The invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of an energy storage system (10) in a vehicle (30), preferably an electric or hybrid electric vehicle, said energy storage system (10) comprising at least two battery packs (12) connected in parallel, said energy storage system (10) being adapted to provide at least a nominal power functionality for propulsion of said vehicle (30) using an allowed operating extent of all of said battery packs (12) of said energy storage system (10), said allowed operating extent being a nominal working range of said battery packs (12); said method comprising disconnecting at least one battery pack (12); and setting said allowed operating extent for said remaining connected and active battery pack(s) (12) to an increased working range so as to enable said energy storage system (10) to provide said nominal power functionality to said vehicle (30), the method further comprising monitoring at least one accumulated parameter indicative of the operation of said energy storage system (10) from the time of disconnection of said at least one battery pack (12), and when said accumulated parameter reaches a threshold value, setting said allowed operating extent for said remaining battery pack(s) (12) to a decreased working range. The invention also relates to a control unit for controlling the operation of an energy storage system (10).

A power device to be mounted on a vehicle is provided. The power device includes a battery, a power converter connected between the battery and an auxiliary device, a first capacitor, a first relay connected between the first capacitor and a line connecting the power converter and the auxiliary device, a second capacitor, a second relay connected between the second capacitor and the line connecting the power converter and the auxiliary device, and a controller configured to control the first relay and the second relay, in which the controller turns on the first relay and turns off the second relay when a power switch of the vehicle is ON, and turns off the first relay and turns on the second relay when the power switch of the vehicle is OFF.

A device operates an electrical energy store for supplying components of an electrically operable motor vehicle, wherein operating limits are defined in each case for one or more characteristic variables of the energy store. A control unit prevents the operating limits from being exceeded during normal operation of the energy store. The device has an interface for receiving a user-side request message from an apparatus, the request message including change information about an intended shift in the operating limit of at least one of the characteristic variables. The device has a computing unit which is designed, upon receipt of the request message, to check and permit the shifting of the operating limit of at least one of the characteristic variables in accordance with at least one operational history which is stored for the energy store and which represents information derived from one or more of the characteristic variables of the energy store about past operating conditions of the energy store if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: information determined from the at least one operational history and representing the current state of health satisfies a predetermined criterion; and/or a monetary transaction initiated by the computing unit in accordance with the current state of health has been completed.

A vehicle propulsion system includes a propulsion electrical storage device (PESD), a first switching device, an ancillary electrical storage device (AESD), a second switching device, and a controller. The PESD powers a traction motor of a vehicle via a propulsion circuit. The AESD is a different type of electrical storage device than the PESD and powers the traction motor via an ancillary circuit. The first switching device is electrically connected to the propulsion circuit, and the second switching device is electrically connected to the ancillary circuit. The controller switches or maintains the second switching device in a closed, conducting state during an elevated demand period for the AESD to power to the traction motor. The controller switches the second switching device to an open, non-conducting state prior to switching the first switching device to the closed state for the PESD to power the traction motor.

The invention relates to a system (36) for an electrically driven vehicle (10), in particular a utility vehicle (10), comprising at least one first energy store (38) of the type of a battery (38), and at least one second energy store (40) of a type different from the type of a battery (38). The second energy store (40) has an energy density (54) that is lower than an energy density (56) of the first energy store (38), and a power density (58) that is higher than a power density (60) of the first energy store (38). The first energy store (38) and the second energy store (40) are furthermore configured so as to provide energy for an electric drive (12) of the vehicle (10). The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle (10) having a system (36), and to a method for operating a system (36).

Presented are battery pack voltage-switching (V-switch) systems, methods for making/operating such systems, and multi-pack, electric-drive motor vehicles with battery pack V-switch capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a voltage switch signal to change a voltage output of the vehicle's battery system. The vehicle controller determines if a speed of a traction motor is less than a calibrated base speed; if so, the controller transmits a pack isolation signal to a power inverter to electrically disconnect the traction battery packs from the traction motor. The vehicle controller determines if a bus current of a DC bus is less than a calibrated bus current threshold; if so, the controller transmits an open signal to open one or more pack contactor switches and a close signal to close one or more pack contactor switches thereby causing the vehicle battery system to output the second voltage.

A vehicle propulsion system includes a propulsion electrical storage device (PESD), a first switching device, an ancillary electrical storage device (AESD), a second switching device, and a controller. The PESD powers a traction motor of a vehicle via a propulsion circuit. The AESD is a different type of electrical storage device than the PESD and powers the traction motor via an ancillary circuit. The first switching device is electrically connected to the propulsion circuit, and the second switching device is electrically connected to the ancillary circuit. The controller switches or maintains the second switching device in a closed, conducting state during an elevated demand period for the AESD to power to the traction motor. The controller switches the second switching device to an open, non-conducting state prior to switching the first switching device to the closed state for the PESD to power the traction motor.

Presented are battery pack voltage-switching (V-switch) systems, methods for making/operating such systems, and multi-pack, electric-drive motor vehicles with battery pack V-switch capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a voltage switch signal to change a voltage output of the vehicle's battery system. The vehicle controller determines if a speed of a traction motor is less than a calibrated base speed; if so, the controller transmits a pack isolation signal to a power inverter to electrically disconnect the traction battery packs from the traction motor. The vehicle controller determines if a bus current of a DC bus is less than a calibrated bus current threshold; if so, the controller transmits an open signal to open one or more pack contactor switches and a close signal to close one or more pack contactor switches thereby causing the vehicle battery system to output the second voltage.

A vehicle control apparatus capable of protecting a pre-charge circuit is provided. When a voltage has entered an operating voltage range, a microcomputer determines whether a preset period has elapsed from then. Upon determining that the preset period has elapsed, the microcomputer starts initial check. To carry out the initial check, the microcomputer starts charging a capacitor for power supply stabilization of a drive circuit by turning on the pre-charge circuit and, when the charging of the capacitor is completed, turns on a power supply relay provided on a power supply line that connects between a battery and the drive circuit.

A motor driving control apparatus in the embodiment includes: a first controller configured to control powering and regeneration of a motor; a second controller configured to control the first controller; and assistant circuitry configured to activate the second controller in a stop state, when a counter electromotive force caused by the motor, which is rotated without control by the first controller, satisfies a predetermined condition, before a power-on instruction for the motor driving control apparatus is made or in a state where the power-on instruction for the motor driving control apparatus is not made.