A method for charging a cell of an electric energy store includes setting the cell into a charging mode; determining a first and a second impedance characteristic, each representative of a complex alternating current impedance of the cell; determining a first and a second temperature characteristic on the basis of the impedance characteristics, each representative of a temperature of the cell; determining a deviation in the temperature characteristics; and reducing a charging current of the cell in the event that the deviation exceeds a specified temperature threshold value.

A bidirectional power converter includes a first switch circuit coupled to a second switch circuit via a transformer, wherein the first switch circuit is configured to transfer power to the second switch circuit during a charging mode, the second switch circuit is configured to transfer power to the first switch circuit during a discharging mode, and the first switch circuit is configured to operate in a half bridge configuration during a first portion of the charging mode.

Disclosed is a docking station for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The docking station has a retractable guide apparatus having a retracted state in which the retractable guide apparatus is retracted within the docking station and an expanded state in which the retractable guide is expanded outward from the docking station for physically guiding the UAV into the docking station. Given that the guide apparatus is retractable, the retractable guide apparatus is provided with some protection from environmental factors such as exposure to ice, snow and high winds. This can help to increase durability and reliability, such that the UAV can reliably land in the docking station without any personnel being present. Deployment is also possible without any personnel being present. Therefore, it is possible to avoid or mitigate the costs associated with personnel.

A method of operating an electric power system, which may include: determining a charge state of a first battery unit and a charge state of a second battery unit; determining a difference between the charge state of the first battery unit and the charge state of the second battery unit; and determining whether to enable discharging simultaneously of both the first battery unit and the second battery unit, or to enable discharging of one of the first and second battery units, based on the difference between the charge state of the first battery unit and the charge state of the second battery unit. At least one of the first and second battery units may be a swappable battery unit. The disclosure further relates to an electric power system and to a computer executable code including instructions for operating an electric power system.

Provided is a power supply and distribution system, the power supply and distribution system includes at least one non-isolated AC/DC converter unit, an MV DC bus and multiple isolated DC/DC converter units, and the at least one non-isolated AC/DC converter unit is connected between an MV AC grid and the MV DC bus, and is configured to convert an input MV AC voltage to an output MV DC voltage, where the output MV DC voltage is fed into the MV DC bus, the multiple isolated DC/DC converter units are connected to the MV DC bus in parallel via MV class cables, and are configured to convert a voltage level from the MV DC bus to a charging voltage level. The power supply and distribution system can be used for charging the EVs.

A proposal system includes a processor. The processor is configured to propose to a user of a battery electric vehicle a rental vehicle the user is able to use during charging of an energy storage device mounted on the battery electric vehicle in order to allow the user to use the battery electric vehicle in a charged state in which the energy storage device has been charged.

The present application describes systems and methods for authenticating rechargeable batteries in a rechargeable battery cabinet. The rechargeable battery cabinet may be a part of a large, scalable, distributed network of rechargeable battery cabinets, in which rechargeable battery cabinets may be removed or added based on consumer demand for fresh batteries. The system and methods may track the rechargeable batteries and where they are located in the rechargeable battery cabinets by first assigning a dynamic identification number, such that a rechargeable battery compartment does not need a static identifier. The system and method may allow for real-time reading of the status of rechargeable battery cabinets and rechargeable batteries in the system. Each rechargeable battery may have a static identifier to uniquely identify the rechargeable battery. This system and method allows for efficient scaling and identification of rechargeable battery within the system.

Techniques are described herein for fleet electrification management. A method includes determining a composition of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace at least a portion of non-electric vehicles in a vehicle fleet while satisfying travel requirements of the vehicle fleet. The method includes estimating an energy demand of the composition of EVs. The method includes determining an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure to meet the estimated energy demand. The method includes providing one or more recommendations including at least one of: a fleet electrification recommendation for transitioning the vehicle fleet into the composition of EVs, or a charging infrastructure recommendation for implementing the EVSE charging infrastructure.

In an example embodiment, a system includes an inverter configured to operate in at least one of a charging mode or a drive mode, a cascaded direct current (DC)-DC converter, the DC-DC converter including a first portion of the inverter and at least one controller configured to selectively couple the first portion of the inverter to a first portion of the cascaded DC-DC converter during the charging mode, and selectively couple the inverter to a second portion of the cascaded DC-DC converter during the drive mode.

A wireless power receiver coil is attached to a landing gear of a drone. The wireless power receiver coil is closer to the drone when the landing gear is in a retracted position and farther away from the drone when the landing gear is in an extended position. A length of the wireless power receiver coil may be the same length when the landing gear is in the retracted position and in the extended position. The wireless power receiver coil may be in a first orientation when the landing gear is in the retracted position and the wireless power receiver coil may be in a different orientation when the landing gear is in the extended position. The wireless power receiver coil may have a first shape when the landing gear is in the retracted position and may have a second shape when the landing gear is in the extended position.