The invention discloses a mobile energy storage system and a control method, and aims to solve the problems about the starting power supply and starting control of a mobile energy storage system and the problems of low reliability and low cruising ability when a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) is adopted as a starting power supply of a mobile energy storage system in the prior art. The mobile energy storage system comprises a self-release button S1, a direct-current contactor KM1, a direct-current contactor KA1, an alternating-current contactor KM2, an AC/DC switching power supply, a DC/DC switching power supply, a diode D1, a diode D2, a battery, a BMS (Battery Management System), a PCS energy storage converter and a DSP controller. According to the invention, the button and the contactors are matched with a software algorithm to replace the traditional UPS, and the integration cost of the mobile energy storage system can be reduced under the condition of improving the space utilization rate. Starting control is carried out for a grid-connected mode and an off-grid mode, starting control and redundant power supply of the mobile energy storage system under various conditions can be guaranteed, and the reliability of the system can be improved.