An exemplary electrochemical cell incorporates at least a first battery electrode, such as a zinc electrode, at least a second battery electrode, such as a reversible metal electrode such as nickel, and at least an oxidant reduction electrode, such as an air cathode. The oxidant reduction electrode(s) is configured in a cell housing such that it is essentially orthogonal to the first and second electrodes. The cell housing contains electrolyte therein and the electrodes are immersed, at least partially, in the electrolyte. The positioning of the oxidant reduction electrode(s) on the side of the cell and relatively perpendicular to the first and second (metal) electrodes, allows for more consistent ionic resistance across all the metal electrodes. Optionally, a fourth or oxygen evolving electrode may be provided in the cell housing, horizontal, orthogonal, and below the first and second electrodes to provide oxygen bubbles for mixing the electrolyte.

A rechargeable battery jump starting device with a leapfrog charging system. The leapfrog charging system, for example, can sequentially charge multiple batteries of the rechargeable battery jump starting device.

A multi-section electrode for lithium batteries, wherein the multi-section electrode includes a plurality of sections, each section of the plurality of sections divided into a major part and a minor part. The major part can have a larger path to the current collector compared to the minor part which results in faster charging and discharging of the major part in comparison with the minor section, wherein the minor section can retain a charge for longer duration and help reduce electrode fatigue and breakdown.

A rechargeable battery jump starting device with a vehicle or equipment battery detection system. The vehicle or equipment battery detection system is configured for detecting the connection of the rechargeable battery jump starting device with the vehicle or equipment battery to be jump charged.

A power tool is provided including a power supply interface receiving a medium-voltage-rated removable battery pack having a maximum rated voltage in the range of 40 to 80 volts, and a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor. The motor includes a rotor and a stator having at least three stator windings corresponding to at least three phases of the motor, the rotor being moveable by the stator when the stator windings are appropriately energized within the corresponding phases. A multi-phase inverter bridge circuit is disposed between the power supply interface and the motor, and a controller is configured to output drive signals to the inverter bridge circuit to control flow of current from the battery pack to the motor such that the motor produces a maximum power output of at least approximately 1750 watts at a torque of approximately 1.5 to 2 Newton-meters.

The present disclosure relates to a dual battery system for in a dual manner powering propulsion of an electric vehicle including a first electric motor coupled in driving relationship to one or more rear wheels and a second electric motor coupled in driving relationship to one or more front wheels. The dual battery system includes a first battery and a second battery. The first battery is configured to provide electric power for driving the first electric motor and the second battery is configured to provide electric power for driving the second electric motor. The present disclosure also relates to an electric vehicle including such a dual battery system.

A method of diagnosing an electrical energy storage apparatus includes exciting at least one energy storage system in the electrical energy storage apparatus; sampling data associated with an electrical characteristic of the at least one energy storage system in response to the excitation of the at least one energy storage system; and estimating at least one electrical parameter and/or at least one operational condition attribute of the at least one energy storage system.

A battery and supercapacitor system of a vehicle includes a lithium ion battery (LIB) having first and second electrodes, and a supercapacitor having third and fourth electrodes. A first reference electrode is disposed between the first and second electrodes and is configured to measure a first potential at a location between the first and second electrodes. A second reference electrode is disposed between the third and fourth electrodes and is configured to measure a second potential at a location between the third and fourth electrodes. The first electrode may be connected to the third electrode, and the second electrode may be connected to the fourth electrode. The first and second reference electrodes may not be connected to any of the first, second, third, or fourth electrodes.

A nested structure lithium ion battery capable of reducing a risk of thermal runaway includes a metal housing and a battery cell filled in the housing. The housing includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is located in a through hole in the center of the outer cylinder, and there is a gap between a side wall of the inner cylinder and a secondary outer wall of the outer cylinder. The battery cell includes an outer battery cell and an inner battery cell. The outer battery cell is filled in a cavity of the outer cylinder, and the inner battery cell is filled in a cavity of the inner cylinder. This nested structure lithium ion battery divides the battery cell into two parts. The gap is used as a heat dissipation channel in a high temperature environment.

An energy storage system has one or more energy storage units, each energy storage unit including one or more energy storage modules, and each energy storage module including a plurality of electrochemical energy storage devices connected in series. A DC switching device is provided in series with the or each energy storage unit. The DC switching device includes a semiconductor device and a rectifying unit in parallel with the semiconductor device.