A power system within a battery-powered node includes a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a battery controller. The battery controller includes a constant current source that draws power from the primary cell to charge the secondary cell. The battery-powered node draws power from the secondary cell across a wide range of current levels. When the voltage of the secondary cell drops beneath a minimum voltage level, the constant current source charges the secondary cell and a charging signal is sent to the battery-powered node. When the voltage of the second cell exceeds a maximum voltage level, the constant current source stops charging the secondary cell and the charging signal is terminated. The battery-powered node records the amount of time the charging signal is active and then determines a battery depletion level based on that amount of time. Battery replacement may then be efficiently scheduled based on the depletion level.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage system comprising a plurality of input ports connectable to receive electrical power from one or more energy sources, a plurality of output ports connectable to deliver electrical power to one or more loads, a plurality of battery modules, a switching matrix connected between the plurality of battery modules and the plurality of inputs, and between the plurality of battery modules and the plurality of outputs, the switching matrix configured to selectively connect each battery module to any number of the plurality of input ports or any number of the plurality of output ports, each input port to any number of battery modules, and each output port to any number of battery modules, and a main battery management controller operably coupled to the switching matrix for controlling connections between each battery module and any number of the plurality of input ports or any number of the plurality of output ports.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage system comprising a plurality of input ports connectable to receive electrical power from one or more energy sources, a plurality of output ports connectable to deliver electrical power to one or more loads, a plurality of battery modules, a switching matrix connected between the plurality of battery modules and the plurality of inputs, and between the plurality of battery modules and the plurality of outputs, the switching matrix configured to selectively connect each battery module to any number of the plurality of input ports or any number of the plurality of output ports, each input port to any number of battery modules, and each output port to any number of battery modules, and a main battery management controller operably coupled to the switching matrix for controlling connections between each battery module and any number of the plurality of input ports or any number of the plurality of output ports.

A redox flow battery includes positive and negative electrodes respectfully located in half-cells separated by a porous silicon wafer separator formed by MEMS Technology. The first half cell and the second half cell each preferably include a plurality of dividers or barriers configured to create flow channels which introduce turbulence insuring the electrolytes are changing or mixing at surfaces of the electrodes and the membrane. Also disclosed is a solar energy generation and storage system which includes a photovoltaic cell and an electrochemical energy storage battery which share a common electrode. Also disclosed is a membrane-less redox flow electrical energy storage battery, having a cathode electrode; an anode electrode formed of a porous silicon substrate in which surfaces of the pores of the porous silicon substrate are coated at least in part with a metal silicide; and, an electrolyte.

A redox flow battery includes positive and negative electrodes respectfully located in half-cells separated by a porous silicon wafer separator formed by MEMS Technology. The first half cell and the second half cell each preferably include a plurality of dividers or barriers configured to create flow channels which introduce turbulence insuring the electrolytes are changing or mixing at surfaces of the electrodes and the membrane. Also disclosed is a solar energy generation and storage system which includes a photovoltaic cell and an electrochemical energy storage battery which share a common electrode. Also disclosed is a membrane-less redox flow electrical energy storage battery, having a cathode electrode; an anode electrode formed of a porous silicon substrate in which surfaces of the pores of the porous silicon substrate are coated at least in part with a metal silicide; and, an electrolyte.

A fuel cell vehicle is mounted with a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack and a battery. The fuel cell vehicle controls operation of the fuel cell system with an ECU, to perform standby power generation from activation to when travel is allowed and to perform power generation during operation of the fuel cell vehicle after travel has been allowed. In an activation method, the power generation current is increased in accordance with a low-temperature efficiency rate during the power generation during operation, the battery is charged and the power generation current is increased in accordance with a standby current increase rate that is lower than the low-temperature efficiency rate during the standby power generation.

Provided is a battery pack having excellent energy density and durability. A battery pack 100 includes solid-state battery modules 102 each configured such that a plurality of solid-state battery cells containing a solid electrolyte is stacked and electrolytic solution-based battery modules 32 each configured such that a plurality of electrolytic solution-based battery cells containing an electrolytic solution is stacked, the solid-state battery modules 102 and the electrolytic solution-based battery modules 32 being combined and housed in the pack. The solid-state battery modules 102 are arranged to surround the electrolytic solution-based battery modules 32.

A non-aqueous lithium power storage element that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, the positive electrode having a positive electrode collector and a positive electrode active material layer that includes active carbon, and the non-aqueous lithium power storage element having configuration (1) and/or (2). (1) The negative electrode includes a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode active material layer (2) The non-aqueous electrolyte contains (A) LiPF.sub.6 and/or LiBF.sub.4, (B) an imide lithium salt, and (C) an oxalate-complex lithium salt, the ratio of the mass of component (C) to the total mass of components (A) and (B) being 1.0-10.0 mass %.

The present application relates to a battery module, comprising a first type of battery cells and a second type of battery cells electrically connected at least in series, wherein the first type of battery cells and the second type of battery cells are battery cells with different chemical systems, the first type of battery cells comprises N first battery cells, the second type of battery cells comprises M second battery cells, N and M are positive integers, the first battery cell comprises a first separator and a first electrolyte, the second battery cell comprises a second separator and a second electrolyte, a kinetic characteristic factor x1 of the first battery cell is: x1=1000×(ε1×r1)/(τ1×t1×θ1), a kinetic characteristic factor x2 of the second battery cell is: x2=1000×(ε2×r2)/(τ2×t2×θ2), and x1 and x2 satisfy: 0.01≤x1/x2≤160.

An apparatus for storing hydrogen as protons and electrons separately. The apparatus includes a DC power supply; a hydrogen electrolysis unit including a hydrogen tank adapted to contain hydrogen under pressure and in contact with one or more catalyst electrodes contained in the tank, the one or more catalyst electrodes in electrical connection with the DC power supply; and an electron storage unit for storing electrons, the electron storage unit in electrical connection with the DC power supply and separated from the hydrogen electrolysis unit. In a proton generation mode, the DC power supply is configured to operate the one or more catalyst electrodes in anode mode to catalyze oxidation of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank to form and store protons on or near the one or more electrodes and store generated electrons in the electron storage unit.