edge <NUM>, and the second end of each cell <NUM> is fixed to the corresponding second side edge <NUM>. On one hand, the cell <NUM> may be supported along a third direction A3 in the fixed connection manner. On the other hand, the stability and firmness of the entire structure may be improved in the fixed connection manner. There are a plurality of fixing manners herein. For example, the first end of each cell <NUM> is detachably fixed to the first side edge <NUM> through a fastener, and the second end is detachably fixed to the second side edge <NUM> through a fastener; or the first end and the second end of each cell <NUM> are respectively fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through welding; or the first end and the second end of each cell <NUM> are respectively fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through adhesive dispensing.

It should be noted that the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> described above and below are disposed opposite to each other, which means that the first side edge <NUM> may be parallel to each other, or may be disposed at an angle, and may be a straight line structure or a curved structure. The cell <NUM> may be perpendicular to the first side edge <NUM>, or the cell <NUM> is perpendicular to the second side edge <NUM>, or the cell <NUM> is disposed at an acute angle or an obtuse angle with the first side edge <NUM>, or the cell <NUM> is disposed at an acute angle or an obtuse angle with the second side edge <NUM>. For example, when the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are parallel to each other, the accommodating device <NUM> formed by the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> may be a rectangle, a square, a parallelogram, a circular sector, or another structure. When the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are at an angle, the accommodating device <NUM> formed by the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> may be a trapezoid, a triangle, or another structure. In the present disclosure, an angular relationship between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, and an angular relationship between the cell <NUM> and the first side edge <NUM> as well as the second side edge <NUM> are not limited.

For an embodiment in which the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are parallel to each other, in different accommodating regions, distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> are abruptly changed in sizes. For an embodiment in which the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are at an angle, in different accommodating regions, distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> are gradually changed in sizes. In this case, a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> is an average value of the distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> in the accommodating regions.

In addition, that the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are located on two opposite sides of the accommodating device <NUM> along the first direction A1 means that the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are located on sides of the accommodating device <NUM> along the first direction A1, that is, the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are outermost sides of the accommodating device <NUM>.

In addition, the "first end" and "second end" of the cell <NUM> mentioned in the foregoing and the following are used for describing an orientation of the cell <NUM>, but are not used for defining and describing a specific structure of the cell <NUM>. For example, the first end and the second end are not used for defining and describing a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the cell <NUM>. In other words, in the present disclosure, one end of the cell <NUM> matching the first side edge <NUM> is the first end, and the other end of the cell <NUM> matching the second side edge <NUM> is the second end.

The cell <NUM> may be assembled between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through various implementations. For example, in some implementations of the present disclosure, the first end of each cell <NUM> is supported on the corresponding first side edge <NUM>, and the second end of each cell <NUM> is supported on the corresponding second side edge <NUM>. The first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> may be respectively placed on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in a specific fixing manner described in detail below. A specific support manner and fixing manner are not limited in the present disclosure.

In addition, the accommodating device <NUM> formed by the plurality of accommodating regions may have any appropriate structure and shape. For example, in an implementation provided in the present disclosure, the plurality of accommodating regions include a center region <NUM> and two side regions <NUM> located at two opposite sides of the center region <NUM>, and a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the center region <NUM> is greater than a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>, so that the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure. In this way, when the accommodating device <NUM> is mounted on the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>, one of the two side regions <NUM> may be located between a front left wheel and a front right wheel, the other of the two side regions <NUM> may be located between a rear left wheel and a rear right wheel, and the center region <NUM> may be located between front wheels (including the front left wheel and the front right wheel) and rear wheels (including the rear left wheel and the rear right wheel), so that as many as mounting spaces of the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM> are used, an area of the accommodating device <NUM> is expanded, and more cells <NUM> can be arranged on the electric vehicle <NUM>, thereby improving an endurance capacity of the electric vehicle <NUM>. Distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> located at two sides of the center region <NUM> may be the same or may be different. This is not limited in the present disclosure.

In another implementation provided in the present disclosure, the plurality of accommodating regions include a first region and a second region located at one side of the first region, and a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the first region is greater than a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the second region, so that the plurality of accommodating regions form a T-shaped structure. In this way, when the accommodating device <NUM> is mounted on the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>, the second region may extend into a region between the front left wheel and the front right wheel or a region between the rear left wheel and the rear right wheel, to reasonably use a mounting region between the wheels on the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM> and improve an area of the accommodating device <NUM> as much as possible. In another implementation, the plurality of accommodating regions may alternatively form a triangle, a trapezoid, a rhombus, a parallelogram, or the like, and a specific shape formed by the plurality of accommodating regions may be set according to a mounting space of the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

In addition, to ensure consistency between the cells <NUM> in different accommodating regions, in an implementation provided in the present disclosure, the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions have the same volume, or the same capacity, or the same volume and capacity. In the power battery pack <NUM>, the cells <NUM> are generally connected in series, so that the power battery pack <NUM> has a sufficient voltage to drive the electric vehicle <NUM> to travel. Because distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> in the different accommodating regions are different, distances between the first ends and the second ends of the first cells <NUM> are also different, that is, shapes and sizes of the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions are different. Generally, a voltage of each cell <NUM> is the same. To ensure consistency between the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions, that is, to ensure the same amount of power of the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions, it is necessary to ensure that a capacity of each cell is the same (the amount of power is equal to a product of the capacity and the voltage). When each cell <NUM> adopts the same material, because the capacity is proportional to the voltage of the cell <NUM>, the same volume of each cell <NUM> is ensured and the same amount of power of each cell may be also achieved. In this way, it can be ensured that the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions can be charged to the same state within the same charging time, thereby avoiding, for example, occurrence of a condition in which one cell <NUM> is fully charged but another cell <NUM> is not fully charged.

To ensure the same ratio of the volumes to the capacities of the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions, in an exemplary implementation provided in the present disclosure, the cell <NUM> is a prismatic cell having a cuboid structure, and has a length L, a thickness D, and a height H between the length L and the thickness D. Each cell <NUM> is placed laterally and vertically. Each cell <NUM> has a length direction being a first direction A1, a thickness direction being a second direction A2, and a height direction being a third direction A3. The heights H of the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions are the same, and a ratio between the lengths L of the cells and a ratio between the thicknesses D of the cells are reciprocals of each other, so that the ratios of the volumes to the capacities of the cells <NUM> in the different accommodating regions are the same. Herein, an embodiment in which the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross shape and distances between the first side edges <NUM> and the second side edges <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> are equal is used as an example for description, when a length of the cell <NUM> in the center region <NUM> is twice a length of the cell <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>, a thickness of the cell <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> is twice a thickness of the cell <NUM> in the center region <NUM>, to ensure that a volume of the cell <NUM> in the center region <NUM> is the same as a volume of the cell <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>, thereby having the same amount of power and ensuring the consistency between the cell <NUM> in the center region <NUM> and the cell <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in an implementation provided in the present disclosure, the accommodating device <NUM> is a vehicle tray, and the vehicle tray is a separately-produced vehicle tray for accommodating and mounting the cell <NUM>. After the cell <NUM> is mounted in the vehicle tray, the vehicle tray may be mounted on the vehicle body through a fastener, for example, suspended from the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

In the vehicle tray, the vehicle body has a relatively large width such as <NUM> to <NUM>, and has a relatively large length such as <NUM> to <NUM>. For different vehicles models, widths and lengths of corresponding vehicle bodies are different. Due to the relatively large vehicle body width and length, the tray disposed at the bottom of the vehicle body has a relatively large overall size. Due to the relatively large size of the tray, in the related art, transverse beams <NUM> further need to be disposed in the tray in addition to side edges disposed on sides of the tray, to provide a sufficient support force and structural strength for internal cells. After the transverse beams <NUM> are added to the vehicle tray, a weight and an internal space of the entire vehicle tray are occupied. As a result, there is only a small space that can be effectively used inside the tray. In addition, due to the existence of the transverse beams <NUM>, a plurality of battery modules <NUM> need to be disposed inside the tray in a width direction and a length direction, to coordinate with mounting of the transverse beams <NUM>. The mounting is complex, and many mounting structural members are required.

However, as shown in <FIG>, if the transverse beams <NUM> are removed, the module layout manner and the cell layout manner in the related art cannot provide sufficient structural strength for the battery module <NUM>, and the tray cannot provide sufficient weight capacity.

However, in the present disclosure, two ends of the cell <NUM> are supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or two ends of the cell <NUM> are fixedly supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, and the weight of the cell <NUM> is distributed to side edges of the tray on two sides. While the transverse beams <NUM> are removed, the weight capacity of the tray is effectively improved. In addition, the cell <NUM> can also be used as the overall reinforcing structure of the power battery pack <NUM>, improving the overall structural strength of the power battery pack <NUM>.

In some embodiments, when the power battery pack <NUM> is used as a power battery pack <NUM> used in a vehicle for providing electric energy, the first direction A1 of the cell <NUM> may be used as a width direction of the vehicle, that is, a left-right direction of the vehicle. As an optional implementation, a length of the cell <NUM> along the first direction A1 may range from <NUM> to <NUM>, so that the length of the cell <NUM> can fit the width of the vehicle. For different accommodating regions, a length of the cell <NUM> in each accommodating region along the first direction A1 ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In another implementation provided in the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the accommodating device <NUM> may be alternatively directly formed on an electric vehicle <NUM>. In other words, the accommodating device <NUM> is a device which is formed at any appropriate position on the electric vehicle <NUM> and in which the cell <NUM> is mounted. For example, the accommodating device <NUM> may be formed on the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

As an embodiment, the accommodating device <NUM> may include a chamber <NUM> recessed downward, to help assembly of the cell <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accommodating device <NUM> may be integrally formed with the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>, and formed as the chamber <NUM> recessed downward from the chassis.

In a specific implementation provided in the present disclosure, the chamber <NUM> may include a first side wall <NUM> and a second side wall <NUM> disposed opposite to each other. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first side edge <NUM> may be obtained by extending the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM> downward, or the second side edge <NUM> may be obtained by extending the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM> downward. The first side edge <NUM> is the first side wall <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> and an extension portion of the first side wall <NUM>, and the second side edge <NUM> is the second side wall <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> and an extension portion of the second side wall <NUM>. In this way, in some embodiments of the present disclosures, the first end of the cell <NUM> may be supported on the extension portion of the first side wall <NUM>, and the second end of the cell <NUM> may be supported on the extension portion of the second side wall <NUM>. That is, the present disclosure further provides an electric vehicle <NUM> in which the cells <NUM> can be arranged according to the foregoing technical solution, and a chamber <NUM> that has the same characteristic as the separate vehicle tray is formed on the electric vehicle <NUM>, thereby forming the battery accommodating device <NUM> provided in the present disclosure.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, bottom portions <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> may be formed by the extension portion of the first side wall <NUM> and the extension portion of the second side wall <NUM>. In an implementation, the extension portion of the first side wall <NUM> is connected to the extension portion of the second side wall <NUM>, so that the chamber <NUM> is formed as a chamber <NUM> having a downward recessed U-shaped groove. The cell <NUM> may be supported by the bottom portions <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>. In another implementation, the extension portion of the first side wall <NUM> may be alternatively spaced apart from the extension portion of the second side wall <NUM> by a specific distance.

As shown in <FIG>, the cell <NUM> is described again. In some embodiments, the cell <NUM> is perpendicular to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, a distance between the first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> is L1, and a distance between an inner surface of the first side edge <NUM> and an inner surface of the second side edge <NUM> is L2. A ratio of L1 to L2 meets L1/L2≥<NUM>%. In other words, along the first direction A1, only one cell <NUM> is arranged between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>. The cell <NUM> and two side edges are arranged in this manner along the first direction A1, so that the cell <NUM> may be used as a transverse beam <NUM> or a longitudinal beam <NUM>. In other possible implementations, in a case that such a dimensional ratio is met, under the concept of the present disclosure, two or more cells <NUM> may be further disposed along the first direction A1, to at least fully utilize a space of the accommodating device <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the ratio of L1 to L2 may meet <NUM>%≤L1/L2≤<NUM>%, so that the first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> are as close as possible to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, and even abut against the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, to facilitate dispersion and transmission of a force through the structure of the cell <NUM>, ensuring that the cell <NUM> may be used as a transverse beam <NUM> or a longitudinal beam <NUM> for strengthening the structural strength of the accommodating device <NUM>, and ensuring that the accommodating device <NUM> has sufficient strength to resist deformation caused by an external force.

As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of cells <NUM> may be arranged in the accommodating device <NUM> in various manners. In an implementation provided in the present disclosure, the plurality of cells <NUM> are arranged along a second direction A2 different from the first direction A1. The plurality of cells <NUM> may be arranged along the second direction A2 at intervals, or tightly arranged. In this implementation, the plurality of cells are tightly arranged along the second direction A2 perpendicular to the first direction A1, to fully utilize the space.

In a specific implementation provided in the present disclosure, the first direction A1 may be perpendicular to the second direction A2, the first direction A1 is a length direction of each cell <NUM>, and the second direction A2 is a length direction of the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, that is, a thickness direction of each cell <NUM>. In other words, the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are perpendicular to the cell <NUM>, and two ends of each cell <NUM> in the length direction are supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>. In this way, when the first side edge <NUM> is impacted by an external force, or when the second side edge <NUM> is impacted by an external force, or when the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are impacted by external forces simultaneously, a plurality of cells <NUM> can conduct and disperse the forces, to better reinforce the structure, thereby improving the capability of the accommodating device <NUM> in resisting deformation caused by the external force. The first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are linear structures, and the second direction A2 is a linear direction. In some possible implementations, the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> may be curved structures. In this case, the first direction A1 may be alternatively a circumferential direction, and the corresponding second direction A2 is a radial direction.

In some other embodiments, the power battery pack <NUM> is provided with a plurality of layers of cells <NUM> along a third direction A3. In other words, the plurality of cells <NUM> are arranged in a plurality of layers stacked along the third direction A3. A plurality of cells <NUM> in each layer are located between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>. The quantity of layers of the cells <NUM> may be set according to the size of the accommodating device <NUM>. In this way, as many as cells <NUM> can be arranged in a limited space of the accommodating device <NUM>, to improve the volume utilization of the accommodating device <NUM> and improve the capacity, voltage, and endurance capacity of the power battery pack <NUM>. In an implementation, the first direction A1 and the second direction A2 may be perpendicular to each other, and the third direction A3 may be perpendicular to the first direction A1 and the second direction A2. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first direction A1 and the second direction A2 are a front-rear direction and a left-right direction in a horizontal direction, and the third direction A3 is a vertical direction. According some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cells <NUM> in each layer may or may not be connected to each other. This is not limited in the present disclosure.

In the foregoing embodiment, the cells <NUM> stacked along the third direction A3 may be cells <NUM> that have two ends fitting the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be placed directly on top of a next layer of cells <NUM> and do not fit, for support, or be connected to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>.

In an implementation, as shown in <FIG>, a first electrode <NUM> of the cell <NUM> is led out from the first end of the cell <NUM> facing the first side edge <NUM>, and a second electrode <NUM> of the cell <NUM> is led out from the second end of the cell <NUM> facing the second side edge <NUM>. In other words, the length direction of the cell <NUM> may be a current direction inside the cell <NUM>, that is, the current direction inside the cell <NUM> is the first direction A1. In this way, because the current direction is the same as the length direction of the cell <NUM>, the cell <NUM> has a larger effective heat dissipation area and better heat dissipation efficiency. Herein, the first electrode <NUM> may be a positive electrode of the cell <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM> is a negative electrode of the cell <NUM>. Alternatively, the first electrode <NUM> is a negative electrode of the cell <NUM>, and the second electrode <NUM> is a positive electrode of the cell <NUM>.

Moreover, the cell <NUM> may have any appropriate structure and shape. In an implementation provided in the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, the cell <NUM> is a prismatic cell having a cuboid structure and has a length L, a thickness D, and a height H between the length L and the thickness D. Each cell <NUM> is placed laterally and vertically. Each cell <NUM> has a length direction being the first direction A1, a thickness direction being the second direction A2, and a height direction being the third direction A3. Two adjacent cells <NUM> are arranged with wide surfaces thereof facing each other. In other words, the cuboid has a length L in the length direction, a thickness D in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction, and a height H in a height direction. The height H is between the length L and the thickness D. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cell <NUM> has a wide surface, a narrow surface, and an end surface. A long side of the wide surface has the foregoing length L, and a short side thereof has the foregoing height H. A long side of the narrow surface has the foregoing length L, and a short side thereof has the foregoing thickness D. A long side of the end surface has the foregoing height H, and a short side thereof has the foregoing thickness D. That the cell <NUM> is placed laterally and vertically means that two end surfaces of the cell <NUM> face toward the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> respectively, and wide surfaces of two adjacent cells <NUM> face toward each other, so that the cell <NUM> may replace a transverse beam <NUM> and achieve a better effect and higher strength. In another implementation, the cell <NUM> may be alternatively a cylindrical cell.

In the related art, how to design the shape and size of the cell so that the cell has both an appropriate battery capacity and a good heat dissipation effect has always been a problem to be resolved in the field of battery technologies.

In an implementation provided in the present disclosure, a ratio of the length L to the thickness D of the cell <NUM> meets <NUM>≤L/D≤<NUM>. With this ratio, a longer and thinner cell <NUM> may be obtained. In this way, while the length of the cell <NUM> extends in the first direction A1, an appropriate resistance value, a relatively high heat dissipation area, and good heat dissipation efficiency may be maintained, so that the cell is well adapted to various vehicle models.

In another implementation provided in the present disclosure, a ratio of a surface area S of the cell <NUM> to a volume V thereof meets <NUM>≤S/V≤<NUM>. The ratio may be achieved through the foregoing longer and thinner cell <NUM> or through size adjustment. By controlling the ratio of the surface area S of the cell <NUM> to the volume V thereof, it may be ensured that while the length of the cell <NUM> extends along the first direction A1, the cell has a sufficient heat dissipation area, to ensure the heat dissipation effect of the cell <NUM>.

In still another implementation provided in the present disclosure, a ratio of the surface area S of the cell <NUM> to energy E thereof meets <NUM>≤S/E<<NUM>. With this ratio, a longer and thinner cell <NUM> may be still obtained. Similarly, the ratio may be achieved through the foregoing longer and thinner cell <NUM> or may be achieved through other dimension adjustments. By controlling the ratio of the surface area S of the cell <NUM> to the energy E thereof, it may be ensured that while the cell <NUM> has specific energy E, the surface area S of the cell can meet heat dissipation requirements.

In some embodiments, the cell <NUM> may be a prismatic cell with a metal housing. In other words, the housing of the cell <NUM> is made of a metal material, and the metal has better heat conducting performance, thereby further improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the cell <NUM> and optimizing the heat dissipation effect. In another implementation provided in the present disclosure, the cell <NUM> may be a pouch battery. The pouch battery refers to a liquid lithium-ion battery sheathed with a layer of a polymer housing and wrapped with an aluminum plastic film structurally. When a safety hazard occurs, the pouch battery swells without explosion, thereby improving the safety performance of the cell <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a specific structure of the accommodating device <NUM> is described again, and an embodiment in which the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross shape is used as an example. In an implementation provided in the present disclosure, the accommodating device <NUM> further includes third side edges <NUM> and fourth side edges <NUM> disposed along a second direction A2 different from the first direction A1, one end of the first side edge <NUM> far away from the center region <NUM> and one end of the second side edge <NUM> far away from the center region <NUM> of the two side regions <NUM> are connected by the third side edge <NUM>, and one end of the first side edge <NUM> close to the center region <NUM> and one end of the second side edge <NUM> close to the center region <NUM> of the two side regions <NUM> are respectively connected to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> of the center region <NUM> by the fourth side edge <NUM>, the cells <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> are arranged between the third side edge <NUM> and the fourth side edge <NUM> along the second direction A2, and the cell <NUM> in the center region <NUM> is arranged between the fourth side edges <NUM> along the second direction A2. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> are perpendicular to and connected to the third side edge <NUM> and the fourth side edge <NUM>.

It should be noted that, regardless of whether the accommodating device <NUM> is the separately-produced vehicle tray for accommodating and mounting the cell <NUM> or the chamber <NUM> integrally formed with the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>, the shape and structure thereof substantially remain the same. A size relationship between the vehicle tray and the cell <NUM> is also applicable to the chamber <NUM> and the cell <NUM>.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the third side edge <NUM> may apply a force, which points toward the two side regions <NUM>, to the cell <NUM> disposed adjacent to the third side edge <NUM>, and the fourth side edge may apply a force, which points toward the center region <NUM>, to the cell <NUM> disposed adjacent to the fourth side edge <NUM>. Therefore, the plurality of cells <NUM> can be tightly arranged along the second direction A2, and the plurality of cells <NUM> can fit each other. In addition, the third side edge <NUM> and the fourth side edge <NUM> may limit the plurality of cells <NUM> in the second direction A2. In particular, when the cells <NUM> slightly swell, the cells <NUM> can be buffered and provided with an inward pressure to prevent the cells <NUM> from swelling and deforming excessively. In particular, when the cell <NUM> is provided with an explosion-proof valve <NUM> and a current interruption device (CID), the third side edge <NUM> and the fourth side edge <NUM> can effectively limit the swelling of the cell <NUM>, so that when the cell <NUM> has a fault and swells, sufficient air pressure is generated inside the cell to break through the explosion-proof valve <NUM> or a flip sheet in the CID, thereby short-circuiting the cell <NUM>, ensuring safety of the cell <NUM>, and preventing the cell <NUM> from exploding.

In some implementations, an explosion-proof valve <NUM> is disposed on the first end of the cell <NUM> facing the first side edge <NUM>, an exhaust channel <NUM> is provided inside the first side edge <NUM>, an air inlet <NUM> is provided on the first side edge <NUM> at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of each cell <NUM>, the air inlet <NUM> is in communication with the exhaust channel <NUM>, and the accommodating device <NUM> is provided with an exhaust hole in communication with the exhaust channel <NUM>; or an explosion-proof valve <NUM> is disposed on the second end of the cell <NUM> facing the second side edge <NUM>, an exhaust channel <NUM> is provided inside the second side edge <NUM>, an air inlet <NUM> is provided on the second side edge <NUM> at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of each cell <NUM>, the air inlet <NUM> is in communication with the exhaust channel <NUM>, and the accommodating device <NUM> is provided with an exhaust hole in communication with the exhaust channel <NUM>; or an explosion-proof valve <NUM> is disposed on each of the first end of and the second end of the cell <NUM> that face the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> respectively, an exhaust channel <NUM> is provided inside each of the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, an air inlet <NUM> is provided on the first side edge <NUM> at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of each cell <NUM>, an air inlet <NUM> is provided on the second side edge <NUM> at a position corresponding to the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of each cell <NUM>, the air inlets <NUM> are in communication with the corresponding exhaust channels <NUM>, and the accommodating device <NUM> is provided with exhaust holes in communication with the exhaust channels <NUM>.

In another implementation, as shown in <FIG>, the air inlets <NUM> may be alternatively formed on the first side edge <NUM> and a first end plate <NUM> mentioned below, or the air inlets <NUM> are formed on the second side edge <NUM> and a second end plate <NUM> mentioned below, or the first side edge <NUM>, the second side edge <NUM>, a first end plate <NUM> mentioned below, and a second end plate <NUM> mentioned below are all provided with the air inlets <NUM>.

In the related art, during use of the cell, if the air pressure inside the cell increases to a specific degree, the explosion-proof valve is opened. Flame, smoke, or gas inside the cell is exhausted through the explosion-proof valve. The flame, smoke, or gas gathers inside the power battery pack <NUM> and causes secondary damage to the cell if not exhausted in time. However, in the present disclosure, because the air inlet <NUM> corresponding to the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of each cell <NUM> is provided on the first side edge <NUM> or the second side edge <NUM>, and the exhaust channel <NUM> is provided inside the first side edge <NUM> or the second side edge <NUM>, when the air pressure inside the cell <NUM> increases, the explosion-proof valve <NUM> of the cell is opened. Flame, smoke, or gas inside the cell directly enters the exhaust channel <NUM> in the first side edge <NUM> or enters the exhaust channel <NUM> in the second side edge <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM>, and is exhausted out of the first side edge <NUM> or the second side edge <NUM> through the exhaust hole, for example, into the atmosphere through the exhaust hole. In this way, the flame, smoke, or gas does not gather inside the accommodating device <NUM>, to prevent the flame, smoke or gas from causing secondary damage to the cell <NUM>.

In addition, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of cells <NUM> may be alternatively first assembled into at least one battery module <NUM>, and then the battery module is mounted in the accommodating device <NUM>. In this way, based on the technical concept of the present disclosure, the technical effect of the present disclosure can also be implemented through a fitting relationship between an external structure of the battery module <NUM> and the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>.

For example, in a first implementation, in each accommodating region, a first end plate <NUM> is disposed between first ends of at least some cells <NUM> of the plurality of cells <NUM> and the first side edge <NUM>. A second end plate <NUM> is disposed between second ends of the at least some cells <NUM> of the plurality of cells <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>. The first ends of the at least some cells <NUM> are supported on the first side edge <NUM> through the first end plate <NUM>, and the second ends of the at least some cells <NUM> are supported on the second side edge <NUM> through the second end plate <NUM>. The first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, and the at least some cells <NUM> form a battery module <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in each accommodating region, there may be one first end plate <NUM> and one second end plate <NUM>. The first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, and the plurality of cells <NUM> form one battery module <NUM>. The first end and the second end of the cell <NUM> may be respectively supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> or fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through the first end plate <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM>. There may be a plurality of first end plates <NUM> and a plurality of second end plates <NUM>. The first end plates <NUM>, the second end plates <NUM>, and the plurality of cells <NUM> form a plurality of battery modules <NUM>. Each battery module <NUM> is supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through the corresponding first end plate <NUM> and the corresponding second end plate <NUM>. In other words, as an implementation, there may be at least two battery modules <NUM> in each accommodating region along the second direction A2 different from the first direction A1. The quantity of the first end plates <NUM> and the quantity of the second end plates <NUM>, that is, the quantity of the battery modules <NUM>, are not limited in the present disclosure.

In a second implementation, in each accommodating region, a module bottom plate <NUM> may be further disposed below the at least some cells <NUM> of the plurality of cells <NUM>, the module bottom plate <NUM> is connected between the first end plate <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM>, and the module bottom plate <NUM>, the first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, and the at least some cells <NUM> form the battery module <NUM>. In other words, the module bottom plate <NUM> is disposed below the at least some of the plurality of cells <NUM>, to support the cells <NUM>. The module bottom plate <NUM> is connected to the first end plate <NUM>, and the module bottom plate <NUM> is connected to the second end plate <NUM>. The module bottom plate <NUM>, the first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, and the at least some of the plurality of cells <NUM> form the battery module <NUM>. There may be one or more module bottom plates <NUM>. For an embodiment in which a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are disposed in each accommodating region, the module bottom plates <NUM> of two adjacent battery modules <NUM> may be connected to each other or integrally formed as one module bottom plate <NUM>. Alternatively, the module bottom plates <NUM> in the plurality of accommodating regions are integrally formed as one module bottom plate <NUM>. For example, for an embodiment in which the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure, the module bottom plates <NUM> may be in a cross shape.

In a third implementation, a module top plate <NUM> may be further disposed above at least some cells <NUM> of the plurality of cells <NUM>, the module top plate <NUM> is connected between the first end plate <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM>, and the module top plate <NUM>, the module bottom plate <NUM>, the first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, and the at least some cells <NUM> form the battery module <NUM>. In this way, the cell <NUM> is located between the module top plate <NUM> and the module bottom plate <NUM>. The module top plate <NUM> and the module bottom plate <NUM> may prevent the cell <NUM> from moving up and down, increasing the stability of the cell <NUM>. There may be one or more module top plates <NUM>. For an embodiment in which a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are disposed in each accommodating region, the module top plates <NUM> of two adjacent battery modules <NUM> may be connected to each other or integrally formed as one module top plate <NUM>. Alternatively, the module top plates <NUM> in the plurality of accommodating regions are integrally formed as one module top plate <NUM>. For example, for an embodiment in which the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure, the module top plates <NUM> may be in a cross shape.

In a fourth implementation, in each accommodating region, a first side plate <NUM> and a second side plate <NUM> opposite to each other may be further disposed between the first end plate <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM>, and the first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, the first side plate <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM>, the module top plate <NUM>, the module bottom plate <NUM>, and the at least some cells <NUM> form the battery module <NUM>. For example, in an embodiment in which the plurality of accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure, the first side plate <NUM> in the center region <NUM> may be close to one of the fourth side edges <NUM>, the second side plate <NUM> in the center region <NUM> may be close to the other of the fourth side edges <NUM>, the first side plate <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> may be close to the third side edge <NUM>, and the second side plate <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM> may be close to the fourth side edge <NUM>. That is, the first side plate <NUM> in the center region <NUM> may be adjacent to the second side plate <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>. The first side plate <NUM> and the second side plate <NUM> may be supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be fixed to the module bottom plate <NUM>.

In a fifth implementation, in each accommodating region, the module bottom plate <NUM> is disposed below the at least some cells <NUM> of the plurality of cells <NUM>, and the at least some cells are supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through the module bottom plate <NUM>; and the module bottom plate <NUM> and the at least some cells <NUM> form the battery module <NUM>. Herein, the module bottom plate <NUM> is mainly configured to cover the bottom of the cell <NUM>, and the bottom of the cell <NUM> may be in contact with the module bottom plate <NUM> or may be spaced apart from the module bottom plate <NUM>, so that a thermal insulating layer <NUM> or a heat preservation layer is disposed between the module bottom plate <NUM> and the cell <NUM>. In this implementation, the plurality of cells <NUM> are supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through the module bottom plate <NUM>, simplifying a structure of the battery module <NUM> and facilitating achievement of light weight of the power battery pack <NUM>.

In the foregoing embodiment, the first end plate <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM>, or the module bottom plate <NUM> may be supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through various implementations, which are not limited in the present disclosure. For example, the first end plate and the second end plate, or the module bottom plate may be detachably fastened on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through a fastener, or fixed to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through welding, or connected to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through adhesive dispensing, or directly placed on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> and supported by the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>.

For an embodiment in which the cells <NUM> are disposed in the accommodating device <NUM> through the battery modules <NUM>, a plurality of layers of battery modules <NUM> are disposed along the third direction A3 in the power battery pack <NUM>. In this way, the volume utilization of the accommodating device <NUM> may be improved, thereby improving the endurance capacity of the power battery pack <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery modules <NUM> stacked along the third direction A3 may be battery modules <NUM> having two ends fitting the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, or may be directly placed on the top of a lower layer of battery modules <NUM> and are not supported on, in a fitting manner, or connected to the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>.

It should be noted that, regardless of whether the accommodating device <NUM> is the separately-produced vehicle tray for accommodating and mounting the cell <NUM> or the chamber <NUM> integrally formed with the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>, the shape and structure thereof substantially remain the same. Structures such as the first end plate <NUM>, the second end plate <NUM>, the first side plate <NUM>, and the second side plate <NUM> mentioned above mounted in the vehicle tray are also applicable to the chamber <NUM>.

In the foregoing embodiments, for an embodiment in which the battery module <NUM> includes the module bottom plate <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, a thermal insulating layer <NUM> may be disposed between the module bottom plate <NUM> and the cell <NUM>, to insulate heat transfer between the cell <NUM> and the exterior to achieve heat preservation of the cell <NUM>, and prevent thermal interference between an external environment of the accommodating device <NUM> and the cell <NUM> inside the accommodating device <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the thermal insulating layer <NUM> may be made of a material with thermal insulation and heat preservation functions, for example, being made of heat insulation cotton.

For an embodiment in which the battery module <NUM> includes the module top plate <NUM>, a heat conducting plate <NUM> may be disposed between the module top plate <NUM> and the cell <NUM> to facilitate heat dissipation of the cell <NUM> and avoid an excessively large temperature difference between the plurality of cells <NUM>. The heat conducting plate <NUM> may be made of a material with good thermal conductivity. For example, the heat conducting plate <NUM> may be made of a material such as copper or aluminum with high thermal conductivity.

In an implementation, the module top plate <NUM> is a liquid cooling plate <NUM> in which a cooling structure is disposed. A cooling liquid is provided in the liquid cooling plate <NUM>, so that a temperature of the cell <NUM> is reduced through the cooling liquid, maintaining the cell <NUM> at a suitable operating temperature. Because the heat conducting plate <NUM> is disposed between the liquid cooling plate <NUM> and the cell <NUM>, when the cell <NUM> is cooled through the cooling liquid, temperature differences between different positions of the liquid cooling plate <NUM> may be balanced through the heat conducting plate <NUM>, thereby controlling temperature differences between the plurality of cells <NUM> to be within <NUM>.

To improve the cooling effect of the liquid cooling plate <NUM>, a gas-liquid separator may be disposed upstream of the liquid cooling plate <NUM>. Because the cooling liquid in the liquid cooling plate <NUM> may come from another thermal management loop of the vehicle, the cooling liquid may be a gas-liquid cooling liquid. After the gas-liquid cooling liquid is separated into gas and liquid by the gas-liquid separator, it may be ensured that a cooling liquid in a pure liquid phase enters the liquid cooling plate <NUM> to cool the cell <NUM>, ensuring the cooling effect.

In another implementation, the cell <NUM> may be further cooled through a cooling medium, the module top plate <NUM> is a direct cooling plate <NUM> in which a cooling structure is disposed, and a cooling medium is provided in the direct cooling plate <NUM>. The cooling medium may be a cooling medium that is cooled through heat dissipation by a vehicle air-conditioning system. The low-temperature cooling medium may effectively absorb heat of the cell <NUM> and keep a temperature of the cell <NUM> constantly at an appropriate temperature value.

In addition, a specific structure of the accommodating device <NUM> is described again. To enable the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> to provide a support force for the cell <NUM>, in an implementation provided in the present disclosure, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in each accommodating region, the first side edge <NUM> is provided with a first supporting step <NUM>, and the second side edge <NUM> is provided with a second supporting step <NUM>. The first end of each cell <NUM> is supported on the corresponding first supporting step <NUM>, and the second end of each cell <NUM> is supported on the corresponding second supporting step <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first supporting step <NUM> may inwardly protrude from the bottom of the first side edge <NUM>, and the second supporting step <NUM> may inwardly protrude from the bottom of the second side edge <NUM>. Compared with the technical solution in which the cell is supported by using a bottom plate in the accommodating device in the related art, in the present disclosure, the cell <NUM> is supported by using the first supporting step <NUM> and the second supporting step <NUM> disposed on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM>, which may simplify the structure of the accommodating device <NUM> provided in the present disclosure, and reduce the weight of the accommodating device <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, insulating plates may be disposed on the first supporting step <NUM> and the second supporting step <NUM>, and the insulating plates are located between the cell <NUM> and the first supporting step <NUM>, and between the cell <NUM> and the second supporting step <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first side edge <NUM> is further provided with a first fixing portion <NUM>, and the second side edge <NUM> is further provided with a second fixing portion <NUM>. The first end of each cell <NUM> is fixed to the first fixing portion <NUM>, and the second end of each cell <NUM> is fixed to the second fixing portion <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first fixing portion <NUM> may be a third supporting step disposed on the first side edge <NUM>, and the third supporting step is located above the first supporting step <NUM>. The second fixing portion <NUM> may be a fourth supporting step disposed on the second side edge <NUM>, and the fourth supporting step is located above the second supporting step <NUM>. The first end and the second end of the cell may be fixed to the first fixing portion <NUM> and the second fixing portion <NUM> through a fastener, or welded on the first fixing portion <NUM> and the second fixing portion <NUM>.

For an embodiment in which the cell <NUM> is mounted in the accommodating device <NUM> by using the battery module <NUM>, and the battery module <NUM> includes the first end plate <NUM> disposed adjacent to the first side edge <NUM> and the second end plate <NUM> disposed adjacent to the second side edge <NUM>, the bottom of the first end plate <NUM> may be supported on the first supporting step <NUM>, and the top or side wall of the first end plate <NUM> may be fixed to the first fixing portion <NUM>. The bottom of the second end plate <NUM> may be supported on the second supporting step <NUM>, and the top or side wall of the second end plate <NUM> may be fixed to the second fixing portion <NUM>.

When the power battery pack <NUM> provided in the present disclosure is arranged on an electric vehicle <NUM>, in an implementation, the foregoing first direction A1 may be a width direction of a vehicle body, that is, a left-right direction of the vehicle, and the second direction A2 may be a length direction of the vehicle body of the vehicle, that is, a front-rear direction of the vehicle. In this way, because the cell <NUM> extends along the first direction A1, the cell <NUM> is used as a transverse reinforcing beam in the accommodating device <NUM>. In another implementation provided in the present disclosure, the foregoing first direction A1 may be a length direction of a vehicle body of a vehicle, that is, a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the second direction A2 may be a width direction of the vehicle body, that is, a left-right direction of the vehicle. In this way, because the cell <NUM> extends along the first direction A1, the cell <NUM> is used as a longitudinal reinforcing beam in the accommodating device <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an energy storage device <NUM> is provided, and the energy storage device <NUM> includes the foregoing power battery pack <NUM>. The energy storage device <NUM> may be used for not only a passenger vehicle, but also devices that need to use a cell <NUM> to provide electric energy for the devices, such as a commercial vehicle, a special vehicle, a ship, backup power sources (dps, ups), an electric bicycle, an electric motorcycle, and an electric scooter.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle <NUM> is provided, including the foregoing power battery pack <NUM>. At least one accommodating device <NUM> is formed on the electric vehicle <NUM>, and the accommodating device <NUM> includes the foregoing chamber <NUM> integrally formed on the electric vehicle <NUM>.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle <NUM> is provided, including the foregoing power battery pack <NUM>. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an accommodating device <NUM> in the power battery pack <NUM> is a separately-produced vehicle tray for accommodating and mounting a cell <NUM>.

The electric vehicle <NUM> herein may include electric vehicles <NUM> that need a power battery pack <NUM> to provide electric energy for driving the electric vehicles to travel, such as a commercial vehicle, a special vehicle, an electric bicycle, an electric motorcycle, and an electric scooter.

As an implementation, the power battery pack <NUM> is disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>, and the accommodating device <NUM> is fixed to the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>. Because the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM> has a relatively large mounting space, as many as cells <NUM> may be accommodated by disposing the power battery pack <NUM> on the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>, thereby improving the endurance capacity of the electric vehicle <NUM>. Herein, there may be one or more power battery packs <NUM> disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle <NUM> includes a power battery pack <NUM> disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>, the accommodating device <NUM> is fixed to the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>, and the plurality of cells <NUM> are arranged along the second direction A2 different from the first direction A1, the first direction A1 is a width direction of a vehicle body of the electric vehicle <NUM>, and the second direction A2 is a length direction of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle <NUM> may include a plurality of power battery packs <NUM> disposed at the bottom of the electric vehicle <NUM>. The plurality of power battery packs <NUM> may have the same or different shapes and sizes. Specifically, each power battery pack <NUM> may be adjusted according to a shape and a size of the chassis of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the plurality of accommodating regions include a center region <NUM> and two side regions <NUM> located at two opposite sides of the center region <NUM>, and a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the center region <NUM> is greater than a distance between the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> in the two side regions <NUM>, so that the accommodating regions form a cross-shaped structure, and outer sides of the two side regions <NUM> along the second direction A2 correspond to wheel regions of the electric vehicle <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a ratio of a width L3 of the center region <NUM> along the first direction A1 to a vehicle body width W meets <NUM>%≤L3/W≤<NUM>%, the ratio may be achieved by disposing only one accommodating device <NUM> along the width direction of the vehicle body. Generally, for most vehicles, the vehicle body width is <NUM> to <NUM>, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; the vehicle body length is <NUM> to <NUM>. For a passenger vehicle, the width of the passenger vehicle is usually <NUM> to <NUM>, and the length of the vehicle body is <NUM> to <NUM>.

In an exemplary implementation provided in the present disclosure, a ratio of a length L4 of the cell <NUM> along the first direction A1 in the center region <NUM> to the vehicle body width W meets: <NUM>%≤ L4/W≤<NUM>%. In consideration of thicknesses of a first side edge <NUM> and a second side edge <NUM> of the accommodating device <NUM>, when the ratio of the length L4 of the cell <NUM> in the first direction A1 to the vehicle body width W meets: <NUM>%≤L4/W≤<NUM>%, the ratio may be achieved by disposing only one cell <NUM> along the width direction of the vehicle body. In another possible implementation, in a case that such a size requirement is met, the ratio may be achieved by disposing a plurality of battery modules <NUM> or a plurality of cells <NUM> in the length direction. As an implementation, the length L4 of the cell <NUM> in the first direction A1 is <NUM> to <NUM>.

It should be noted that, in some embodiments of the present invention, although a solution in which two ends of a cell <NUM> are respectively supported on the first side edge <NUM> and the second side edge <NUM> through fitting is disclosed, in an actual production process, a cell <NUM> with a length matching the width of the vehicle body may not be manufactured. In other words, the cell <NUM> cannot be processed to have an expected length due to some reasons. This is because the electric vehicle <NUM> has some requirements on a voltage platform of the cell <NUM>. With a fixed material system, to achieve a specific voltage platform, the cell <NUM> is required to have a fixed volume. Accordingly, if the length of the cell <NUM> is increased, the thickness or width thereof needs to be reduced. In addition, a surface area of the entire cell is to be ensured to improve heat dissipation. Under the premise, a length of the cell <NUM> cannot be increased by reducing a width (a height) of the cell <NUM>. In this case, a height space of the cell in the vehicle body is utilized limitedly. In order to maximally reduce an effect, the width (the height) of the cell <NUM> is not adjusted generally. Therefore, the surface area of the entire cell <NUM> is changed only by changing the length of the cell <NUM> along the first direction A1 and the thickness thereof along the second direction A2. Therefore, to increase the length, the thickness is probably reduced. Actually, because a pole core and related materials need to be added to the interior of the cell <NUM>, the thickness of the cell has a lower limit value. As a result, the length of the cell <NUM> along the first direction A1 can only be changed within a limited range due to the limit value of the thickness of the cell, and cannot be increased limitlessly.

Claim 1:
A power battery pack, comprising: an accommodating device (<NUM>) and a plurality of cells (<NUM>) disposed in the accommodating device (<NUM>), wherein the accommodating device (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of accommodating regions, each accommodating region has a first side edge (<NUM>) and a second side edge (<NUM>) disposed opposite to each other along a first direction (A1) and cells (<NUM>) disposed between the first side edge (<NUM>) and the second side edge (<NUM>), a distance between the first side edge (<NUM>) and the second side edge (<NUM>) along the first direction (A1) varies with different accommodating regions, each cell (<NUM>) comprises a first end and a second end opposite to each other, characterized in that a distance between the first end and the second end of at least one cell (<NUM>) matches a distance between a corresponding first side edge (<NUM>) and a corresponding second side edge (<NUM>).