Provided is a porous carbon material having carbon nano-rods on the surface thereof. The porous carbon material has an increased specific surface area and an increased electrochemically active area, and thus may be expected to provide improved performance, when used as an electrode for electrochemical reactions. In addition, the carbon nano-rods of the porous carbon material are formed through an etching process using a catalyst for etching formed on the carbon material, and thus the carbon material may have various functions.

A method and apparatus for controlling cooling of a battery pack are disclosed, in which the method includes determining a load state of the battery pack and selectively controlling a supply of a cooling fluid to cooling paths disposed among battery cells included in the battery pack.

The specification discloses a monitor, a system, and a method for monitoring the electrolyte level in a cell of a multi-cell battery. The system may be powered by leads attached across any one or more cells of the battery. The system includes an electrically conductive probe, having its own wire, that may be installed in any battery cell. The probe is current sampled to provide one or more signals used to determine if the probe is in physical contact with the electrolyte (indicating acceptable electrolyte level). The probe may be sampled as a cathode and as an anode. The probe may be sampled using PWM (pulse width modulation). The probe may be sampled using current limiting.

An electrochemical cell and its method of operation includes an electrolyte having a binary salt system of an alkali hydroxide and a second alkali salt. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte may be in the molten phase. The cell is operational for both storing electrical energy and as a source of electrical energy as part of an uninterruptible power system. The cell is particularly suited to store electrical energy produced by a renewable energy source.

An electrochemical cell and its method of operation includes an electrolyte having a binary salt system of an alkali hydroxide and a second alkali salt. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte may be in the molten phase. The cell is operational for both storing electrical energy and as a source of electrical energy as part of an uninterruptible power system. The cell is particularly suited to store electrical energy produced by a renewable energy source.

A connector assembly is provided for stacked electric power modules. Each of the electric power modules includes a front board, a back board, a top board, a bottom board, a left side board, a right side board, and a battery pack contained in the electric power module. The back board of the electric power module includes a connector module mounted thereto and the connector module includes at least one power connector connected to the battery pack and at least one signal connector. The at least one power connector and the at least one signal connector of the connector module are arranged to project beyond a horizontal surface of the top board.

The present invention provides a battery, including a cathode, a anode, and an electrolyte solution. The cathode includes a cathode active substance and a cathode current collector. The electrolyte solution includes first metal ions and second metal ions. In a charging/discharging process, the first metal ions can be reversibly deintercalated-intercalated at the cathode, the second metal ions can be reduced and deposited as a second metal at the anode, and the second metal can be oxidized and dissolved back to the second metal ions. The anode includes a anode active substance and a anode current collector. A lead-containing substance is provided on a surface of the anode active substance and/or in the electrolyte solution. A mass ratio of lead in the lead-containing substance to the battery is not greater than 1000 ppm. The present invention can effectively improve a dendrite problem at a anode of a battery, prolong the cycle life of the battery, and improve the electrochemical performance and safety performance of the battery.

When a charge state of an auxiliary battery transitions to a first charge state, a charge/discharge controller executes a first process in which a first voltage is applied to an in-vehicle power supply unit to charge the in-vehicle power supply unit with a constant voltage. When the charge state of the auxiliary battery transitions to a second charge state, the charge/discharge controller executes a second process in which a second voltage is applied to the in-vehicle power supply unit, charging of the auxiliary battery is stopped, and the auxiliary battery is caused to discharge electricity to an electrical component load or the like. The charge/discharge controller repeats the first process and the second process until a charge state of a lead storage battery transitions to a third charge state.

When a charge state of an auxiliary battery transitions to a first charge state, a charge/discharge controller executes a first process in which a first voltage is applied to an in-vehicle power supply unit to charge the in-vehicle power supply unit with a constant voltage. When the charge state of the auxiliary battery transitions to a second charge state, the charge/discharge controller executes a second process in which a second voltage is applied to the in-vehicle power supply unit, charging of the auxiliary battery is stopped, and the auxiliary battery is caused to discharge electricity to an electrical component load or the like. The charge/discharge controller repeats the first process and the second process until a charge state of a lead storage battery transitions to a third charge state.