I have seen several threads on the effects of cold weather on battery dynamics and had an idea: If I were faced with severe cold weather and wanted to maximize both the longevity of the battery and availability of regenerative braking the goal would be to maintain the optimum battery temperature with as little energy consumption as possible (while minimizing user interaction).
I propose the inflatable portable bed. The basic premise is to insulate the large flat surface of the bottom of the battery with an inflatable mattress with minimal user interaction. I envision daily usage would be to drive over the deflated mattress. Have it auto-inflate such that it presses against the bottom of the battery, therefore preventing air movement under the battery.
This could be (relatively) easily automated with an electric fan and valve? Deflation before the car is moved would be required but I wouldn’t imagine it taking longer than opening a garage door before the mattress is deflated enough to clear the bottom of the car. Increasing the deflation rate could be accomplished by either weighting the top surface of the bed(Sand?) or using a second exhaust fan (BTW: cheap centrifugal fans used to inflate mattresses don’t move air in reverse when spinning in reverse, air still moves forward just less efficiently).
Auxiliary battery pre-heat or minimum maintenance heat could be a thermostat controlled electric blanket on top of the mattress that would get sandwiched against the battery bottom plate when the mattress is inflated. I have not seen anyone suggest (or attempt) this and wanted to get the idea out there.
A cold weather emergency kit (camping kit?, cold weather mothball kit?) could include an inflatable mattress (air bag) to place under the car to extend the time the battery becomes cold soaked. I imagine a camping kit would also include insulated window covers, etc… Any thoughts on this?
Of course this would not be useful to those of you with heated garages unless saving energy was a goal. Also as some random guy on the internet with
I propose the inflatable portable bed. The basic premise is to insulate the large flat surface of the bottom of the battery with an inflatable mattress with minimal user interaction. I envision daily usage would be to drive over the deflated mattress. Have it auto-inflate such that it presses against the bottom of the battery, therefore preventing air movement under the battery.
This could be (relatively) easily automated with an electric fan and valve? Deflation before the car is moved would be required but I wouldn’t imagine it taking longer than opening a garage door before the mattress is deflated enough to clear the bottom of the car. Increasing the deflation rate could be accomplished by either weighting the top surface of the bed(Sand?) or using a second exhaust fan (BTW: cheap centrifugal fans used to inflate mattresses don’t move air in reverse when spinning in reverse, air still moves forward just less efficiently).
Auxiliary battery pre-heat or minimum maintenance heat could be a thermostat controlled electric blanket on top of the mattress that would get sandwiched against the battery bottom plate when the mattress is inflated. I have not seen anyone suggest (or attempt) this and wanted to get the idea out there.
A cold weather emergency kit (camping kit?, cold weather mothball kit?) could include an inflatable mattress (air bag) to place under the car to extend the time the battery becomes cold soaked. I imagine a camping kit would also include insulated window covers, etc… Any thoughts on this?
Of course this would not be useful to those of you with heated garages unless saving energy was a goal. Also as some random guy on the internet with
