An energy storage system has at least one string of N modules, with each module including an energy storage device and a switching unit configured to for either serially connect the energy storage device into the string or to provide a short circuit. The energy storage system additionally includes a controller configured to perform (during on-load operation of the ESS) the steps of: changing the state of at least one switching unit of a module; measuring a current and a voltage at the energy storage device of the module, and determining characteristics of the energy storage device on a basis of at least a current through the string and change over time of the voltage measured before and after change of the state of the switching unit.

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 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 battery system of a vehicle, a charging and discharging method, and a vehicle. The system includes an energy storage apparatus (1) and a direct current (DC) charging and discharging interface (2), where the energy storage apparatus (1) includes a first battery pack (17) and a second battery pack (18), and a first inter-battery switch (11) and a second inter-battery switch (12) are disposed between adjacent battery packs; an incoming line terminal (111) of the first inter-battery switch (11) is connected to a first electrode of the first battery pack (17); a second outgoing line terminal (113) of the second inter-battery switch (12) is connected to a second electrode of the energy storage apparatus (1); and a first electrode of the DC charging and discharging interface (2) is connected to the first electrode of the energy storage apparatus (1).

A multi-voltage storage system for an at least partly electrically driven vehicle includes a first storage module and a second storage module having an identical rated voltage for storing electrical energy, wherein on-board consumers are connected to the second storage module at least with priority during a charging process, a heating apparatus for heating the storage modules, a switch unit which is designed to connect the first storage module and the second storage module in series for a charging process and in parallel for driving the vehicle, and a control unit, which is firstly designed to control the switch unit before and/or during a charging process such that the parallel connection of the first storage module and the second storage module is eliminated, and which is secondly designed, after elimination of the parallel connection, to activate the heating apparatus before and/or during the charging process.

A multi-voltage storage system for an at least partly electrically driven vehicle includes a first storage module and a second storage module having an identical rated voltage for storing electrical energy, wherein on-board consumers are connected to the second storage module at least with priority during a charging process, a heating apparatus for heating the storage modules, a switch unit which is designed to connect the first storage module and the second storage module in series for a charging process and in parallel for driving the vehicle, and a control unit, which is firstly designed to control the switch unit before and/or during a charging process such that the parallel connection of the first storage module and the second storage module is eliminated, and which is secondly designed, after elimination of the parallel connection, to activate the heating apparatus before and/or during the charging process.

A battery system includes a plurality of battery cell packs arranged in layers selectively connected in series and parallel by a control system controlling a plurality of switches. Each of the battery cell packs includes a plurality of battery cells. A plurality of first switches and a plurality of second switches are controlled by a control system to connect the battery cell packs in response to a desired current output of the battery system and/or a desired voltage output of the battery system irrespective of individual battery cell or battery cell pack voltages or currents associated with state of charge or operational performance. The control system controls the switches to selectively connect the battery cell pack(s) to the output connections in parallel and/or series to provide redundancy and reduce output voltage/current fluctuation otherwise associated with state of charge or underperforming battery cells/packs.

The present invention relates to an energy storage module system and, more specifically, to a hybrid energy storage module system selectively using, according to the amount of power required in a load, a lithium battery and a lead storage battery by mutually supplementing the lithium battery and the lead storage battery. According to the present invention, the hybrid energy storage module system is an energy storage module system for supplying power necessary for the driving of a load and comprises an energy storage device, a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit, and a controller. The energy storage device includes at least one lithium battery module and at least one lead storage battery module. In addition, the energy storage device includes a switching network configured so as to connect the lithium battery module and the lead storage battery module in different arrangement modes. The energy storage device is connected to both ends of a load and supplies power. The switching network can include a path for connecting the lithium battery module and the lead storage battery module, and a plurality of switches provided on the path. The first sensing unit is configured so as to measure the temperature and the voltage of the lithium battery modules, and the second sensing unit is configured so as to measure the temperature and the voltage of the lead storage battery module. The controller controls the switching network in order to change the arrangement modes of the lithium battery module and the lead storage battery module of the energy storage device.

This present invention provides a packing scheme for battery cells, known as FSTP (First Serial Then Parallel). That is, when building a battery pack, first the battery cells are connected in serial to reach the required voltage, then the resulted battery strings are connected in parallel to reach the required capacity. A final battery pack is thus completed. This scheme possesses the following advantages: (1) Safety of the pack against catching fire is greatly improved by an order of magnitude, since each of every cell in the pack has been monitored; (2) Total cost is contained within acceptable level; (3) Cell strings can be easily switched out of the pack, resulting in removing faulted cells instantly without significantly impacting operation. And the costly active battery balancing becomes unnecessary.

A battery system having at least one battery string of more than two batteries connected in series, a charge equalization circuit, and a relay matrix. The plurality of battery strings each comprise more than two batteries connected in series and are connected in parallel. The charge equalization circuit is capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings. The relay matrix is operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings. Based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries, the relay matrix is operated such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings.