A vehicle charging apparatus is described herein, which may include a battery pack comprising a plurality of individual batteries, a power input port receiving electrical power at a first wattage, an AC-to-DC conversion circuit configured to provide DC power to charge groups of batteries in the plurality of individual batteries, a power conversion circuit configured to condition a DC output of at least one group of batteries to provide a charging current output to a vehicle via a coupling, and a processing circuit configured to control the power conversion circuit to provide the charging current at a second wattage greater than the first wattage. The first wattage may be actively or inherently limited to a level less than the second wattage in order to provide fast DC charging with a limited power input.

Described is a new partial power converter (PPC) for the DC-DC stage of rapid-charging stations for electric vehicles (EV). The proposed converter manages only a fraction of the total power delivered from the grid to the battery, which increases the general efficiency of the system and the power density while potentially reducing the cost of the charger. The proposed topology is based on a switched capacitor between the AC terminals of a bridge converter H and does not require high-frequency isolation transformers in order to provide a source of controllable voltage between the CC link and the battery. The proposed concept can be implemented by using interposed power cells, which can improve energy quality, reduce the size of the inductor, and allow scalability for chargers of higher nominal power.

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controller units, direct current fast charging (DCFC) units, and methods. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller unit includes a controller and a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the controller to determine status of a power electronics module (PEM) of a direct current fast charging (DCFC) unit, and instruct the PEM to control power quality of a three-phase alternating current (AC) grid power signal in response to the determined status being available.

An intermediate circuit is equipped with a first terminal connection, which includes a neutral conductor connection, and with a first and a second intermediate circuit capacitor and a diode circuit. The intermediate circuit has configuration switches which in a first state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in series and in a second state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in parallel. The configuration switches are each designed as changeover switches, which bypass the diode circuit in the first state, wherein the neutral conductor connection is connected to the diode circuit. A vehicle-based charging circuit, which includes the intermediate circuit and a rectifier circuit, is also described.

A method is provided for impedance-controlled fast charging of a stored electrical energy source of a working device, in particular of a stored energy source in a vehicle. In the method: a variable characteristic of an impedance of the stored energy source is detected; a present charging current for charging the stored electrical energy source is set as a function of the variable characteristic of the impedance; the present charging current is temporarily reduced with a steep edge by temporarily connecting a resistive load to the stored energy source and feeding the load using the stored energy source; and a voltage response of the stored energy source to the steep edge is detected as the variable characteristic of the impedance of the stored energy source and is used as the basis for setting the present charging current.

An electric storage device for providing electric energy for a charging operation of at least one electrically-driven motor vehicle has a storage unit for storing the energy, a cooling assembly for providing cooling capacity and a coolant circuit which is designed to convey thermal energy from the storage unit to the cooling assembly by a coolant. At least one charging cable is coupled to the storage unit, each charging cable being designed for connection to the motor vehicle and having a cooling channel. A distribution system is provided which is designed to divert some of the coolant into the cooling channel of the charging cable or to carry away thermal energy from the cooling channel into the coolant via a heat exchanger.

A battery charging method includes acquiring a functional relationship of a differential value of an amount of charge or a state of charge (SOC) with respect to a voltage of a battery based on the voltage or the SOC, determining charging steps for charging of the battery by analyzing the functional relationship, and generating a charging profile comprising charging currents for each of the charging steps to charge the battery.

An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.

An embodiment takes the form of a locker includes a mobility device repository, an electrical system, a kiosk having a user interface, and a communication interface communicatively connected to a network. The mobility device repository is configured to secure one or more personal mobility devices at the mobility device repository. The electrical system is configured to receive electrical power and to charge respective batteries of the personal mobility devices secured at the mobility device repository using the electrical power. The locker receives a personal mobility device at the mobility device repository and secures the received personal mobility device at the mobility device repository, and receives a checked-in indication that the personal mobility device is checked in. The checked-in indication is received via the user interface or via the communication interface over the network. The locker charges a respective battery of the received personal mobility device using the electrical system.

An embodiment takes the form of a locker includes a mobility device repository, an electrical system, a kiosk having a user interface, and a communication interface communicatively connected to a network. The mobility device repository is configured to secure one or more personal mobility devices at the mobility device repository. The electrical system is configured to receive electrical power and to charge respective batteries of the personal mobility devices secured at the mobility device repository using the electrical power. The locker receives a personal mobility device at the mobility device repository and secures the received personal mobility device at the mobility device repository, and receives a checked-in indication that the personal mobility device is checked in. The checked-in indication is received via the user interface or via the communication interface over the network. The locker charges a respective battery of the received personal mobility device using the electrical system.