# US 10,369,896 B2 · Apparatus and method for flexible DC fast charging of an electrified vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,896 B2 - Document ID: US10369896B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/824,525 - Filed: 2017-11-28 - Published: 2019-05-30 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-28 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri; Thomas W. Nehl; Lei Hao; Michael Harpster; Andrew K. Chandler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369896B2 ## CPC - B60L 53/11: {DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4} - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 53/65: involving identification of vehicles or their battery types - B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - Y02T 90/167: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV] - Y04S 30/14: Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract An apparatus for flexible DC fast charging of an electrified vehicle includes a charge receptacle and a vehicle charging controller programmed to establish a wireless communication with a charging station. The apparatus further includes a reconfigurable energy storage system selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle. The reconfigurable energy storage system includes a first rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle, a second rechargeable energy storage device selectively connected to the charge receptacle, and a plurality of low-loss switching devices selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device. The vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station such that a nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for flexible DC fast charging of an electrified vehicle, comprising: a charge receptacle configured to receive a charge port to electrically charge the electrified vehicle; a vehicle charging controller programmed to establish a wireless communication with a charging station, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to wirelessly receive a wireless signal from the charging station, the wireless signal is indicative of a charging voltage of the charging station; a reconfigurable energy storage system selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle, wherein the reconfigurable energy storage system includes: a first rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; a second rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; and a plurality of low-loss switching devices selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device, wherein each of the plurality of low-loss switching devices is in communication with the vehicle charging controller; and wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station such that a nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station in order to electrically connect the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in series such that the nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station in order to electrically connect the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in parallel such that the nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of low-loss switching devices includes a first low-loss switching device, a second low-loss switching device, and a third low-loss switching device, each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device is selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device, each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device is in communication with the vehicle charging controller, each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device has an on-state and an off-state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine the charging voltage of the charging station based on the wireless signal received from the charging station, the charging voltage of the charging station is one of a first voltage or a second voltage, the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the charging voltage of the charging station is the first voltage, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the second low-loss switching device to be in the on-state and to command the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state, thereby electrically connecting the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in parallel in response to determining that the charging voltage of the charging station is the first voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the charging voltage of the charging station is the second voltage, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the second low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the third low-loss switching device to be in the on-state, thereby electrically connecting the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in series in response to determining that the charging voltage of the charging station is the second voltage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vehicle charging controller is in communication with the first rechargeable energy storage device such that the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the first rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, and, in response to determining that the first rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the second low-loss switching device to be in the on-state to bypass the first rechargeable energy storage device that is faulty. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vehicle charging controller is in communication with the second rechargeable energy storage device such that the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the second rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, and, in response to determining that the second rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the second low-loss switching device and the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the first low-loss switching device to be in the on-state to bypass the second rechargeable energy storage device that is faulty. ### Claim 10 An electrified vehicle, comprising: a charge receptacle configured to receive a charge port to electrically charge the electrified vehicle; a vehicle charging controller programmed to establish a wireless communication with a charging station, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to wirelessly receive a wireless signal from the charging station, the wireless signal is indicative of a charging voltage of the charging station; a reconfigurable energy storage system selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle, wherein the reconfigurable energy storage system includes: a first rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; a second rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; a plurality of low-loss switching devices selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device, wherein each of the plurality of low-loss switching devices is in communication with the vehicle charging controller; wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station such that a nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station; a direct current (DC) wiring electrically connecting the charge receptacle and the reconfigurable energy storage system; a power electronics bay electrically connected to the charge receptacle and the reconfigurable energy storage system; and an alternating current (AC) wiring electrically connecting the power electronics bay to the charge receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station in order to electrically connect the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in series such that the nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to selectively actuate the plurality of low-loss switching devices based on the charging voltage of the charging station in order to electrically connect the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in parallel such that the nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of low-loss switching devices includes a first low-loss switching device, a second low-loss switching device, and a third low-loss switching device, each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device is selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device, each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device is in communication with the vehicle charging controller, and each of the first low-loss switching device, the second low-loss switching device, and the third low-loss switching device has an on-state and an off-state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine the charging voltage of the charging station based on the wireless signal received from the charging station, the charging voltage of the charging station is one of a first voltage or a second voltage, the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the charging voltage of the charging station is the first voltage, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the second low-loss switching device to be in the on-state and to command the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state, thereby electrically connecting the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in parallel in response to determining that the charging voltage of the charging station is the first voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the charging voltage of the charging station is the first voltage, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the second low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the third low-loss switching device to be in the on-state, thereby electrically connecting the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device in series in response to determining that the charging voltage of the charging station is the second voltage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle charging controller is in communication with the first rechargeable energy storage device such that the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the first rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, and, in response to determining that the first rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the first low-loss switching device and the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the second low-loss switching device to be in the on-state to bypass the first rechargeable energy storage device that is faulty. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle charging controller is in communication with the second rechargeable energy storage device such that the vehicle charging controller is programmed to determine that the second rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, and, in response to determining that the second rechargeable energy storage device is faulty, the vehicle charging controller is programmed to command the second low-loss switching device and the third low-loss switching device to be in the off-state and to command the first low-loss switching device to be in the on-state to bypass the second rechargeable energy storage device that is faulty. ### Claim 19 A method for flexible DC fast charging of an electrified vehicle, comprising: providing the electrified vehicle, wherein the electrified vehicle includes a vehicle charging controller, a charge receptacle, a reconfigurable energy storage system in communication with the vehicle charging controller, the reconfigurable energy storage system is electrically connected to the charge receptacle, the reconfigurable energy storage system includes a first rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; a second rechargeable energy storage device selectively and electrically connected to the charge receptacle; and a plurality of low-loss switching devices selectively connected to the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device; and commanding, via the vehicle charging controller, the plurality of low-loss switching devices to selectively actuate based on a voltage of a charging station such that a nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches a charging voltage of the charging station after the charge receptacle is electrically connected to a charge port of the charging station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the commanding, via the vehicle charging controller, the plurality of low-loss switching devices to selectively actuate includes electrically connecting the first rechargeable energy storage device and the first rechargeable energy storage device in series such that the nominal voltage of the reconfigurable energy storage system matches the charging voltage of the charging station.