Battery System Having an Intermediate Circuit Voltage which can be Set in a Variable Fashion

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a battery system including (i) a battery, (ii) a DC voltage intermediate circuit connected to the battery, (iii) an AC converter connected to the DC voltage intermediate circuit, and (iv) an electric motor connected to the AC converter,
• wherein the electric motor is configured to drive the motor vehicle,
• wherein the DC voltage intermediate circuit includes a capacitor,
• wherein the battery includes a battery module string having a plurality of battery modules that are connected in series, and a control unit,
• wherein each battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a coupling unit and at least one battery cell that is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit,
• wherein the coupling unit is configured (i) to switch the at least one battery cell between a first terminal of a respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules and a second terminal of the respective battery module in response to a first control signal, and (ii) in response to a second control signal, to connect the first terminal to the second terminal, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the first control signal to a variable number of battery modules of the battery module string and to transmit the second control signal to a remaining number of battery modules of the battery module string and thus to set a voltage of the DC voltage intermediate circuit in a variable manner.

A method for operating a battery system having a battery, a DC voltage intermediate circuit connected to the battery, an AC converter connected to the DC voltage intermediate circuit, and an electric motor connected to the AC converter, wherein the battery includes a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:

• disconnecting a number of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells;
• bridging the number of battery cells;
• connecting in series a remaining number of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells;
• and
• setting a voltage of the DC voltage intermediate circuit in a variable manner.