Abstract: Relays having internal connections on both sides of their switches may be used in conjunction with a connector that integrates both the normal relay switch control lines with the sensing conductors of a control module for a battery module of an energy storage device. In this manner, sensing conductors may be routed along with the switch control lines for the relay instead of separately as described above. This integration reduces the complexity and cost associated with the energy storage device, because it reduces the number of separately routed lines and also eliminates the external connections for at least some of the sensing conductors.

Abstract: An automotive battery system including a first battery that couples to an electrical system. Additionally, the first battery includes a first battery chemistry. Further, the automotive battery system includes a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and couples to the electrical system. Furthermore, the automotive battery system includes a first switch coupled to a positive terminal of the second battery, which electrically couples or decouples the second battery to or from the electrical system. Moreover, the automotive battery system includes a battery control unit that detects a short circuit condition of the first battery, the second battery, or both and decouples the second battery from the electrical system by opening the first switch upon detecting the short circuit condition.

Abstract: A system includes a vent housing configured to be installed on a lower housing of a battery module at a first side of the vent housing. The vent housing has a main body having an opening on a second side of the vent housing and an internal chamber coupled to the opening. The internal chamber includes a first wall having an internal burst vent configured to open at a first pressure threshold and a second wall having a ventilation vent comprising a gas-selective permeability layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for recycling lead-acid batteries, and more specifically, relates to purifying and recycling the lead content from lead-acid batteries. A system includes a reactor that receives and mixes a lead-beating material waste, a carboxylate source, and a recycled liquid component to form a leaching mixture yielding a lead carboxylate precipitate. The system also includes a phase separation device coupled to the reactor, wherein the phase separation device isolates the lead carboxylate precipitate from a liquid component of the leaching mixture. The system further includes a closed-loop liquid recycling system coupled to the phase separation device and to the reactor, wherein the closed-loop liquid recycling, system receives the liquid component isolated by the phase separation device and recycles a substantial portion of the received liquid component back to the reactor as the recycled liquid component.

Abstract: A battery plate assembly for a lead-acid battery is disclosed. The assembly includes a plates of opposing polarity each formed by an electrically conductive grid body having opposed top and bottom frame elements and opposed first and second side frame elements, the top frame element having a lug and an opposing enlarged conductive section extending toward the bottom frame element; a plurality of interconnecting electrically conductive grid elements defining a grid pattern defining a plurality of open areas, the grid elements including a plurality of radially extending vertical grid, wire elements connected to the top frame element, and a plurality of horizontally extending grid wire elements, the grid body having an active material provided thereon. A highly absorbent separator is wrapped around at least a portion of the plate of a first polarity and extends to opposing plate faces. An electrolyte is provided, wherein substantially all of the electrolyte is absorbed by the separator or active material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dual energy storage system that includes a lithium ion battery electrically coupled in parallel with a lead acid battery, where the lithium ion battery and the lead-acid battery are electrically coupled to a vehicle bus, where the lithium ion battery open circuit voltage (OCV) partially matches the lead-acid battery OCV such that the lead-acid battery OCV at 100% of the lead-acid battery state of charge (SOC) is about equal to the lithium ion battery OCV at 50% of the lithium ion battery SOC.

Abstract: Present embodiments include a control system for one or more battery cells. The control system includes a bi-stable relay configured to switch a state of the bi-stable relay upon receiving a control signal to electrically connect or electrically disconnect the one or more battery cells to a bus and to remain in the state after receiving the control signal. The control system includes a controller configured to be operatively coupled to the bi-stable relay and configured to send the control signal indicative of instructions to control operation of the bi-stable relay based on the state.

Abstract: A battery module includes plurality of prismatic battery cells. Each prismatic battery cell includes a casing housing electrochemically active components and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a cover, a terminal protruding through the cover, a current collector electrically coupled to the terminal, and an overcharge protection assembly between the terminal and current collector. The overcharge protection assembly includes a spiral disk and a vent disk physically and electrically coupled, wherein the vent disk is between the spiral disk and the terminal and includes a concave structure forming a cavity between the vent disk and the terminal. The vent disk is configured to deform into the cavity and break when a pressure within the casing exceeds a threshold value. The spiral disk is configured to apply a shearing force to the vent disk when the vent disk deforms to facilitate the breakage to interrupt electrical current flow.

Abstract: A battery system for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The battery system includes a tray having a plurality of battery receptacles. A plurality of batteries are also provided, each battery in the plurality of batteries being received in a battery receptacle. A conductive layer in electrical communication with the plurality of batteries and a terminal for electrically coupling to a vehicle are also provided in the battery system. A cover interlocks with the tray. The cover carries a computer and a diagnostic identification system for the plurality of batteries. A housing for a battery system and a vehicle including a battery system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery monitoring network is provided that includes a battery. The battery monitoring network also includes a battery monitoring system integrated within the battery. The battery monitoring system includes a diagnostic system configured to monitor or to store one or more battery parameters of the battery. Additionally, the battery monitoring system includes a transmitter configured to transmit data indicative of the one or more battery parameters of the battery. Furthermore, battery monitoring network includes a cloud-based computing network having a remote server configured to receive the data indicative of the one or more battery parameters of the battery. Moreover, the cloud-based computing network is configured to interface with a plurality of battery monitoring systems, and includes an internet connection.

Abstract: Present embodiments include a lithium ion battery module having a lineup of prismatic lithium ion battery cells positioned within a cell receptacle area of a housing of the lithium ion battery module. The prismatic battery cells of the lineup are spaced apart from one another in a spaced arrangement by fixed protrusions extending from internal surfaces of the housing forming the cell receptacle area, and the fixed protrusions extend inwardly to form a plurality of discontinuous slots across a width of the cell receptacle area.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a battery module having a housing and a stack of battery cells disposed in the housing. Each battery cell has a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of each battery cell, and the battery cell vent is configured to exhaust effluent into the housing. The battery module has a vent shield plate disposed in the housing and directly along an immediate vent path of the effluent, a first surface of the vent shield plate configured to direct the effluent to an opening between the shield plate and the housing, and a second surface of the vent shield plate opposite the first surface. The battery module also has a venting chamber coupled to the opening and at least partially defined by the second surface and a vent configured to direct the effluent out of the battery module.

Abstract: A battery module includes a housing. The battery module also includes a cell stack disposed in the housing and including a battery cell. The battery module also includes a force gauge in mechanical communication with the cell stack and configured to measure a force generated by a swelling of the cell stack. The battery module also includes a control module configured to receive data indicative of the force and to estimate a remaining usable life of the battery module based on the data.

Abstract: An electrical storage device includes high surface area fibers (e.g., shaped fibers and/or microfibers) coated with carbon (graphite, expanded graphite, activated carbon, carbon black, carbon nanofibers, CNT, or graphite coated CNT), electrolyte, and/or electrode active material (e.g., lead oxide) in electrodes. The electrodes are used to form electrical storage devices such as electrochemical batteries, electrochemical double layer capacitors, and asymmetrical capacitors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery test system for a vehicle that includes a camera configured to capture an image of a vehicle identification number located on the vehicle, the camera being coupled to a processor which determines characters of the vehicle identification number from the image of the camera and correlates the characters of the vehicle identification number to a vehicle identification number database to receive battery parameters for the vehicle, a battery tester that is removably connected to terminals of a battery of the vehicle and configured to receive battery test results, and a display which conveys information relating to the battery parameters and the battery test results.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery having a conductive terminal extending beyond a surface of a battery cover, the conductive terminal having an internal portion and an external surface, wherein the internal portion comprises lead and external surface comprises a non-lead conductive material. Further disclosed is a method for producing such a battery.