An electric vehicle includes a reconfigurable energy storage system with a first submodule and a second submodule. An interface circuit is operable to transfer a charging power to the reconfigurable energy storage system from a charging station that is external to the electric vehicle. A switching circuit is operable to electrically arrange the first submodule and the second submodule in series or in parallel. A diode is operable to convey the charging power between the first submodule and the second submodule while the reconfigurable energy storage system is arranged in series and the charging power is present. A bias circuit is operable to maintain a reverse bias across the diode while the reconfigurable energy storage system is arranged in series and the charging power is absent.

A DC energy storage system may include first and second DC terminals for connection to a DC link, a DC energy storage converter including a number of modules connected in series between the first and second DC terminals, each module including at least one switching element and at least one energy storage device, the or each switching element and the or each energy storage device in each module being combinable to selectively provide a voltage source, and at least one circuit interruption device connected in series with the DC energy storage converter between the first and second DC terminals, the or each circuit interruption device operable to electrically separate the DC energy storage converter from the DC link.

Provided is a switching circuit capable of suppressing a decrease in output power even if the power generated by a plurality of DC-power supply circuits changes, and a DC-power output apparatus, a wireless-power transfer system and a solar-power generation system having the switching circuit. A connection circuit section of the switching circuit, which is disposed between a plurality of plus-input sections and a plurality of minus-input sections, and a plus-output section and a minus-output section, has a plurality of switches capable of respectively controlling a turn on/off so as to switch connection states between the plurality of the DC-power supply circuits, and the plus-output section and the minus-output section.

An electrically powered vehicle may include a DC bus and a plurality of batteries, each coupled in parallel to the DC bus. At least one switch is coupled in series between at least one battery of the plurality of batteries and the DC bus and a plurality of inverter circuits may each be coupled in parallel to the DC bus. A plurality of motors may each be coupled to a respective inverter circuit of the plurality of inverter circuits. In various embodiments, the electrically powered vehicle may further include a plurality of switches, each switch coupled in series between a respective battery of the plurality of batteries.

A battery system may include a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules, a switching circuit connecting the plurality of battery modules in series or in parallel, and a battery management system (BMS) configured to control the switching circuit so as to connect the plurality of battery modules in series in a discharge mode to supply power from the battery pack to an external device and in a charge mode to charge the battery pack by receiving the power from the external device. In addition, the BMS may be configured to control entering a module balancing mode when a voltage difference among the plurality of battery modules exceeds a predetermined reference value, and control the switching circuit so as to connect the plurality of battery modules in parallel in the module balancing mode.

A load is detachably connected to a device connector of a switch device. A resistance value of a switch circuit when a sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of a main switch. A microcomputer acquires node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of the main switch and the sub-switch from a voltage detection unit in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON. The microcomputer determines whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information.

Provided is a switching circuit capable of suppressing a decrease in output power even if the power generated by a plurality of DC-power supply circuits changes, and a DC-power output apparatus, a wireless-power transfer system and a solar-power generation system having the switching circuit. A connection circuit section of the switching circuit, which is disposed between a plurality of plus-input sections and a plurality of minus-input sections, and a plus-output section and a minus-output section, has a plurality of switches capable of respectively controlling a turn on/off so as to switch connection states between the plurality of the DC-power supply circuits, and the plus-output section and the minus-output section.

A charging system includes a voltage conversion circuit, a control circuit, an input end Vin and an output end Vout. The voltage conversion circuit and the control circuit are connected to M batteries, the input end Vin is connected to an external power supply, and the output end Vout is connected to a load. The control circuit is configured to switch a connection relationship between the M batteries, to connect at least one of the M batteries to the voltage conversion circuit, where the connection relationship includes at least one of a serial connection or a parallel connection. The voltage conversion circuit is connected to the input end Vin and the output end Vout; is configured to receive power from the external power supply through the input end Vin, and charge the at least one battery; and is further configured to supply power to the load through the output end Vout.

Power packs configured to supply power to a common load are provided. A power pack includes a first power source; a second power source; at least one adapter configured to receive the common load and electrically couple the common load to at least one of the first power source or the second power source for supplying power to the common load; a tether interface electrically coupled to the at least one adapter, the first power source, and the second power source and configured to arrange the first power source and the second power source in series or in parallel; and a control circuit comprising at least one controller for performing a plurality of operations.

There is provided a battery switching device including: a first contact device including a first movable contact and a first parallel contact to which the first movable contact is connected or disconnected; and a second contact device including a second movable contact, a series contact to which the second movable contact is connected or disconnected, and a second parallel contact to which the second movable contact is connected or disconnected; and a connection restriction unit configured to prevent the second movable contact from being connected to the series contact in a state where the first movable contact is connected to the first parallel contact and prevent the first movable contact from being connected to the first parallel contact in a state where the second movable contact is connected to the series contact.