Abstract: An expandable energy storage system for a hybrid electric vehicle has one or more energy storage modules each including a plurality of energy storage cells and a module controller, and a system controller which communicates with the module controller or controllers of the one or more energy storage modules via a controller communication bus and which is powered by the vehicle's low voltage power supply. Each module controller communicates with the energy storage cells in the associated module via an energy storage cell communication link, and is powered by the energy storage cells in the associated module. The system controller communicates with the hybrid electric vehicle via the vehicle communication bus. The modular design provides an energy storage system which can be expanded by connecting additional energy storage modules to the system.

Abstract: A system for dynamically reconfiguring high power energy storage of a hybrid electric vehicle is described. The system includes a fault detector, a switch network and a controller. The fault detector is configured to detect a fault condition of one or more energy storage modules of the vehicle energy storage. The switch network is configured to electrically bypass one or more faulty energy storage modules. The controller is configured to determine a faulty energy storage module. The controller determines that current flow between the vehicle energy storage and the hybrid electric vehicle is below a minimum threshold and reconfigures operation controls to operate the vehicle energy storage according to a second configuration that accounts for the electrically bypassed faulty energy storage module. The controller also resumes operation of the vehicle energy storage according to the second configuration.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack including an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of ultracapacitors in series; a plurality of interconnections for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the ultracapacitors; and a plurality of balancing resistors, each balancing resistor in parallel with each ultracapacitor to form a resistor divider network that automatically discharges and equalizes each ultracapacitor over time, thereby balancing the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly, and each balancing resistor directly mechanically and electrically connected to an associated interconnection.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a hybrid electric vehicle propulsion energy storage pack from an overvoltage condition is described. The energy storage pack includes a plurality of energy storage cells electrically connected in series and electrically coupled with a vehicle direct current (DC) bus. The system includes one or more overvoltage detection circuits, a disconnect circuit and one or more connection verification circuits. The one or more voltage detection circuits detect an overvoltage condition across a subset of the plurality of energy storage cells. The disconnect circuit electrically decouples the energy storage pack from the DC power bus upon detection of an overvoltage condition across the subset of the plurality of energy storage cells. The one or more connection verification circuits verify that the overvoltage detection circuit is electrically coupled to the subset of the plurality of energy storage cells.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.

Abstract: An energy storage device coupler for transferring heat away from ends of ultracapacitors of an ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack without shorting out terminals to cases of the ultracapacitors. The energy storage device coupler includes an ultracapacitor engagement member configured to be in thermal contact with the end of the ultracapacitor and including and holes configured to receive terminals of adjacent ultracapacitors; and a heat sink engagement member connected to the ultracapacitor engagement member and configured to be coupled to one or more heat sink devices for removing heat from the ultracapacitor.

Abstract: An energy storage pack specially adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle, the energy storage pack having overvoltage protection and a method of protecting the same. In particular, the energy storage pack includes a robust, low-cost, parasitic circuit configured to detect overvoltage conditions within the vehicle energy storage and report it to the vehicle.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly having a plurality of series connected ultracapacitors and balancing resistors, each balancing resistor connected in parallel with each ultracapacitor to automatically balance each ultracapacitor over time, thereby automatically over time discharging the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly; an enclosure to enclose and protect the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller for the ultracapacitor assembly; and one or more temperature sensors to monitor temperature of the ultracapacitor assembly and coupled to the controller.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor mounting assembly having a circuit board, a cooling assembly connected to the ultracapacitor mounting assembly and adapted to supply a cooling air stream therein, and a plurality of capacitors including a pair of terminals and an exterior casing, the plurality of capacitors mounted to at least the circuit board of the ultracapacitor mounting assembly with the pair of terminals, allowing the exterior casing to be in the path of the cooling air stream.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor mounting assembly having a circuit board, a cooling assembly connected to the ultracapacitor mounting assembly and adapted to supply a cooling air stream therein, and a plurality of capacitors including a pair of terminals and an exterior casing, the plurality of capacitors mounted to at least the circuit board of the ultracapacitor mounting assembly with the pair of terminals, allowing the exterior casing to be in the path of the cooling air stream.