A ground impedance and fault detection system may include a controller that can identify a location of a ground fault in a circuit. The circuit also may include one or more positive contactors connected with a positive portion of the bus between battery strings and a load and a negative bus contactor coupled with a negative portion of the bus between the battery strings and the loads. The controller may identify the ground fault by opening the one or more positive contactors and closing the negative bus contactor, measuring the voltages using the impedance devices, and comparing the voltages that are measured.

A ground impedance and fault detection system may include a controller that can identify a location of a ground fault in a circuit. The circuit also may include one or more positive contactors connected with a positive portion of the bus between battery strings and a load and a negative bus contactor coupled with a negative portion of the bus between the battery strings and the loads. The controller may identify the ground fault by opening the one or more positive contactors and closing the negative bus contactor, measuring the voltages using the impedance devices, and comparing the voltages that are measured.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a travel prohibition control unit. In the case where a lid sensor detects an open state of a lid, the travel prohibition control unit performs travel prohibition control to prohibit travel of the fuel cell vehicle. In the case where the number of shift control operations has reached a release number within release time, the travel prohibition control unit releases the travel prohibition control, and in the case where the number of shift control operations has not reached the release number within the release time, the travel prohibition control unit continues the travel prohibition control. The release number is two or more.

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid means of transport comprising a high voltage bus and a low voltage bus. The high voltage bus is for delivering energy to at least one propulsion motor. The low voltage bus is for delivering energy to parts operating at low voltage. The electric or hybrid means of transport is equipped with a solar panel, the panel comprising groups of solar cells connected to a primary bus of an associated distributed maximum power point tracker. The distributed maximum power point tracker having a secondary bus to exchange energy with other distributed maximum power point trackers. The secondary bus of at least one of the distributed maximum power point tracker is connected to the low voltage bus, thereby eliminating the need for a DC/DC converter between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus.

Systems and methods for identifying thermal run-away events in a battery pack can include using sensing circuits made up of series- or parallel-linked thermistors to measure subsets of the individual battery cells in a battery pack. Using multiple sensing circuits, a monitoring system can positively identify when a threshold temperature of any single battery cell has been reached even though individual temperatures are not monitored, and can generate a signal indicative of a thermal run-away event based on the detected temperature.

In a method for operating an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle, including an electric traction drive device for driving vehicle, a control device for controlling the driving, a first energy storage device, for supplying the control device using a first DC voltage, a second energy storage device, for supplying the traction drive device using a second DC voltage, and an energy supply unit for providing an output DC voltage, the first energy storage device is connected to the second energy storage device via a converter device, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, the converter device converts the first DC voltage into the second DC voltage, and a power flow from the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device is prevented.

In a method for operating an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle, including an electric traction drive device for driving vehicle, a control device for controlling the driving, a first energy storage device, for supplying the control device using a first DC voltage, a second energy storage device, for supplying the traction drive device using a second DC voltage, and an energy supply unit for providing an output DC voltage, the first energy storage device is connected to the second energy storage device via a converter device, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, the converter device converts the first DC voltage into the second DC voltage, and a power flow from the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device is prevented.

A machine includes a plurality of battery string modules that supply electric current to an inverter of the machine. The machine also includes a control system that opens at one contactor coupled to at least one battery string module of the plurality of battery string modules to disconnect the at least one battery string module. The other battery string modules of the plurality of battery string modules, apart from the at least one battery string module, continue supplying electric current to the inverter of the machine while the at least one battery string module is disconnected.

A relay control system for a battery system is provided. The relay control system includes: an electrical interface configured to detachably receive a connector; a power supply electrically connected in parallel to a coil of a relay through power supply lines; a relay driver switch interconnected between the power supply and the coil in one of the power supply lines; and a controller electrically connected in parallel to the relay driver switch through relay driver control lines to control the relay driver switch. One of the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface, and the relay control system is configured to open the relay when the one of the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.