Device and method for the reconfiguration of a rechargeable energy storage device into separate battery connection strings

A method for reconfiguring a rechargeable energy storage device into two or more connection strings, the rechargeable energy storage device comprising a plurality of energy storage modules, each of the plurality of energy storage modules having one or more energy storage cells and a bank of switches, the method comprising:

• connecting one of the plurality of energy storage modules to a first series connection string in series with at least one other of the plurality energy storage modules,
• connecting another one of the plurality of energy storage modules in a second connection string with at least one other of the plurality of energy storage modules, the second connection string being a second series connection string or a second parallel connection string, and all of the plurality of energy storage modules of the first connection string are isolated by the bank of switches from the second connection string,
• each of the one or more energy storage cells having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connectable to the first connection string via a first switched connection and connectable to the second connection string via a second switched connection, the first switched connection comprising a first switch of the first bank of switches and the second switched connection comprising a second switch of the second bank of switches, the second terminal being connectable to the first connection string via a third switched connection and connectable to the second connection string via a fourth switched connection, the third switched connection comprising a third switch of the first bank of switches and the fourth switched connection comprising a fourth switch of the second bank of switches.

A controller configured to reconfigure a rechargeable energy storage device into two or more connection strings, the rechargeable energy storage device comprising a plurality of energy storage modules, each of the plurality of energy storage modules having one or more energy storage cells and a first bank of switches and a second bank of switches, the controller being adapted to control the first bank of switches and the second bank of switches so as to do at least one of the following:

• connect one of the plurality of energy storage modules in a first series connection string with at least one other of the plurality of energy storage modules,
• connect one of the plurality of energy storage modules in a second connection string with at least one other of the plurality of energy storage modules,
• connect one of the plurality of energy storage modules in the first series connection string with at least one other of the plurality of energy storage modules and connect one of the plurality of energy storage modules in the second connection string with at least one other of the plurality of energy storage modules, or
• exclude one of the plurality of energy storage modules from the first series connection string,
• wherein the controller is configured to connect to the one or more energy storage cells, each of the one or more energy storage cells having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connectable to the first connection string via a first switched connection and connectable to the second connection string via a second switched connection, the first switched connection comprising a first switch of the first bank of switches and the second switched connection comprising a second switch of the second bank of switches, the second terminal being connectable to the first connection string via a third switched connection and connectable to the second connection string via a fourth switched connection, the third switched connection comprising a third switch of the first bank of switches and the fourth switched connection comprising a fourth switch of the second bank of switches.