Power module for simultaneous charging and discharging of electric vehicle battery system

Abstract

A system for controlling charging and discharging of a battery assembly of a vehicle includes a receptacle and a power module including a charging circuit having a bidirectional alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter and a split-phase inverter connected to a common transformer. The controller is configured to control the power module in accordance with at least one of a plurality of operating modes including a charging mode in which the AC power charges the battery assembly via the charging circuit. The operating modes include a simultaneous charge and discharge mode in which the power module generates a split-phase voltage including a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, in which the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly, and the second AC voltage is provided to an external system via the receptacle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electric vehicles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to charging and discharging of electric vehicles.

[0002] Vehicles, including gasoline and diesel powered vehicles, as well as electric and hybrid vehicles, have battery storage for purposes such as powering electric motors, electronic devices, and other vehicle subsystems. Such vehicles typically include various different modules for controlling aspects of charging. For example, some electric and hybrid vehicles include separate modules for powering electric motors and low voltage components. Some vehicles also include the ability to provide alternating current (AC) power from the vehicle battery system. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one exemplary embodiment, a system for controlling charging and discharging of a battery assembly of a vehicle includes a socket and a power module configured to selectively connect to the socket and the battery assembly. The power module includes a charging circuit having a bidirectional alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter and a split-phase inverter, and the charging circuit and the split-phase inverter are connected to a common transformer. A controller is configured to control the power module according to at least one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a charging mode in which AC power from a power source charges the battery assembly via the charging circuit. The plurality of operating modes includes a simultaneous charging and discharging mode in which the power module generates a split-phase voltage including a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, wherein the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly and the second AC voltage is provided to an external system via the socket.

[0004] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the charging circuit includes a primary DC-DC converter connected to the common transformer.

[0005] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the common transformer is selectively connected to at least one of the battery assembly and one or more low voltage components of the vehicle.

[0006] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the common transformer is selectively connected to the battery assembly via a high voltage DC-DC converter configured to provide a high voltage to the battery assembly, and the common transformer is selectively connected to the one or more low voltage components via a low voltage DC-DC converter.

[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the split-phase inverter includes a set of switches in a half-bridge configuration.

[0008] In addition to one or more features described herein, the socket includes an integrated adapter configured to convert a second AC voltage to an output voltage that meets the voltage requirements of the socket.

[0009] In addition to one or more features described herein, the integrated adapter is configured to convert between 120 volts and 240 volts.

[0010] In addition to one or more features described herein, the power module operates in a charging mode by generating a first AC voltage having a first phase and a second AC voltage having a second phase and supplying the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to the battery assembly, the first phase being equal to the second phase.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, a method of controlling charging and discharging of a battery assembly of a vehicle includes connecting an alternating current (AC) power source to a power module configured to selectively connect to a socket and the battery assembly, the power module including a charging circuit having a bidirectional AC - DC converter and a split - phase inverter, the charging circuit and the split - phase inverter being connected to a common transformer. The method further includes supplying AC power to the power module at an input voltage and performing at least one of charging the battery assembly via the charging circuit and simultaneously charging the battery assembly and discharging to an external system. The external system is connected to the socket, and the charging and discharging includes generating split - phase voltages by the power module, the split - phase voltages including a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, wherein the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly and the second AC voltage is provided to the external system via the socket.

[0012] In addition to one or more features described herein, the charging circuit includes a primary DC - DC converter connected to the common transformer.

[0013] In addition to one or more features described herein, the common transformer is selectively connected to at least one of the battery assembly and one or more low - voltage components of the vehicle.

[0014] In addition to one or more features described herein, the method includes powering one or more low - voltage components, wherein powering includes connecting the power module to a low - voltage DC - DC converter.

[0015] In addition to one or more features described herein, the split - phase inverter includes a set of switches in a half - bridge configuration.

[0016] In addition to one or more features described herein, the socket includes an integrated adapter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage that meets the voltage requirements of the socket.

[0017] In addition to one or more features described herein, the method includes powering the socket, where powering includes connecting the socket to the AC power source and regulating the input voltage via the integrated adapter.

[0018] In addition to one or more features described herein, charging the battery assembly includes generating a first AC voltage having a first phase and a second AC voltage having a second phase, the first phase being equal to the second phase, and supplying the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to the battery assembly.

[0019] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a system of a vehicle includes a battery assembly and a charging and discharging system that includes a controller configured to perform a method. The method includes detecting a connection of an alternating current (AC) power source to a power module that is configured to selectively connect to a socket and the battery assembly, the power module including a charging circuit having a bidirectional AC - DC (DC) converter and a split - phase inverter, the charging circuit and the split - phase inverter being connected to a common transformer. The method further includes receiving AC power at the input voltage at the power module and performing at least one of charging the battery assembly via the charging circuit and simultaneously charging the battery assembly and discharging to an external system. The external system is connected to the socket, and simultaneously charging and discharging includes generating, by the power module, a split - phase voltage that includes a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, where the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly and the second AC voltage is provided to the external system via the socket.

[0020] In addition to one or more features described herein, the charging circuit includes a primary DC - DC converter connected to a common transformer, the common transformer being selectively connected to at least one of the battery assembly and one or more low - voltage components of the vehicle.

[0021] In addition to one or more features described herein, the socket includes an integrated adapter that is configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage that meets the voltage requirements of the socket.

[0022] In addition to one or more features described herein, charging the battery assembly includes generating a first AC voltage having a first phase and a second AC voltage having a second phase, the first phase being equal to the second phase, and supplying the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to the battery assembly.

[0023] The above - mentioned features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as other features and advantages, are apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] Other features, advantages, and details appear in the following detailed description by way of example only, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing a power module configured to control aspects of charging and discharging according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0027] Figure 3 depicts an example of a split-phase AC voltage generated by the Figure 2 power module;

[0028] Figure 4 depicts an embodiment of a vehicle system according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0029] Figure 5 depicts a conventional vehicle system including components for powering low-voltage loads; and

[0030] Figure 6 depicts a computer system for performing aspects of charging and discharging according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. As used herein, the term module refers to a processing circuit that may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes one or more software or firmware programs, memory, combinational logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

[0032] According to an exemplary embodiment, methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for facilitating charging and discharging of a battery assembly and a battery system, such as a vehicle battery assembly. Embodiments of a battery charging system include a power module having an alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter and a split-phase converter. The power module is controllable to generate a split-phase voltage including two AC voltages, which may be in-phase or out-of-phase. The power module may be used to control charging of a battery system (e.g., a vehicle battery pack) and supply power to an external load (e.g., an AC load).

[0033] The power module can also be used to charge a battery system while powering one or more external loads. In an embodiment, the power module is configured to split an input voltage (e.g., from the power grid or an AC charger) into separate AC voltages that are out of phase (e.g., separated by 180 degrees). One of the voltages is provided to the battery system to charge it, and the other voltage is provided to the external load via one or more outlets. Each outlet can include an integrated adapter for providing different voltage levels (e.g., 120 and 240 volts).

[0034] The embodiments described herein present numerous advantages and technical effects. The embodiments provide discharge and charging capabilities, including simultaneous charging and discharging (e.g., charging a battery system while powering the power grid or an external device or system), without the need for additional circuitry. Thus, the functionality described herein can be implemented with fewer components than conventional systems.

[0035] For example, an on-vehicle charger with the capabilities described herein can be provided, which can generate split-phase voltages and perform charging and discharging simultaneously, without reducing the charging power and without any additional circuitry (compared to existing on-vehicle charging modules (OBCMs)). The embodiments provide a single module or device that can provide vehicle charging and split-phase power (compared to existing systems that utilize separate OBCM modules and split-phase power modules).

[0036] The split-phase voltage is achieved in part through an AC-DC conversion circuit and in part through a split-phase inverter stage, which can be used to provide additional charging power when no split-phase load is connected. The power module described herein can be used for vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home applications, as well as for any other application of powering an external AC load, without the need for a separate module for providing split-phase power.

[0037] The embodiments are not limited to use with any particular vehicle or device or system that utilizes battery components, and can be applicable to various environments. For example, the embodiments can be used with automobiles, trucks, airplanes, construction equipment, farm equipment, automated factory equipment, and / or any other device or system that can use a high-voltage battery pack or other battery components.

[0038] Figure 1 An embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 is shown, the motor vehicle 10 including a body 12 that at least partially defines an occupant compartment 14. The body 12 also supports various vehicle subsystems, including a propulsion system 16, and other subsystems for supporting the functions of the propulsion system 16 and other vehicle components, such as a braking subsystem, a suspension system, a steering subsystem, a fuel injection subsystem, an exhaust subsystem, etc.

[0039] Vehicle 10 can be an internal combustion engine vehicle, an electric vehicle (EV), or a hybrid vehicle. In one embodiment, vehicle 10 is a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine system 18 and at least one electric motor assembly. In one embodiment, propulsion system 16 includes electric motor 20 and may include one or more additional electric motors located at various positions. Vehicle 10 can be an all-electric vehicle having one or more electric motors.

[0040] Vehicle 10 includes battery system 22, which can be electrically connected to electric motor 20 and / or other components, such as vehicle electronics. Battery system 22 can be configured as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). In an embodiment, battery system 22 includes a battery assembly, such as a high-voltage battery pack 24 having a plurality of battery modules 26. Battery system 22 can also include a monitoring unit 28, which includes components such as a processor, a memory, an interface, a bus, and / or other suitable components.

[0041] Each battery module includes a plurality of cells (not shown) having a selected chemical composition. In one embodiment, each cell is a lithium-ion cell, such as a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell or a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NCM) cell. Battery pack 24 is not limited to this and can have any suitable chemistry. Other examples include nickel-metal hydride and lead-acid chemistries.

[0042] Battery system 22 is electrically connected to components of propulsion system 16. The propulsion system also includes an inverter module 30 and a DC-DC converter module 32. Inverter module 30 (e.g., a traction power inverter unit or TPIM) converts direct current (DC) power from battery system 22 into polyphase alternating current (AC) power (e.g., three-phase, six-phase, etc.) to drive electric motor 20.

[0043] Various control modules (electronic control modules or ECUs) can be included in vehicle 10. In an embodiment, vehicle 10 includes an integrated power module 40, which is configured to control aspects of charging battery pack 24 and discharging battery pack 24 to supply power to an external system (such as the power grid). Power module 40 is selectively connected to a bi-directional charging port 42 and one or more power outlets 44. It should be noted that the embodiment is not limited to the number or location of the outlets shown, as any number of outlets can be present at desired locations throughout the vehicle.

[0044] Vehicle 10 also includes a computer system 50, which includes one or more processing devices 52 and a user interface 54. Various processing devices and units can communicate with each other via a communication device or system (such as a controller area network (CAN) or a transmission control protocol (TCP) bus).

[0045] Figure 2Illustrates an embodiment of the power module 40 and the connections between the power module 40 and other components of the vehicle 10. As shown, the power module 40 includes a bidirectional AC-DC converter 60 with a power factor correction (PFC) function and an inverter 62 (also known as a split-phase inverter) connected to the DC bus 64.

[0046] The DC bus 64 is connected to a primary DC-DC converter 66 (primary). The primary DC-DC converter 66 is connected to a secondary DC-DC converter 68 (secondary) and the battery pack 24 via a transformer 70.

[0047] In an embodiment, the inverter 62 is a half-bridge converter stage that operates in cooperation with the AC-DC converter 60 to generate split-phase voltages in the form of two independent AC voltages. The two voltages can be in-phase (e.g., when specifically charging the battery pack 24) or out-of-phase (e.g., when charging the battery pack 24 and supplying power to an external load simultaneously). For example, as Figure 2 shown, the inverter 62 includes a pair of switches 72 and a set of capacitors 74 in the half-bridge.

[0048] When the charging port 42 or the socket 44 is connected to an AC power source (represented by the phase current 76) (such as the power grid or a generator), the power module 40 can be used to charge the battery pack 24 and / or supply power to one or more external loads. As discussed herein, the power module 40 can be specifically used to charge the battery pack 24 by providing two voltages of the split-phase voltage to the battery pack 24 (e.g., acting as an OBCM). The power module 40 can also be used to charge the battery pack 24 and supply power to an external load simultaneously by providing a portion of the split-phase voltage to the battery pack 24 and another portion of the split-phase voltage to one or more external loads.

[0049] Figure 2 Also illustrates an embodiment of one or more power sockets 44, which can be used to facilitate receiving or supplying AC power. In this embodiment, each socket 44 includes a connection port 78 integrated with an adapter 80. The adapter 80 is provided to convert the input or output voltage to meet the voltage requirements of the AC power or the external load.

[0050] For example, each adapter 80 is configured to convert between 240 volts (V) and 120V and provides a dedicated adapter 80 for each socket 44. Compared with existing systems, this distributed configuration greatly reduces the size of the 240V / 120V conversion components.

[0051] Adapter 80 can be powered by any suitable source, such as battery pack 24, a low voltage battery, or an external power supply. For example, each adapter 80 is connected to one or more switches, such as relay 82, which can be controlled to selectively supply power to outlet 44. Power module 40 includes or is connected to one or more other switching devices, such as relay 88, for selectively connecting inverter 62 to outlet 44.

[0052] For example, if the input voltage (current 76) from the power source meets the power requirements of the outlet (e.g., 120V), the input voltage is directly connected to outlet 44. If the input voltage is inconsistent (e.g., the input voltage is 240V), each adapter 80 is used as needed to step down or otherwise regulate the input voltage. A voltage sensor 86 can be included to determine whether voltage adjustment is needed.

[0053] Power module 40 can be controlled by any suitable processing device or processing system referred to as controller 84. The controller can be a pre-existing controller or a dedicated controller.

[0054] Power module 40 is controlled to operate according to one or more of a plurality of operating modes. The operating modes can include a charging mode, a discharging mode, and a simultaneous charging and discharging mode.

[0055] The following is a description of the various operating modes and corresponding methods for controlling power transfer. The operating modes include a charging mode for providing charge to battery pack 24, and a discharging mode for supplying power from battery pack 24 to other components or loads (including external loads (e.g., the power grid or a residential load)).

[0056] The operating modes also include a simultaneous charging and discharging mode, in which power module 40 is operated to provide a split-phase voltage that is used to charge battery pack 24 while supplying power to one or more external loads.

[0057] In these modes, relay 88 closes to connect inverter 62 to load 76 and outlet 44. The input voltage (e.g., the grid voltage of 120V or 240V) generates a part of the AC voltage required for split-phase, and inverter 62 generates the other part of the AC voltage.

[0058] In the charging mode, relay 82 is open, and the two parts of the split-phase voltage are provided to battery pack 24 for charging. The two parts are in phase.

[0059] In the simultaneous charging and discharging mode, inverter 62 phase-shifts a part of the split-phase voltage. An example of the split-phase voltage is in Figure 3As shown in, it includes a graph 90 of voltage V as a function of time t. In this example, the grid voltage is 120V, and the power module 40 generates a first AC voltage 92 from the grid voltage, and the inverter 62 generates a second AC voltage 94 that is 180 degrees out of phase with the first AC voltage 92.

[0060] The embodiments can be used to charge a high-voltage battery system such as the battery pack 24, and / or to charge a low-voltage device. "High voltage" refers to a voltage sufficient to power the battery pack, which can be 400V, 800V, or any other suitable voltage. "Low voltage" refers to a voltage sufficient to power other components having an operating voltage lower than the high voltage. For example, the low voltage can be 12V, 24V, or any other suitable voltage for powering components such as the electronics in the vehicle 10. Low and high are used as relative terms and are not intended to represent any specific voltage level.

[0061] In an embodiment, the power module 40 can be used to control the power supply to low-voltage components. In this embodiment, the power module 40 performs functions related to powering low-voltage components. Thus, the power module 40 can replace an existing module, such as an auxiliary power module (APM).

[0062] For example, as Figure 2 shown, the vehicle 10 ( Figure 1 ) includes a low-voltage DC-DC converter 96, which is configured to reduce the received voltage to power a low-voltage load 98. The power module 40 can be placed in a charging mode, in which a portion of the split-phase voltage is provided to the DC-DC converter 96.

[0063] Figure 4 An example of the configuration of the power module 40 and its connection to the battery pack 24 and the low-voltage load 98 is shown. As shown, a single primary DC-DC stage (i.e., the DC-DC converter 66) can be used to charge the battery pack 24 and to charge low-voltage components.

[0064] Figure 5 An example of the configuration of a low-voltage charging system 100 in a conventional electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle is shown. The system 100 includes an AC-DC conversion stage 102, and a transformer (not shown) that connects the primary DC-DC stage 104 and the secondary DC-DC stage 106 to the battery pack 24. To power the low-voltage components 98, a separate transformer connecting the primary and secondary 108 and 110 is provided.

[0065] As Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the power module 40 reduces the number of components required to charge high-voltage components and low-voltage components. The power module 40 uses a common transformer, and thus only one primary can be used for both high voltage and low voltage.

[0066] Figure 6 Aspects of an embodiment of a computer system 140 are shown that can perform aspects of the embodiments described herein. The computer system 140 includes at least one processing device 142, which generally includes one or more processors for performing aspects of the image acquisition and analysis methods described herein.

[0067] The components of the computer system 140 include a processing device 142 (such as one or more processors or processing units), a memory 144, and a bus 146 that couples various system components including the system memory 144 to the processing device 142. The system memory 144 can include various computer system-readable media. Such media can be any available media accessible by the processing device 142 and includes volatile and non-volatile media as well as removable and non-removable media.

[0068] For example, the system memory 144 includes non-volatile memory 148 such as a hard disk drive, and can also include volatile memory 150 such as random access memory (RAM) and / or cache memory. The computer system 140 can also include other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer system storage media.

[0069] The system memory 144 can include at least one program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules configured to perform the functions of the embodiments described herein. For example, the system memory 144 stores various program modules that generally perform the functions and / or methods described herein. One or more modules 152 can be included to perform functions related to monitoring and performing the charge and discharge operations described herein. The system 140 is not limited thereto as other modules can be included. As used herein, the term "module" refers to a processing circuit that can include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes one or more software or firmware programs, and memory, combinational logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

[0070] The processing device 142 can also communicate with one or more external devices 156, which are any devices such as a keyboard, pointing device, and / or any device that enables the processing device 142 to communicate with one or more other computing devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.). Communication with the various devices can occur via input / output (I / O) interfaces 164 and 165.

[0071] The processing device 142 can also communicate with one or more networks 166, such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), a bus network, and / or a public network (e.g., the Internet), via the network adapter 168. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware and / or software components can be used in conjunction with the computer system 40. Examples include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, and data archival storage systems, etc.

[0072] The terms "a" and "an" do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term "or" means "and / or". References to "aspect" throughout the specification mean that a particular element (e.g., a feature, a structure, a step, or a characteristic) described in connection with that aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. Additionally, it should be understood that the described elements can be combined in any suitable manner in the various aspects.

[0073] When an element such as a layer, a film, a region, or a substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, no intervening elements are present.

[0074] Unless otherwise stated herein, all test standards are the latest standards in effect as of the filing date of this application, or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the test standards appear.

[0075] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0076] Although the foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for its elements without departing from its scope. Additionally, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the basic scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but rather will include all embodiments falling within its scope.

Claims

1. A system for controlling charging and discharging of a battery assembly of a vehicle, comprising: A socket; A power module configured to selectively connect to the socket and the battery assembly, the power module including a charging circuit having a bidirectional alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter and a split-phase inverter, the charging circuit and the split-phase inverter being connected to a common transformer; And A controller configured to control the power module according to at least one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including: A charging mode in which AC power from a power source charges the battery assembly via the charging circuit; and A simultaneous charging and discharging mode in which the power module generates split-phase voltages including a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, wherein the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly and the second AC voltage is supplied to an external system via the socket.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The charging circuit includes a primary DC-DC converter connected to the common transformer.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, The common transformer is selectively connected to at least one of the battery assembly and one or more low-voltage components of the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the common transformer is selectively connected to the battery assembly via a high-voltage DC-DC converter configured to supply a high voltage to the battery assembly, and the common transformer is selectively connected to the one or more low-voltage components via a low-voltage DC-DC converter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the split-phase inverter includes a set of switches in a half-bridge configuration.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the socket includes an integrated adapter configured to convert the second AC voltage to an output voltage that meets the voltage requirements of the socket.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The power module operates in the charging mode by generating the first AC voltage having a first phase and the second AC voltage having a second phase and supplying the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage to the battery assembly, the first phase being equal to the second phase.

8. A method for controlling charging and discharging of a battery assembly of a vehicle, comprising: Connecting an alternating current (AC) power source to a power module configured to selectively connect to a socket and the battery assembly, the power module including a charging circuit having a bidirectional AC-DC converter and a split-phase inverter, the charging circuit and the split-phase inverter being connected to a common transformer; Supplying AC power to the power module at an input voltage; And Performing at least one of the following: Charging the battery assembly via the charging circuit; and Charging the battery assembly and discharging to an external system simultaneously, the external system being connected to the socket, wherein the simultaneous charging and discharging includes generating a split-phase voltage by the power module, the split-phase voltage including a first AC voltage and a second AC voltage, the first AC voltage being out of phase with the second AC voltage, wherein the first AC voltage is applied to charge the battery assembly, and the second AC voltage is provided to the external system via the socket.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the charging circuit includes a primary DC-DC converter connected to the common transformer, the common transformer being selectively connected to one or more low-voltage components of the vehicle, and the method further includes supplying power to the one or more low-voltage components, wherein supplying power includes connecting the power module to a low-voltage DC-DC converter.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the socket includes an integrated adapter configured to convert the input voltage to an output voltage that meets the voltage requirements of the socket, and the method further includes supplying power to the socket, wherein supplying power includes connecting the socket to the AC power source and regulating the input voltage through the integrated adapter.

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