Importance

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Abstract

Battery carriers that provide replaceable and exchangeable batteries and systems are provided. One example battery carrier is for batteries used in electric vehicles. The battery carrier includes a housing with a plurality of slots. Each of the slots is configured to receive a battery that is configured for hand-insertion and hand-removal from the battery carrier. Each slot and each battery has a form factor that is dimensioned to at least partially fit within ones of the slots. A plurality of electrical connectors are provided, and each electrical connector is disposed inside respective ones of the slots and each electrical connector is configured to mate with an electrical connector of the battery when present in a slot of the plurality of slots and each electrical connector is configured to provide power transfer between a power source to which the battery carrier is connected and a battery when present in one of the slots. The battery carrier includes electronics that include communication circuitry for connecting to a server over a network and circuitry for communicating with batteries when present in slots of the battery carrier to identify a level of charge. The communication circuitry is used to provide information regarding a level of charge of a battery when present in one of the slots and to enable identification of availability. The battery carrier further includes a power outlet cable for connecting the battery carrier to a power source.

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First Claim