Abstract: An adaptive multi-string battery for an electric vehicle is disclosed herein. The battery strings can adaptively be connected to the power bus bars based on the output voltage to be discharged with load. During operation of the vehicle, the voltage, current, and estimate charge can be constantly monitored to change the connected status of the battery strings to the power buses to allow connecting or disconnecting of the battery strings adaptively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the temperature of a liquid are disclosed herein. Systems can include a thermistor in contact with a liquid coolant and circuitry configured to measure a temperature of the thermistor by applying a nominal current through the thermistor and detecting a voltage drop across the thermistor. The circuitry may be further configured to apply a current pulse greater than the nominal current through the thermistor, detect a transient thermistor response to the current pulse, and compare the detected transient thermistor response to an expected transient response. The circuitry may be capable of determining if the thermistor is immersed in a fluid or at least partially located within a fluid-free region based on comparing the detected transient thermistor response to the expected transient response.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for providing electric power to low voltage systems of a vehicle. In some embodiments, a vehicle includes a low voltage battery pack and at least two systems configured to draw power from the low voltage battery pack. The at least two vehicle systems can be operable in a first mode while connected to the low voltage battery pack, and can be operable in a second mode while disconnected from the low voltage battery pack. The second mode may be utilized when the vehicle is connected to an external low voltage power source. The second mode may be a low power mode in which the at least two systems have reduced functionality or are prohibited from operating simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery having an output voltage and an output current when delivering power, a load driven by power delivered from the battery, battery output voltage and current sensing circuits, and processing circuitry coupled to the battery output voltage and current sensing circuits. The processing circuitry may implement a recurrent neural network for battery state estimation.

Abstract: Provided are systems for vehicle energy storage having parallel cooling comprising a plurality of modules. Each module may comprise two half modules coupled together. Each half module can include a plurality of battery cells. A current carrier of each half module may be electrically coupled to the cells. The cells may be disposed between the current carrier and a plate. Each half module can have the cells, current carrier, and blast plate disposed in an enclosure. The enclosure can have a coolant sub-system for circulating coolant in parallel to the plurality of cells such that each of the battery cells is at approximately the same predetermined temperature. The modules may be disposed in a tray. A coolant system may be provided for circulating coolant across the plurality of modules in parallel such that each of the modules can be maintained at approximately the same predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A system for intelligently disengaging vehicle creep, the system comprising one or more sensors configured to be operatively coupled with a vehicle, one or more processors configured to execute machine-readable instructions to obtain information from one or more of the sensors, compare obtained information with reference information, determine whether a creep disengaging condition has been satisfied based on the obtained information and the reference information, and disengage a creep function of the vehicle if it is determined that a creep disengaging condition has been satisfied. In some embodiments, the system disengages a vehicle's creep functionality when it is determined that the driver has exited the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for jump starting an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, an electric vehicle includes battery charging circuitry electrically connected to a high voltage storage system and a low voltage storage system mounted in the vehicle. The high voltage storage system may be configured to drive a motor for propelling the vehicle. The low voltage storage system may be configured to drive a contactor electrically connected between the high voltage storage system and a drive train of the vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle may include an electrical connection that is easily accessible and configured to supply power from an external power source to the low voltage system. The electrical connection may be integrated into a standard trailer wiring system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive charging of electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems can include a charging station configured to draw current from an electrical supply circuit, a current detector in communication with the charging station and configured to measure a current through the electrical supply circuit, and processing circuitry configured to determine a charging current available to an electric vehicle based at least in part on the current measured by the current detector. The charging current available may be adjusted during a continuous charging session based at least in part on the monitored current.

Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) connected to a battery is disclosed. The battery management system includes a battery status component configured to detect one or more parameters of the battery; a timer component configured to compute an amount of time needed to recharge the battery based on one or more of the parameters of the battery; and a scheme initiation component configured to determine an optimal time to begin charging based on the amount of time needed to recharge the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery having an output voltage and an output current when delivering power, a load driven by power delivered from the battery, battery output voltage and current sensing circuits, and processing circuitry coupled to the battery output voltage and current sensing circuits. The processing circuitry may implement a recurrent neural network for battery state estimation.

Abstract: Battery module communication system with improved enclosure sealing is disclosed. When applied to an electric vehicle, a battery data communication system disclosed herein includes module enclosures having partial transformers, such as coils, contained inside the enclosures having inter-module interfaces. The inter-module interfaces can engage with one another to form transformers without the module enclosures having wire holes to connect data communication circuits contained in the respective module enclosures.

Abstract: A method of for authenticating a mobile device for operating a vehicle may include receiving, by a receiver of the vehicle, an operation request from the mobile device to actuate an operation of the vehicle and generating, by a controller of the vehicle, a locally-perceivable signal indicative of a passcode granting a connection with the mobile device, in response to the received operation request. The method may further include receiving, by the receiver of the vehicle, information relating to the passcode from the mobile device, and establishing the connection with the mobile device for actuating the operation of the vehicle if the received information is authenticated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the temperature of a liquid are disclosed herein. Systems can include a thermistor in contact with a liquid coolant and circuitry configured to measure a temperature of the thermistor by applying a nominal current through the thermistor and detecting a voltage drop across the thermistor. The circuitry may be further configured to apply a current pulse greater than the nominal current through the thermistor, detect a transient thermistor response to the current pulse, and compare the detected transient thermistor response to an expected transient response. The circuitry may be capable of determining if the thermistor is immersed in a fluid or at least partially located within a fluid-free region based on comparing the detected transient thermistor response to the expected transient response.

Abstract: A battery level management system for an electric vehicle during a powered down and uncharged period is disclosed. A current output from a low voltage battery of the electric vehicle being above a threshold can be sensed to wake up a control unit associated with the low voltage battery without waking up or fully powering other control units. Upon waking up, the control unit associated with the low voltage battery can start monitoring the current output from the low voltage battery and controlling the power drawn from the low voltage battery by enabling or disabling other control units to manage the remaining low voltage battery power level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disengaging a battery are disclosed. The systems and methods may be used to disengage a battery from a direct-current (DC) bus of a vehicle when the DC bus is under a load. In one implementation, the system includes one or more contactors between the battery string and the DC bus. The system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to reduce a current limit of a power train of the vehicle to a first current level. The controller is also configured to open the one or more contactors. The controller is further configured to increase the current limit of the power train of the vehicle to a second current level.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery having an output voltage and an output current when delivering power, a load driven by power delivered from the battery, battery output voltage and current sensing circuits, and processing circuitry coupled to the battery output voltage and current sensing circuits. The processing circuitry may be configured to obtain sensed battery output voltage and current values, and to estimate values for at least three battery state parameters by concurrently fitting the voltage and current values to at least two different equations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for overheating protection in a liquid cooled vehicle battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery housing enclosing at least one electrochemical cell and a temperature dependent fuse connected in series with the at least one electrochemical cell. A cooling system may circulate liquid coolant through the battery housing. In the event of a cooling system failure, the temperature dependent fuse may blow before the temperature of the at least one electrochemical cell increases enough to damage the battery.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for jump starting an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, an electric vehicle includes battery charging circuitry electrically connected to a high voltage storage system and a low voltage storage system mounted in the vehicle. The high voltage storage system may be configured to drive a motor for propelling the vehicle. The low voltage storage system may be configured to drive a contactor electrically connected between the high voltage storage system and a drive train of the vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicle may include an electrical connection that is easily accessible and configured to supply power from an external power source to the low voltage system. The electrical connection may be integrated into a standard trailer wiring system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant circuit disconnection in electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems can include a resistive metallic fuse connected within an electrical circuit for a battery or otherwise, an inductor comprising a coil of at least one turn of wire about a longitudinal axis, and an AC power source configured to provide an alternating current across the inductor. The resistive metallic fuse may be disposed within the inductor along the longitudinal axis, and the AC power source may be configured to cause the inductor to induce within the resistive metallic fuse eddy currents of sufficient magnitude to melt or vaporize at least a portion of the resistive metallic fuse disposed therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant circuit disconnection in electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems can include a resistive metallic fuse connected within an electrical circuit for a battery or otherwise, an inductor comprising a coil of at least one turn of wire about a longitudinal axis, and an AC power source configured to provide an alternating current across the inductor. The resistive metallic fuse may be disposed within the inductor along the longitudinal axis, and the AC power source may be configured to cause the inductor to induce within the resistive metallic fuse eddy currents of sufficient magnitude to melt or vaporize at least a portion of the resistive metallic fuse disposed therein.