Adaptive fast-charging of multi-pack battery system in a mobile platform having dual charge ports

A method for charging a reconfigurable battery system of an electrical system having a first battery pack and a second battery pack using a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station, the method comprising:

• verifying, via a controller, a connection of a first charging cable and a second charging cable from the DCFC station to a first charge port and a second charge port of the electrical system, respectively, wherein the first charge port and the second charge port are both configured to receive either of a relatively low charging voltage or a relatively high charging voltage from the DCFC station;
• selectively establishing a series-connected (S-connected) configuration of the first and second battery packs, via the controller, by individually commanding respective ON/OFF conductive states of first, second, third, and fourth switches of the reconfigurable battery system;
• and
• charging the reconfigurable battery system via the first charge port or the second charge port when the DCFC station is able to supply the relatively high charging voltage.

A motor vehicle for use with a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station, the motor vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a reconfigurable battery system;
• road wheels connected to the vehicle body;
• one or more rotary electric machines connected to the reconfigurable battery system and operable for powering the road wheels;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein the reconfigurable battery system includes:
• a first battery pack and a second battery pack;
• a plurality of switches having respective ON/OFF conductive states that are individually commanded by the controller to selectively connect the first battery pack and the second battery pack in either a parallel-connected (P-connected) configuration or a series-connected (S-connected) configuration based on a desired operating mode;
• and
• a first charge port and a second charge port each being connectable to the DCFC station via a corresponding charging cable during a DCFC event in which the first battery pack and/or the second battery pack is recharged via the DCFC station, wherein the first charge port and the second charge port are configured to receive a charging voltage from the DCFC station at a relatively low voltage level of less than about 400V or a relatively high charging level of at least about 800V depending on the ON/OFF conductive states of the switches;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• selectively charge the reconfigurable battery system via either of the first charge port or the second charge port at the relatively high voltage level;
• and
• when the DCFC station is able to supply the relatively high charging voltage to the first charge port:
• selectively disable the second charge port;
• establish the S-connected configuration via control of the respective ON/OFF conductive states of the switches;
• and
• charge the reconfigurable battery system via the first charge port using the relatively high charging voltage.