A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

A system for controlling DC-to-DC converters connected in parallel can include a first DC-to-DC converter, a second DC-to-DC converter, and a controller. The first DC-to-DC converter can be connected between a first node and a second node. The first DC-to-DC converter can be configured to maintain a voltage level at the second node. The second DC-to-DC converter can be connected between the first node and the second node. The controller can be configured to measure a current through the first DC-to-DC converter. The controller can be configured to cause, in response to a measure of the current being in a specific relationship with respect to a threshold current, a change in electric power being conveyed through the second DC-to-DC converter to cause the second DC-to-DC converter to respond to a subsequent change in electric power being conveyed through the second node.

A system for controlling DC-to-DC converters connected in parallel can include a first DC-to-DC converter, a second DC-to-DC converter, and a controller. The first DC-to-DC converter can be connected between a first node and a second node. The first DC-to-DC converter can be configured to maintain a voltage level at the second node. The second DC-to-DC converter can be connected between the first node and the second node. The controller can be configured to measure a current through the first DC-to-DC converter. The controller can be configured to cause, in response to a measure of the current being in a specific relationship with respect to a threshold current, a change in electric power being conveyed through the second DC-to-DC converter to cause the second DC-to-DC converter to respond to a subsequent change in electric power being conveyed through the second node.

The vehicle can have an engine and a moveable lift gate, a power unit driving the movement of the lift gate, the power unit including an electric motor and a capacitor pack, the capacitor pack being connected for powering the electrical motor, and being connectable to a DC alternator source of the engine.

The vehicle can have an engine and a moveable lift gate, a power unit driving the movement of the lift gate, the power unit including an electric motor and a capacitor pack, the capacitor pack being connected for powering the electrical motor, and being connectable to a DC alternator source of the engine.

A charge control device includes: a voltage generator which receives an input voltage and generates an output voltage; a power feeding circuit which supplies the output voltage to a terminal via a voltage supply line; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to make the power feeding circuit supply the output voltage when a value of the input voltage or the output voltage is equal to or higher than a first threshold value; electrically cut off the supply of the output voltage by the power feeding circuit when the value of the input voltage or the output voltage is less than the first threshold value; and resume the supply of the output voltage by the power feeding circuit when the value of the input voltage or the output voltage returns to be equal to or higher than the first threshold value.

A charge control device includes: a voltage generator which receives an input voltage and generates an output voltage; a power feeding circuit which supplies the output voltage to a terminal via a voltage supply line; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to make the power feeding circuit supply the output voltage when a value of the input voltage or the output voltage is equal to or higher than a first threshold value; electrically cut off the supply of the output voltage by the power feeding circuit when the value of the input voltage or the output voltage is less than the first threshold value; and resume the supply of the output voltage by the power feeding circuit when the value of the input voltage or the output voltage returns to be equal to or higher than the first threshold value.

A power supply apparatus includes a battery pack for an electric vehicle, and an interface unit that couples the battery pack and a plurality of electrical devices. The interface unit includes a branch connector provided with a coupling unit and a plurality of fuses. The coupling unit allows coupling wires to join. Each of the coupling wires is coupled to a corresponding one of electrical devices. Each of the plurality of fuses is disposed in a corresponding one of coupling wires. The interface unit also includes a battery pack connector that is able to be coupled to the branch connector. In a state in which the branch connector is coupled to the battery pack connector, the power supply apparatus is configured to be able to supply electric power from the battery pack to each of the plurality of electrical devices via the coupling unit.

The invention relates to a method for predicting an engine-start performance of an electrical energy storage system, in particular a motor vehicle starter battery. The method comprises the following method steps: generating engine-start data which are characteristic of the electrical energy storage system; evaluating the generated engine-start data; and outputting a result of the evaluation, which result relates to a prediction with respect to the engine-start performance of the electrical energy storage system. According to the invention, provision is made in particular for a vehicle make, a vehicle model and/or a vehicle variant of a vehicle to be started by the electrical energy storage system to be taken into account in order to evaluate the generated engine-start data.