Power systems and methods for electric vehicles
AssigneeNIO USA, Inc.
InventorsAdam H. Ing, Alexander J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments include a junction box for an electric vehicle. The junction box includes a charging port to receive power from an external power source, and a plurality of switching elements to control electrical connections between the charging port, a first battery, and a second battery. On/off states of the plurality of switching elements control whether the charging port, the first battery and the second battery are connected in a first configuration or a second configuration.
Claims20
A junction box for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a charging port to receive power from an external power source;
- and
- a plurality of switching elements to control electrical connections between the charging port, a first battery, and a second battery, on/off states of the plurality of switching elements controlling whether the charging port, the first battery and the second battery are connected in a first configuration or a second configuration.
A system for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a voltage converter to convert a first voltage to a second voltage that is less than the first voltage;
- a first battery;
- a second battery;
- a powertrain coupled to the voltage converter, the first battery, and the second battery and to power the electric vehicle with the second voltage;
- a junction box including:
- a charging port to receive the first voltage from an external power source;
- and
- a plurality of switching elements to control connections between the charging port, the first battery, and the second battery;
- and
- at least one controller that controls switching of the plurality of switching elements to connect the first battery and the second battery in either a first configuration or a second configuration according to an operation mode.
A method of operating an electric vehicle, comprising:
- determining an operation mode of the electric vehicle;
- controlling a plurality of switching elements that are coupled to a first battery and a second battery such that the first battery and the second battery are connected in series when the operation mode is a charging mode;
- and
- controlling the plurality of switching elements such that the first battery and the second battery are connected in parallel when the operation mode is a driving mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.