A management device includes a manager configured to manage power stored in a secondary battery provided to a user for stationary use and execute a power exchange business, the power exchange business being performed by connecting the secondary battery to a power network, and a deriver configured to derive return information for returning part of a profit obtained through the power exchange business to the user.

Charging control techniques for a vehicle including an engine that drives an alternator configured to charge a battery of the vehicle comprise modeling a fuel consumption of the alternator for each load level across a range of alternator loads using an engine torque model and a set of operating parameters of the engine, determining an energy output from the alternator for each load level across the range of alternator loads, calculating a cost-to-charge metric based on the modeled alternator fuel consumption and the determined alternator energy output for each duty cycle across a range of duty cycles of the alternator, determining an optimal cost-to-charge from the calculated cost-to-charge metrics, determining a target cost-to-charge metric based on a state of charge of the battery, and operating the alternator accordingly at an optimal duty cycle based on the metrics and current engine operating conditions.

A power supply system includes: a capacitive first battery; an output-type second battery having a smaller heat capacity than the first battery; a voltage converter that converts a voltage between first and second power circuits; a power converter that converts power between the first power circuit and a drive motor; and a power controller that operates the voltage converter and the power converter. The power controller is configured to: after a start of operation, execute a power pass control under which power is transferred between the first and second batteries, until a total output upper limit Ptot_max of all the batteries exceeds a travelable threshold value Pready1; and subsequent to the power pass control, execute a second priority control under which the second battery is discharged in preference to the first battery, until a first output upper limit P1_max of the first battery exceeds a margin traveling threshold value Pready2.

A method and system for managing an automotive alternator are described for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The alternator is controlled by an electrical control unit (ECU) designed to facilitate electrical and mechanical coupling of the alternator to a battery. The ECU receives signals from a battery charge sensor to: determine a battery charge level between: BC1 (corresponding to a fully charge condition); BC2 (corresponding to a working charge level); and BC3 (corresponding to a low charge); and acting on the alternator such that: at level BC1, the alternator is disconnected electrically and mechanically; at leve BC3, the alternator is connected electrically and mechanically; and level BC2, the alternator is coupled mechanically when the vehicle movement speed is greater than a predetermined value (V.sub.Lim) and when the engine is disengaged to change gear, and the alternator is electrically connected when the vehicle is being driven in cut-off mode.

A multi-input charging system and method using a motor driving device: the system includes a first inverter including a plurality of first switching elements, a second inverter including a plurality of second switching elements, a battery connected to a charging power input terminal or one end of the second inverter through a charging switch, and a controller configured to directly charge the battery through the charging power input terminal by selectively connecting the charging switch when a battery charging mode is started, and when connection of the charging switch is impossible, control the first switching elements and the second switching elements such that the charging power input terminal and the battery are connected through the first inverter, a motor, and the second inverter in a bypass manner.

The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.

If the destination has not been input, it is judged whether the present location is on the expressway (step S32). If the judgement result of the step S32 is positive, it is judged whether or not the actual SOC is less than or equal to the threshold TH2 (step S34). If the judgement result of the step S34 is positive, the restoring control is executed (step S36). Subsequent to the step S34 or S36, it is judged whether or not the vehicle is still on the expressway (step S38). If the judgement result of the step S38 is positive, it is judged whether or not the actual SOC is greater than or equal to the SOC_T2 (step S42). If the judgement result of the step S42 is positive, the maintaining control is executed (step S44).

A vehicle includes: a low voltage battery constituted by a lithium-ion battery, the low voltage battery supplying an electric power to an electric component mounted to a vehicle; a high voltage battery constituted by a lithium-ion battery, the high voltage battery having an output voltage higher than an output voltage of the low voltage battery; a first rotating electrical machine that operates by an electric power supplied from the high voltage battery, the first rotating electrical machine generating a torque for driving the vehicle; and a second rotating electrical machine for starting the engine. The second rotating electrical machine operates by an electric power supplied from the high voltage battery.

An electrical energy recovery, storage, and distribution system that may be used in a vehicle. The system may include a supercapacitor configured to quickly store large amounts of energy. The system may also include multiple circuits operating at different voltage levels, such that an output voltage from the supercapacitor is useful over a larger voltage range and the system is more energy efficient.

A charge capacity variable control apparatus using an external energy source for a vehicle, may include an external energy source for generating an external charge power, a main battery for receiving the external charge power to be charged, and a controller for generating a change target charge capacity by changing an existing target charge capacity based on an external charge capacity of the external energy source and a battery charge capacity of the main battery depending upon the driving state of the vehicle, and performing a variable control using the change target charge capacity.