System and method for vehicle battery jump starter

A vehicle battery jump starter device comprising:

• a battery pack interface configured to receive a removable and rechargeable battery pack, the removable and rechargeable battery pack having a voltage;
• a power boost module including a plurality of supercapacitors, and
• a controller including an electronic processor configured to:
• charge the plurality of supercapacitors from energy provided from the removable and rechargeable battery pack;
• configure a first selection of the plurality of supercapacitors into a first supercapacitor bank, the first supercapacitor bank configured to be charged to a predetermined voltage level that is less than the voltage of the battery pack,
• configure a second selection of the plurality of supercapacitors into a second supercapacitor bank, the second supercapacitor bank configured to be charged to a predetermined voltage level that is less than the voltage of the battery pack and less than the voltage of the first supercapacitor bank,
• combine the first supercapacitor bank and the second supercapacitor bank in series to produce a final output voltage, the final output voltage being greater than the voltage of the removable and rechargeable battery pack, and
• control a discharge current from the series-combined supercapacitor banks to deliver a jump start current to a vehicle battery.

A method for operating a vehicle battery jump starter device, the method comprising:

• attaching a removable and rechargeable battery pack, the battery pack having a voltage, to the vehicle battery jump starter device via a battery pack interface;
• selecting a required final output voltage level for the vehicle battery jump starter device;
• connecting a power boost module, the power boost module including a plurality of supercapacitors, to the battery pack for charging the plurality of supercapacitors from energy provided by the battery pack;
• determining, via a controller including an electronic processor, a configuration of supercapacitor banks by:
• connecting a first selection of the plurality of supercapacitors into a first supercapacitor bank configured to be charged to a predetermined voltage level that is less than the voltage of the battery pack, and
• connecting a second selection of the plurality of supercapacitors into a second supercapacitor bank configured to be charged to a predetermined voltage level that is less than both the voltage of the battery pack and the voltage of the first supercapacitor bank;
• charging and connecting the plurality of supercapacitors into the determined configuration of the first and second supercapacitor banks;
• combining the first and second supercapacitor banks in series to produce a final output voltage that exceeds the voltage of the removable and rechargeable battery pack;
• and
• controlling a discharge current from the series-combined supercapacitor banks to deliver a jump start current to a vehicle battery.