Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

The flat-shaped battery of the present invention comprises a battery container provided with an outer can and a sealing plate, and a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte solution are enclosed in the battery container. The positive electrode is housed in the outer can, and a porous electrolyte solution absorber is inserted between the positive electrode and an inner bottom surface of the outer can. Also, the method for manufacturing a flat-shaped battery, including: disposing an electrolyte solution absorber on an inner bottom surface of the outer can; disposing the positive electrode on the electrolyte solution absorber; and injecting the electrolyte solution into the outer can after disposing the electrolyte solution absorber, before or after disposing the positive electrode. A porous body having a porosity of 40 to 90% is used as the electrolyte solution absorber.

A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules that includes a plurality of battery cells, a battery cell holder, a second-electrode assembly including a plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode assembly, and a cover. The first-electrode assembly includes a plurality of first-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode terminal, a second-electrode terminal connected to one of the plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, and an inter-electrode bus bar connecting the second-electrode bus bar plate and one of the first-electrode bus bar plate and the first-electrode terminal. The first-electrode assembly is in a first pattern or a second pattern. An arrangement of the first-electrode terminal and the second-electrode terminal in the battery module differs according to the pattern of the first-electrode assembly.

An improved method for manufacturing alkaline (e.g., zinc-manganese dioxide) electrochemical cells and a corresponding anode formulation are disclosed. In particular, zinc and a mixture of gelling agents are employed to better control the manufacturing conditions and to improve the overall performance of the resulting battery. The gelling agents are selected to have differences in resistivity, viscosity and polymerization/cross-linking. The zinc may be of any type, as is known in the art.

Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

A power storage module includes an electrode laminate including a laminate of a plurality of bipolar electrodes and a negative terminal electrode disposed on one end side of the laminate in a laminating direction, a sealing body provided to surround a side surface of the electrode laminate and sealing an internal space formed between electrodes adjacent to each other, and an electrolytic solution containing an alkaline solution that is housed in the internal space, both surfaces of a metal plate of the negative terminal electrode are bonded to the sealing body, and a first surplus space surrounded by the sealing body and the metal plate of the negative terminal electrode is present.

A method for manufacturing a nickel-metal hydride battery includes: a first step of preparing a first nickel-metal hydride battery having a positive electrode including nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH).sub.2); and a second step of manufacturing the second nickel-metal hydride battery by performing 600% overcharging to the prepared first nickel-metal hydride battery. The 600% overcharging is a process for supplying the first nickel-metal hydride battery with an amount of electric power of 600% of the rated capacity of the first nickel-metal hydride battery.

An alkaline storage battery includes a spiral electrode group in which a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator arranged between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are laminated, the negative electrode plate is located on the inner peripheral side of the positive electrode plate at an innermost peripheral portion, and an electrically conductive outer packaging can in which the spiral electrode group is accommodated together with an alkaline electrolytic solution. The negative electrode plate includes a negative electrode core body, a first negative electrode mixture layer carried on a surface on the outer peripheral side of the negative electrode core body, and a second negative electrode mixture layer carried on a surface on the inner peripheral side of the negative electrode core body. The negative electrode core body has a burr protruding toward the outer peripheral side at an edge portion of an innermost peripheral portion of the negative electrode core body. The thickness of the edge portion of an innermost peripheral portion of the first negative electrode mixture layer is smaller than the thickness of a portion other than the edge portion of the first negative electrode mixture layer. The height of the burr is 30% or less of the thickness of the separator.

A power storage module 4 includes an electrode laminate 11 including a laminate of a plurality of bipolar electrodes 14 and a negative terminal electrode 18 disposed on one end side of the laminate in a laminating direction D, a sealing body 12 provided to surround a side surface 11a of the electrode laminate 11 and sealing an internal space V formed between electrodes adjacent to each other, and an electrolytic solution containing an alkaline solution that is housed in the internal space V, both surfaces of a metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode 18 are bonded to the sealing body 12, and a first surplus space VB surrounded by the sealing body 12 and the metal plate 15 of the negative terminal electrode 18 is present.