Reconfigurable EV Battery Pack Charging Across Multiple Voltages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrified vehicles face challenges in charge compatibility due to varying propulsion system voltages and energy storage capacities, limiting their ability to utilize non-native charging stations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable energy storage system with multiple battery packs and switches that can be configured in various arrangements to match the voltage and current capabilities of both the vehicle and charging station, allowing for flexible charging configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If battery packs are fixed in a single configuration, then the system is simple to control, but charge compatibility with different voltage stations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack system dynamically reconfigures its electrical connections through switchable series/parallel arrangements. The control module adjusts the configuration in real-time based on the charging station's voltage requirements, transforming a static system into an adaptive one that maintains compatibility across different charging infrastructures
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is divided into multiple modular units that can be independently connected through switches. This segmentation allows the system to create different voltage levels by combining modules in series or parallel, enabling compatibility with various charging station voltages while maintaining a standardized modular architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple battery configurations are implemented, then charge compatibility improves, but switch control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control module receives information about the charging station's voltage requirements and automatically determines the appropriate battery configuration. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual switch control, as the system self-adjusts its configuration based on real-time charging conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The battery management system performs automatic configuration selection and switch control without external intervention. The control module calculates the required series/parallel arrangement based on the charging station's voltage and independently manages the switch states, reducing operational complexity
3Power
If battery packs are arranged in series, then voltage output increases, but charging current capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between series and parallel configurations based on charging requirements. When high voltage is needed, packs are arranged in series; when high current is needed, they are arranged in parallel. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to optimize the voltage-current trade-off for different charging scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The same battery pack system serves multiple functions by reconfiguring its internal connections. It can provide high voltage for fast charging or high current for high-capacity batteries, making a single system universally applicable to different charging station types and vehicle requirements
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for charging an electrified vehicle through a charge port selectively configures a plurality of battery packs including battery packs having a voltage N with a plurality of controllable switches into one of several charging configurations which may include presenting the charge port with voltage N, 2N or 3N.