An apparatus is provided for charging a first storage battery and a second storage battery electrically connected together in series includes a first Kelvin connection, a second Kelvin connection and a third Kelvin connection coupled to the storage batteries. At least two of the Kelvin connections are configured to charge at least one of the first and second batteries. A charging source configured to selectively couple a charge signal to a storage battery through the Kelvin connections. A switching device selectively couples the charging source and measurement circuitry to at least two of the first, second and third Kelvin connections. A microprocessor selectively controls the switching device, charges the batteries, and measures a parameter of the batteries as a function of the charging signal applied to the batteries.

A jump starter device can include sensors to measure data of a vehicle coupled to the jump starter device. The jump starter device can include a controller configured to process the load data to determine the status of the load, such as the conditions of the vehicle connected to the jump starter.

A container for housing a motorcycle helmet, defining a compartment where the helmet can be arranged, characterized by comprising at least one wireless power transmitter that is associated with said compartment, that can be operatively connected to an electric power source and that is adapted to send electric charge to at least one wireless power receiver of an electric device provided with at least one rechargeable battery associated with said helmet, to recharge said battery during a step of wireless power recharge.

The present disclosure relates to method performed by a battery charger configured to notify an electrically connected vehicle (120) about status of the battery charger, the method comprising measuring output (O) of the battery charger to the electrically connected vehicle, determining a charging mode (CM) of the battery charger, determining pulse characteristics using the measured output and the determined charging mode (CM), generating a pulse train using the determined pulse characteristics, wherein the pulse train is indicative of the status of the battery charger.

A control device for a vehicle and a reset method for such a control device. The control device includes a voltage supply and system components including a processing unit which, with the other system components, carries out at least one device function, and selectively switches off or resets assigned individual system components depending on the function and/or depending on the state via at least one selectively generated controller reset signal, the system components being supplied by at least two different internal system voltages. At least one monitoring function monitors the at least two internal system voltages. Different voltage-related reset signals are assigned to the monitored internal system voltages. As soon as the assigned monitored internal system voltage is recognized to be erroneous, the monitoring function selectively generates and outputs a voltage-related reset signal to at least one system component which is supplied with the internal system voltage recognized as erroneous.

A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, are configured in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the discharge of stored energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic in order to restore charge to the battery as needed.

Vehicle battery power supply monitoring and management systems and methods for use with replaceable and rechargeable batteries, which among other things is configured to facilitate the sequential usage of each battery from a plurality of batteries secured within a vehicle based on a measurement of the condition of the battery, and facilitate the speed, ease and convenience in the removal and replacement of secured batteries.

An electrical architecture includes multiple nodal controllers, at least two power sources, and a power supply network. Each nodal controller includes at least one output port configured to be connected to an electrical load operating with a voltage of multiple different voltages. The at least two power sources are associated with the multiple different voltages and configured to supply the multiple nodal controllers through the power supply network. The power supply network includes a power line connecting the multiple nodal controllers to each other in a ring and is configured to supply the multiple nodal controllers with electrical power from the at least two power sources. Each nodal controller of the multiple nodal controllers is linked to the power line via a bidirectional DC/DC converter and is configured to control a sleep or a wake-up mode responsive to detection of a corresponding voltage transition within the power supply network.

An electrical power system for a delivery vehicle is provided. The power system is used in connection with a delivery vehicle having an engine, and also having a liftgate powered by an electric motor. The electrical power system includes a first battery, a second battery, and an alternator. The electrical power system also includes a super capacitor. The super capacitor has a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, wherein each of the first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank comprises ultra-capacitor cells placed in series. The first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank reside in parallel. In addition, the first battery and the second battery reside in parallel with the second capacitor bank. Together, the first battery, the second battery and the second capacitor bank supply power to the liftgate motor. Finally, the first capacitor bank is in electrical communication with the alternator and supplies power, with the alternator, to a relay start for the delivery vehicle to start the engine.

A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.