Battery management apparatus, and battery pack and automobile including same

A battery management apparatus for managing a battery pack, which includes a battery module, a first charge/discharge terminal, a second charge/discharge terminal, a first main relay connected between a positive electrode terminal of the battery module and the first charge/discharge terminal, and a second main relay connected between a negative electrode terminal of the battery module and the second charge/discharge terminal, the battery management apparatus comprising:

• a precharging unit having a plurality of switches, the precharging unit being connected to the first main relay in parallel and connected between the second main relay and the second charge/discharge terminal;
• a control unit configured to control the plurality of switches to cause an output voltage of the battery module to be converted into an AC voltage and applied to the first main relay or the second main relay;
• and
• a diagnosing unit configured to diagnose a failure of the first main relay based on a first both-end voltage value of the first main relay when the AC voltage is applied to the first main relay, and to diagnose a failure of the second main relay based on a second both-end voltage value of the second main relay when the AC voltage is applied to the second main relay.