In a backup device, a determination unit determines a first target voltage value of a second power supply unit when a starter switch for starting a vehicle is in an OFF state, so as to be lower than a second target voltage value of the second power supply unit when the starter switch is in an ON state, based on the second target voltage value, a value indicating the charging capability of the charging circuit, and a predetermined time limit. A control unit causes the charging circuit to perform the charging operation upon the starter switch being switched to an ON state, such that the charged voltage of the second power supply unit reaches the second target voltage value, and causes the discharging circuit to perform the discharging operation upon the starter switch being switched to an OFF state, such that the charged voltage reaches the first target voltage value.

A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a battery charged with electric power generated by the engine, and a motor as a drive source and having multiple running modes that can be selected through a mode operation. As the running mode, the method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes a normal mode configured to perform charging of the battery according to a running state; and a charge mode configured to electric power generation by the engine according to a mode operation, the method comprising setting an upper limit of charging electric power based on the generated electric power in the charge mode to be lower than an upper limit of charging electric power based on the generated electric power in the normal mode.

In an inverter generator controller, residual charge of a battery is detected and generated power output is detected. Then, low-load charging of the battery is implemented if the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is equal to or greater than the detected load output demand and the detected generated power output of the engine generator unit is less than the predetermined low-load value a, when the detected residual charge of the battery is equal to or less than the first threshold value. When the detected residual charge of the battery becomes greater than the first threshold value, the low-load charging of the battery is terminated.

A method for determining a state of charge (SOC) of a rechargeable battery cell includes determining a rate-invariant charge/discharge relationship between an open-circuit voltage (OCV) and a state of charge (SOC). This includes a first finite-rate voltage scan following a reduction branch of a relationship between OCV and the SOC, and executing a second finite-rate voltage scan following an oxidation branch of a relationship between OCV and the SOC. A rate-dependent charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC is determined during scanned voltage transitions between the reduction and oxidation branches. A present SOC state is determined based upon an electrical potential, the rate-invariant charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC, and the rate-dependent charge/discharge relationship between the OCV and the SOC during a voltage-scan reversal that occurs when the scanned voltage transitions between the reduction and oxidation branches.

A mobile emergency charging device for a battery of a motor vehicle that is designed to charge the battery in a recuperation operation. The mobile emergency charging device has at least one fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, and at least one drive roller for driving a wheel of the motor vehicle. This at least one drive roller is connected at least indirectly to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and, by way of this connection, the drive roller is set into a rotational movement when the internal combustion engine is running.

A movable barrier opener system having a brushless DC motor is provided. The movable barrier opener system may have a power supply unit with a drive circuit power module and a storage bank. The storage bank may be chargeable by the drive circuit power module and may be connectable to the drive assembly to provide electrical power to the drive assembly to move the movable barrier. The drive circuit power module may be selectably turned on and off to improve efficiency of power consumption by turning off during periods of lowered demand.

A four wheel drive vehicle includes: main driving wheels and auxiliary driving wheels; a first driving motor that provides power to the main driving wheels; a second driving motor that provides power to the auxiliary driving wheels; a battery that stores electrical energy; an inverter that converts and provides the electrical energy stored in the battery to the first driving motor; and a bidirectional power converter that generates charging electric power for charging the battery by converting power supplied from the outside of the vehicle and converts and provides the electrical energy stored in the battery to the second driving motor.

A method and system for an electric vehicle include a controller and a battery cooling system. The controller automatically detects when the vehicle is being driven to a charging station. The controller controls the battery cooling system to pre-cool a traction battery of the vehicle as the vehicle is being driven to the charging station so that the traction battery is cooled to a target temperature upon the vehicle reaching the charging station. The battery cooling system includes a phase change material (PCM) surrounding at least a portion of the traction battery. The traction battery is pre-cooled by circulating refrigerant coolant to the PCM to cool the PCM and thereby pre-cool the traction battery.

An energy management system comprises a battery, a heat storage unit, a cold storage unit and a control device. The control device distributes electric power (electric energy) inputted into the energy management system 1 among the battery, the heat storage unit and the cold storage unit by referring to a charging state (SOC and SOP) of the battery, a heat storage state to the heat storage unit and a cold storage state to the cold storage unit. The inputted electric energy is converted into chemical energy to be stored in the battery, and on the other hand, is converted into thermal energy to be stored in the heat storage unit and the cold storage unit.

Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.