초록 ▼

An integrated system including a residence and an automobile utilizes environmental energy, such as solar energy, as the primary energy source, and the automobile provides a backup or supplementary source of energy for this system. An exemplary system has photovoltaic and thermal collectors associat

An integrated system including a residence and an automobile utilizes environmental energy, such as solar energy, as the primary energy source, and the automobile provides a backup or supplementary source of energy for this system. An exemplary system has photovoltaic and thermal collectors associated with the residence for collecting radiant solar energy and converting a portion thereof to electricity and to heat, and residential energy storage means for storing energy generated within the integrated energy system; hybrid electric drive means associated with the automobile in this exemplary system includes batteries for storing electrical energy generated within the integrated energy system, an electrically energized motor to propel the automobile, and a liquid-fueled combustion engine for driving an associated electrical generator to function as a backup or supplementary source of energy for both the residence and the automobile. Interface umbilicals interconnect the residence and the automobile to enable energy to be selectively transferred from the residence to the automobile, and from the automobile to the residence, under the control of suitable sensing and control circuits.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of selectively transferring energy within an integrated energy system comprising a residence and an automobile wherein environmental energy is the primary energy source for said system and wherein said automobile provides a supplementary source of energy for said system, said energy being s

A method of selectively transferring energy within an integrated energy system comprising a residence and an automobile wherein environmental energy is the primary energy source for said system and wherein said automobile provides a supplementary source of energy for said system, said energy being selectively transferred from said residence to said automobile and from said automobile to said residence, comprising the steps of: sensing electrical energy storage levels within residential energy storage means and automobile electrical storage means; transferring electrical energy from said residential energy storage means to said automobile electrical storage means when said electrical energy storage level of said residential energy storage means is greater than or equal to a preselectable value and when said electrical energy storage level of said automobile electrical storage means is less than a maximum storage value; and transferring electrical energy from said automobile to said residential energy storage means when said electrical energy storage level of said residential energy storage means is less than a preselectable value.