A positioning unit for electrically driven vehicles and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle and a stationary charging station having a positioning unit configured to be disposed on a vehicle roof. The positioning unit includes a contact device that is moveable relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and is electrically connectable to the charging contact device in a contact position, and an articulated arm device for positioning the contact device and a drive device for driving the articulated arm device. The articulated arm device includes for pivoting the contact device from a storing state to a vertical contact state and vice versa, and a second pivot arm for pivoting the contact device from the retracted position to the contact position and vice versa. The first pivot arm is disposed to be pivotable on a distal end of the second pivot arm.

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells disposed in at least two rows. The battery cells in adjacent rows are offset from each other. Each of the plurality of battery cells includes a cover and a first terminal that extends from the cover outward. The first terminal is configured to be coupled to a second terminal on an adjacent battery cell. The plurality of battery cells are electrically coupled to each other in a zigzag pattern via the first and second terminals.

A method for controlling electrical connection of at least two battery packs (202, 203) of an energy storage System (200) of a vehicle (201) to a common load during operation of the vehicle, each one of the battery packs being connectable to the load via at least one respective switching device, the method comprising: —receiving measurement data relating to current operating conditions of the energy storage System, —based on at least the measurement data, estimating at least one battery state of each one of the battery packs, wherein said at least one battery state is at least one of an open circuit voltage and a state of charge, —based on the estimated at least one battery state of each one of the battery packs, controlling electrical connection of each battery pack to the load via the at least one respective switching device.

A control unit (56) for a vehicle (10) with an electric drive (12) and an electromechanically actuated brake unit (14) includes a high-voltage DC link (20) disconnectably connected to a first energy store (24) of the electric drive (12), a converter (18) connected to the high-voltage DC link (20) and operable bidirectionally, and an electric motor (16) connected to the converter (18) for driving a wheel (50) of the vehicle (10). A brake drive circuit (36) is connected to the high-voltage DC link (20), and another electric motor (34), is connected to the brake drive circuit (36). A function block (55) has an input (69) for receiving a voltage signal (68) indicative of the voltage of the high-voltage DC link (20), a first output (63) for outputting a converter drive signal (60), and a first closed-loop controller unit (66) for generating the converter drive signal (60).

A charging amount calculation apparatus calculates an amount of power consumption by a battery for running along a running route and a during-running charging amount received by a power reception apparatus from at least one second power feeding facility. The charging amount calculation apparatus calculates a pre-running charging amount based on the amount of power consumption and the during-running charging amount.

A degradation estimation method system of a high voltage battery is provided that detect degradation of a battery. The degradation estimation method includes obtaining, by a controller, information about an input voltage, an input current and an external temperature of a slow charger. The controller is configured to calculate an output power used for charging the battery, based on an input power calculated based on the input voltage and the input current. In addition, the method includes calculating, by the controller, a mean charging current based on the output power and the battery charging voltage and calculating a battery degradation degree based on the mean charging current.

A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system includes an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) coupled to an electric vehicle via a cable. The EVSE includes a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) configured to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and an external (or unintended) ground. The first CCID is also configured to detect faults above leakage current levels between a chassis of the vehicle and a power storage device of the vehicle. A second CCID is included in the cable or the vehicle to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and the chassis. The system maintains grounding continuity between the electric vehicle and ground. The system thus provides protection at let-go levels while allowing a leakage current in the vehicle to be detected at a higher level for nuisance trip avoidance.

A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a first battery module with a first heater and a second battery module with a second heater. The battery system also includes a control system configured to selectively activate the first or the second heater to dissipate energy from the first or the second battery module.

A battery charging system of a vehicle and method for charging a low-voltage battery from a high-voltage battery or an external power supply are provided, where the battery charging system includes an on-board charger (OBC) to charge the low voltage battery either from the high-voltage battery or from the external power supply, and the OBC is powered either by the low-voltage battery or the external power supply.

A direct current traction motor control system includes plural motors of with each of the motors configured to be coupled with a different axle of a vehicle and to rotate the axle to propel the vehicle. The motors are coupled with a DC bus and configured to receive DC via the DC bus to power the motors. The system also includes plural switch assemblies with each of the switch assemblies having an H-bridge circuit coupled with a different motor of the motors to control rotation of the motor. The system includes a controller configured to communicate control signals to the switch assemblies to individually control the H-bridge circuits to control one or more of torques output by the motors or rotation directions of the motors.