Dual Battery Pack Power Control for Electric Drive Vehicles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hybrid vehicle electric power systems face challenges in achieving an optimal balance between range and performance due to the limitations of chemical batteries with compromised specific electric energy and power, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, weight, and size.

Innovation Solution

A dual-pack chemical battery system with distinct batteries optimized for energy storage or power delivery, coupled with independent DC-AC power converters, allows dynamic switching based on power requirements, optimizing energy distribution and reducing converter complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a single pack of chemical batteries with large specific electric energy is used, then vehicle range is improved, but specific electric power decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific electric energyVSAvoidspecific electric power
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into two separate packs of chemical batteries: a first pack optimized for specific electric energy (range) and a second pack optimized for specific electric power (performance). Each pack is independently managed by its own DC-AC power converter, allowing the system to segment the conflicting requirements and address them separately rather than forcing a single battery pack to satisfy both opposing demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Power

If a single pack of chemical batteries with large specific electric power is used, then vehicle performance is improved, but specific electric energy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific electric powerVSAvoidspecific electric energy
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into two separate packs of chemical batteries: a first pack optimized for specific electric energy (range) and a second pack optimized for specific electric power (performance). Each pack is independently managed by its own DC-AC power converter, allowing the system to segment the conflicting requirements and address them separately rather than forcing a single battery pack to satisfy both opposing demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If both packs of chemical batteries with different characteristics are used in the storage system, then range and performance needs are addressed, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange and performance coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into two separate packs of chemical batteries: a first pack optimized for specific electric energy (range) and a second pack optimized for specific electric power (performance). Each pack is independently managed by its own DC-AC power converter, allowing the system to segment the conflicting requirements and address them separately rather than forcing a single battery pack to satisfy both opposing demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device provides universal management capabilities for both battery packs through a single integrated unit. The control device can selectively activate either pack or both packs together depending on vehicle operating conditions, providing multi-functional adaptability without requiring separate independent control systems for each pack, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If three electronic power converters are used to control one electric machine, then battery management is improved, but system weight and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery managementVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device provides universal management capabilities for both battery packs through a single integrated unit. The control device can selectively activate either pack or both packs together depending on vehicle operating conditions, providing multi-functional adaptability without requiring separate independent control systems for each pack, thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system efficiently manages power distribution between energy storage and power delivery batteries, minimizing converter size, weight, and cost while maintaining seamless operation and extended vehicle range and performance.

Implementation Method 1

a first electronic DC-AC power converter, which has a direct current side connected to the first pack of chemical batteries and an alternating current side connected to the electric machine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Energy Conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3581432B1Electric power system of an electric drive vehicle and relative control method
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 FERRARI SPA
  • EP3581432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3581432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3581432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric power system (18) of a vehicle (1) with an electric drive obtained by means of an electric machine (8); the electric power system (18) has: a storage system (14) provided with a first pack (15) of chemical batteries and with a second pack (16) of chemical batteries; a first electronic DC-AC power converter (19), which has a direct current side connected to the first pack (15) of chemical batteries and an alternating current side connected to the electric machine (8); and a second electronic DC-AC power converter (20), which has a direct current side connected to the second pack (15) of chemical batteries and an alternating current side connected to the electric machine (8), in addition and in parallel to the first electronic power converter (19), so that the electric machine (8) can be controlled by the first electronic power converter (19) or by the second electronic power converter (20).