Patent ID: 7201384

Claim:
A method of replacing a battery module of an electric powered vehicle, comprising: providing electric powered vehicles, each electric powered vehicle, comprising: a chassis defining a battery module compartment, and a battery module insertable into the battery module compartment of the chassis, whereby the battery module completes the chassis upon insertion into the battery module compartment thereby providing the chassis with required structural integrity necessary to support the electric powered vehicle during travel; providing a service facility for the electric powered vehicles; providing the service facility with a plurality of battery modules and a system for charging the battery modules; opening the service facility to drivers owning the electric powered vehicles, whereby a driver having an electric powered vehicle with a depleted battery module enters the service facility; removing the depleted battery module from the electric powered vehicle, thereby removing a portion of the chassis for the electric powered vehicle; inserting a fully charged battery module into the electric powered vehicle, thereby completing the chassis of the electric powered vehicle and providing the chassis with required structural integrity necessary to support the electric powered vehicle during travel; and charging the driver for the fully charged battery module.