Battery cluster

Abstract

A battery cluster is provided that includes a plurality of battery packs configured to be electrically coupled to one another and to external electrical equipment. Each battery pack includes a charging-discharging circuit, a low-voltage interface and a high-voltage interface. The plurality of battery packs includes at least one first-type pack having a pack-level battery management circuit and a high-voltage switching circuit in a high-voltage power path, and at least one second-type pack lacking the pack-level battery management circuit but including a cell-monitoring circuit. The first-type and second-type packs are interconnected such that a same high-voltage power path extends through both, and opening the high-voltage switching circuit of the first-type pack interrupts current flowing through the high-voltage power path. The pack-level battery management circuit communicates with the cell-monitoring circuit via the low-voltage interfaces to obtain measurement information and control at least the high-voltage switching circuit.