Power battery integrated starting battery system and vehicle
By integrating the starting battery into the power battery pack, combined with high-voltage control and battery management system, the problems of low charging efficiency and poor safety caused by independent low-voltage starting batteries are solved, achieving efficient and safe power conversion and power supply.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DONGFENG AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-28
AI Technical Summary
The independent operation of the low-voltage starting battery and the power battery system leads to problems such as low charging efficiency, low space utilization, and poor collision safety.
The starting battery is integrated into the power battery pack under the chassis. It uses high-voltage control components to convert electrical energy and a battery management system to monitor and control the battery status in real time. It also uses independent areas and cooling channels for physical isolation and temperature management.
It improves charging efficiency, increases space utilization, enhances safety during collisions, and enables rapid response to power supply needs.
Smart Images
Figure CN121928983A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of electric vehicle battery technology, and in particular to a power battery integrated starter battery system and vehicle. Background Technology
[0002] In electric vehicle technology, vehicles are typically equipped with two independent battery systems: a high-voltage power battery system that powers the drive motor, and a 12V low-voltage starting battery system that powers low-voltage electrical components such as lights, instruments, and the central control system. The low-voltage starting battery generally uses lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, and its main function is to provide power for starting the vehicle and to provide a stable power supply to the vehicle's low-voltage system during operation. In addition, this low-voltage starting battery also performs functions such as pre-charging power for the high-voltage system and power compensation during peak periods.
[0003] In traditional designs, low-voltage starting batteries are typically installed as independent components in the engine compartment or trunk, connected to the vehicle's electrical system via a separate charging line. Their charging primarily relies on a generator or obtains power from the high-voltage battery through a DC-DC converter.
[0004] Because the low-voltage starting battery is independent of the power battery system and needs to be charged separately, the charging efficiency is relatively low. Secondly, the starting battery needs to be fixedly installed in a specific location in the engine compartment or trunk, occupying valuable interior space, which conflicts with the goal of compact design and maximizing space utilization pursued by electric vehicles. Furthermore, in the event of a vehicle collision, the independently installed starting battery is easily squeezed and deformed, leading to battery failure or even safety risks. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application provides a power battery integrated starter battery system and vehicle to solve the technical problems of low charging efficiency, low space utilization and poor collision safety caused by the independence of low-voltage starter battery and power battery system in related technologies.
[0006] In a first aspect, a power battery integrated starter battery system is provided, comprising: a power battery pack disposed under a chassis; a starter battery installed within the power battery pack; a high-voltage control component connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack and the starter battery, respectively, the high-voltage control component being used to convert high-voltage electricity into low-voltage electricity and transmit it to the starter battery; and a battery management system connected to the power battery pack and the starter battery, the battery management system being used to monitor the status of the power battery pack and the starter battery, and to control the connection between the power battery pack and the starter battery to be disconnected or closed based on the monitored data.
[0007] In some embodiments, the power battery pack has a separate area located in front of the high-voltage control component, and the starting battery is fixedly installed in the separate area.
[0008] In some embodiments, the independent regions are enclosed by a frame structure.
[0009] In some embodiments, the high-voltage control component includes: an integrated box having a high-voltage zone and a low-voltage zone inside; a high-voltage power distribution unit located in the high-voltage zone; a DC-DC converter located in the low-voltage zone; and the input terminal of the high-voltage power distribution unit is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack, the output terminal is connected to the input terminal of the DC-DC converter, and the output terminal of the DC-DC converter is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the starter battery and the vehicle.
[0010] In some embodiments, the output terminal of the DC-DC converter is provided with a low-voltage interface, which is connected to the startup battery, and the low-voltage interface is configured to provide constant power output.
[0011] In some embodiments, the battery management system includes a main control unit and a data acquisition unit. The data acquisition unit is connected to the power battery pack and the starter battery, respectively. The main control unit is connected to the high-voltage control component. The main control unit is used to control the connection between the power battery pack and the starter battery to be disconnected or closed based on the battery status data acquired by the data acquisition unit.
[0012] In some embodiments, the main control unit is also connected to the vehicle and is used to send the monitored data to the vehicle control system.
[0013] In some embodiments, the power battery pack is provided with cooling channels that surround the starter battery.
[0014] In some embodiments, the start-up battery is equipped with a temperature sensor, which is connected to the battery management system.
[0015] In a second aspect, a vehicle is provided that includes a power battery integrated starter battery system as described in any of the first aspects.
[0016] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided in this application include: This application provides a power battery integrated starter battery system and vehicle. By integrating the starter battery into the power battery pack under the chassis, it directly eliminates the need for independent installation space, avoids occupying the engine compartment or trunk, and makes the vehicle body layout more compact. At the same time, the integrated structure provides overall protection in the event of a collision, significantly reducing the risk of starter battery compression and deformation, and improving safety. Furthermore, it directly utilizes high-voltage control components to achieve efficient power conversion, enabling the power battery pack to supply power to the starter battery, thus improving charging efficiency. Finally, the battery management system tracks the status of the power battery and the starter battery in real time, and quickly responds to power supply needs during startup. Attached Figure Description
[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure provided for an embodiment of this application;
[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating a low-voltage interface provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating a high-voltage control component provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a high-voltage power distribution unit, provided as an embodiment of this application.
[0020] In the diagram: 1. Power battery pack; 2. Starting battery; 3. High-voltage control components; 30. Main fuse; 31. Main positive relay; 32. Pre-charge resistor; 33. Pre-charge relay; 34. Main negative relay; 35. Fast charging relay; 36. Conversion relay; 37. Discharge connector; 38. Fast charging connector; 39. Current sensor; 4. Battery management system; 5. Independent area; 6. Integrated box; 60. High-voltage area; 600. High-voltage power distribution unit; 61. Low-voltage area; 610. DC-DC converter; 7. Low-voltage interface; 8. Cooling channel. Detailed Implementation
[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0022] This application provides a power battery integrated starter battery system and vehicle, which can solve the technical problems of low charging efficiency, low utilization rate and poor collision safety caused by the independent operation of low-voltage starter battery and power battery system in related technologies.
[0023] Example 1 Reference Figure 1-4 A power battery integrated starter battery system includes a power battery pack 1, a starter battery 2, a high-voltage control component 3, and a battery management system 4. The power battery pack 1 is located below a chassis, and the cells within the power battery pack 1 are connected via copper busbars. The starter battery 2 is installed within the power battery pack 1. The high-voltage control component 3 is connected to the positive and negative terminals of both the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2, and is used to convert high-voltage electricity into low-voltage electricity and transmit it to the starter battery 2. The battery management system 4 is connected to both the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2, and is used to monitor the status of both the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2, and to control the connection between the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2 to open or close based on the monitored data.
[0024] This application achieves system-level synergistic optimization by deeply integrating the starter battery 2 into the power battery pack 1 under the chassis. Firstly, in terms of spatial layout, the direct embedding of the starter battery 2 into the power battery pack 1 avoids reserving fixed installation positions in the engine compartment or trunk, significantly improving the utilization of interior space and freeing up valuable resources for the passenger compartment or storage space. Secondly, in terms of safety performance, the inherent high-strength aluminum alloy shell of the power battery pack 1 and the integrated chassis protective layer form a double physical barrier. When the vehicle encounters a collision, the integrated structure effectively disperses the impact force, preventing the starter battery 2 from deforming, short-circuiting, or leaking electrolyte due to external pressure, thus greatly improving the passive safety of the entire vehicle. Thirdly, in terms of energy efficiency… The high-voltage control component 3 directly draws power from the power battery pack 1 and converts it into stable low-voltage electrical energy in real time, eliminating the redundant path of traditional generators or external converters and minimizing power transmission losses. This not only ensures the rapid charging capability of the starter battery 2 under stationary or low-speed conditions, but also supports high-voltage system pre-charging and peak power compensation, significantly enhancing the stability of low-voltage power supply. Finally, the battery management system 4 monitors the status of the power battery and starter battery 2 in real time, including voltage, current, temperature, and SOC status, and regulates the connection to prioritize the starter battery 2 to provide a large current output for millisecond-level response at the moment of vehicle start-up. During operation, it increases the charging intensity to extend battery life. At the same time, it automatically cuts off the high-voltage circuit when an abnormality is detected, comprehensively optimizing power supply reliability.
[0025] Furthermore, in this application's technical solution, an independent area 5 is also provided within the power battery pack 1. This independent area 5 is located in front of the high-voltage control component 3, and the starting battery 2 is fixedly installed within it. The independent area 5 is enclosed by a frame structure. The independent area 5 achieves physical isolation, strictly separating the starting battery 2 from other high-voltage components of the power battery, effectively preventing electromagnetic interference from the high-voltage circuit to the low-voltage starting battery 2, and ensuring the stability of the low-voltage system's power supply. Simultaneously, the frame structure, in this application, uses, but is not limited to, lightweight aluminum alloy or high-strength composite materials to provide rigid support, which can absorb and disperse impact energy during vehicle collisions, significantly reducing the risk of deformation or short circuits in the starting battery 2 due to compression. Secondly, the independent area 5's location in front of the high-voltage control component 3 optimizes the power transmission path. The low-voltage power output from the high-voltage control component 3 can be directly transmitted to the starting battery 2 through a short-distance wiring harness, minimizing transmission losses.
[0026] In this application, the battery management system 4 includes a main control unit and a data acquisition unit. The data acquisition unit is connected to the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2, respectively. The main control unit is connected to the high-voltage control component 3. The main control unit is used to control the connection between the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2 to open or close based on the battery status data acquired by the data acquisition unit. The main control unit is also connected to the vehicle and is used to send the monitored data to the vehicle control system.
[0027] The battery management system 4 monitors the status parameters of the power battery pack 1 and the starter battery 2 in real time through the acquisition unit. Based on this, the main control unit makes intelligent decisions on connection and disconnection, and works in coordination with the high voltage control component 3 to achieve dynamic energy distribution, ensuring safety and efficiency; the effect significantly improves system safety.
[0028] In this application, the high-voltage control component 3 includes an integrated box 6, a high-voltage power distribution unit 600, and a DC-DC converter 610. The integrated box 6 has a high-voltage zone 60 and a low-voltage zone 61 inside. The high-voltage power distribution unit 600 is located in the high-voltage zone 60, and the DC-DC converter 610 is located in the low-voltage zone 61. The input terminal of the high-voltage power distribution unit 600 is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack 1, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminal of the DC-DC converter 610. The output terminal of the DC-DC converter 610 is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the starter battery 2 and the vehicle.
[0029] The integrated box 6 is internally divided into a high-voltage zone 60 and a low-voltage zone 61. The high-voltage power distribution unit 600 is dedicated to the high-voltage zone 60, while the DC-DC converter 610 is located exclusively in the low-voltage zone 61, forming a physical barrier that effectively blocks electromagnetic interference and surge impacts from the high-voltage circuit to the low-voltage system. This avoids the risk of overcharging and thermal runaway of the starter battery 2 due to high-voltage intrusion. Simultaneously, this partitioning design limits the spread of high-voltage arcs during vehicle collisions, reducing the probability of short circuits in the low-voltage zone 61 and significantly improving passive safety. Secondly, in terms of energy conversion efficiency, the high-voltage power distribution unit 600 directly couples to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack 1, achieving precise distribution and protection of high-voltage electricity. Its output is seamlessly connected to the input of the DC-DC converter 610, shortening the power transmission path and reducing wiring harness impedance loss. The DC-DC converter 610 efficiently steps down the high-voltage electricity to a stable low-voltage power, not only supporting the rapid replenishment of the starter battery 2 to SOC in a short time but also ensuring that the vehicle's low-voltage system receives instantaneous high-current output under peak load.
[0030] In this application, a low-voltage interface 7 is provided at the output end of the DC-DC converter 610. The low-voltage interface 7 is connected to the starting battery 2 and is configured to provide a constant voltage output. The constant voltage output mechanism of the low-voltage interface 7 ensures that the starting battery 2 and the vehicle's low-voltage system are always energized, avoiding power loss due to self-discharge of the starting battery 2 or long-term parking.
[0031] In this application, the high-voltage power distribution unit 600 includes a main fuse 30, a main positive relay 31, a pre-charge resistor 32, a pre-charge relay 33, a main negative relay 34, a fast-charge relay 35, a conversion relay 36, a discharge connector 37, and a fast-charge connector 38, which together are responsible for the input, safety protection, on / off control, and distribution of high-voltage electricity. The high-voltage power distribution unit 600 and the DC-DC converter 610 are integrated in an integrated box 6. The high-voltage power distribution unit 600 starts from the positive and negative terminals of the power battery as inputs. The positive terminal is first connected in series with the main fuse 30. Then, the high-voltage positive terminal path splits into two branches: one through the main positive relay 31, and the other through the pre-charge relay 33 and pre-charge resistor 32 connected in series. The two are connected in parallel and converge into the high-voltage bus. The negative terminal is connected to the current sensor 39 and is directly connected to the same bus via the main negative relay 34, forming a controlled high-voltage main circuit. This main circuit bus then distributes power externally: one path is connected to the discharge connector 37 to supply the drive load, one path is connected to the fast-charge connector 38 via the fast-charge relay 35 for external charging, and another path is led out via the conversion relay 36. The input terminal of the DC-DC converter 610 is connected to the high-voltage path led out by the conversion relay 36, and its output terminal is directly connected in parallel to the starter battery 2 and the vehicle's low-voltage network. The principle of the entire technical solution is as follows: the high-voltage power distribution unit 600 realizes the safe distribution, sequential switching and multi-path distribution of high-voltage electricity, and the built-in DC-DC converter 610 continuously converts part of the high-voltage electricity into low-voltage constant electricity, directly powering the low-voltage system of the whole vehicle and intelligently maintaining the start-up battery 2, thereby constructing an integrated, self-circulating high and low voltage integrated power system with the power battery as the only energy core.
[0032] Specifically: When the vehicle starts, the high-voltage power distribution unit 600 first closes the pre-charge relay 33, allowing the high-voltage power from the power battery to slowly charge the high-voltage bus capacitor after being current-limited by the pre-charge resistor 32, avoiding surge impact; when the bus voltage rises to more than 90% of the power battery voltage, the main positive relay 31 is immediately closed and the pre-charge relay 33 is opened to establish a stable high-voltage main circuit; subsequently, the conversion relay 36 is turned on, leading part of the high-voltage power to the DC-DC converter 610, which efficiently steps down the voltage to low voltage and continuously trickle-charges the starter battery 2 and supplies power to the vehicle's low-voltage network through the constant power output interface; at the same time, the battery management system 4 monitors the voltage and current status in real time, dynamically adjusts the charging intensity and on / off control, ensuring that the high current output of the starter battery 2 is prioritized at the moment of startup, and seamless energy conversion from the power battery to the low-voltage system is achieved during operation, ultimately constructing an integrated power supply system with the power battery as the sole energy core and high and low voltage self-circulation, eliminating the redundant design of the traditional independent starter battery 2, and improving safety, energy efficiency and reliability.
[0033] In this application, a cooling channel 8 is provided inside the power battery pack 1, and the cooling channel 8 is arranged around the starter battery 2. In this application, the cooling channel 8 adopts a serpentine or spiral layout that closely surrounds the starter battery 2. The cooling channel 8 and the power battery pack 1 share a liquid cooling system. When the battery management system 4 detects that the temperature of the starter battery 2 exceeds 45°C, the cooling pump is automatically started to reduce the temperature to a safe threshold in a short time, thereby reducing the risk of thermal runaway.
[0034] To achieve temperature detection in this application, a temperature sensor is provided in the starting battery 2, and the temperature sensor is connected to the battery management system 4. The temperature sensor monitors the core temperature of the starting battery 2 in real time. The battery management system 4 automatically triggers a protection strategy based on a dynamic threshold. When a low temperature is detected, the battery management system 4 prioritizes utilizing the residual heat of the power battery or activating the local heating module to avoid the risk of battery electrolyte freezing or lithium plating of lithium-ion batteries, thereby improving the success rate of cold starts. Under high temperature conditions, it activates the liquid cooling channel to suppress temperature spikes in a short time.
[0035] Example 2 A vehicle includes a power battery integrated starter battery system as described in any of Embodiment 1. The power battery integrated starter battery system included in the vehicle corresponds to the steps in Embodiment 1 above, and its functions and implementation process will not be described in detail here.
[0036] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0037] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0038] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.
Claims
1. A power battery integrated starting battery system, characterized in that, It includes: A power battery pack (1) is used to be arranged under the chassis; Start-up battery (2), which is installed inside the power battery pack (1); A high-voltage control component (3) is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack (1) and the positive and negative terminals of the starting battery (2), respectively. The high-voltage control component (3) is used to convert high-voltage electricity into low-voltage electricity and transmit it to the starting battery (2). The battery management system (4) is connected to the power battery pack (1) and the starting battery (2) respectively. The battery management system (4) is used to monitor the status of the power battery pack (1) and the starting battery (2), and control the connection between the power battery pack (1) and the starting battery (2) to be disconnected or closed according to the monitored data.
2. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The power battery pack (1) has an independent area (5) located in front of the high voltage control component (3), and the starting battery (2) is fixedly installed in the independent area (5).
3. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The independent area (5) is enclosed by a frame structure.
4. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The high-voltage control component (3) includes: The integrated box (6) has a high voltage zone (60) and a low voltage zone (61) inside. A high-voltage power distribution unit (600) is located within the high-voltage zone (60); A DC-DC converter (610) is located within the low-voltage region (61); In addition, the input terminal of the high-voltage power distribution unit (600) is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power battery pack (1), and the output terminal is connected to the input terminal of the DC converter (610). The output terminal of the DC converter (610) is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the starter battery (2) and the vehicle.
5. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The output terminal of the DC-DC converter (610) is provided with a low-voltage interface (7), which is connected to the starting battery (2) and is configured to provide constant power output.
6. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The battery management system (4) includes a main control unit and a data acquisition unit. The data acquisition unit is connected to the power battery pack (1) and the starter battery (2) respectively. The main control unit is connected to the high voltage control component (3). The main control unit is used to control the connection between the power battery pack (1) and the starter battery (2) to be disconnected or closed based on the battery status data obtained by the data acquisition unit.
7. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The main control unit is also connected to the vehicle and is used to send the monitored data to the vehicle control system.
8. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The power battery pack (1) is provided with a cooling channel (8), which surrounds the starting battery (2).
9. The power battery integrated starting battery system as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The starting battery (2) is equipped with a temperature sensor, which is connected to the battery management system (4).
10. A vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a power battery integrated starter battery system as described in any one of claims 1-9.