Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that is configured to, while a battery temperature exceeds a threshold and state of charge (SOC) is above an SOC threshold, enable an electric machine to provide torque assistance at a power limit, and responsive to the temperature dropping below the threshold, increase the power limit and enable the electric machine to provide torque assistance while the SOC is above a cold SOC threshold less than the SOC threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that is configured to, while a battery temperature exceeds a threshold and state of charge (SOC) is above an SOC threshold, enable an electric machine to provide torque assistance at a power limit, and responsive to the temperature dropping below the threshold, increase the power limit and enable the electric machine to provide torque assistance while the SOC is above a cold SOC threshold less than the SOC threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include a plurality of solar cells electrically connected to form a solar panel array having a minimum output voltage at a specified standard solar irradiance. The vehicle may also include a battery pack having an output voltage at least equal to the minimum output voltage of the array and configured to provide energy for moving the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a controller configured to selectively electrically connect the array and battery pack to trickle charge the battery pack.

Abstract: A pulse charging profile for a vehicle battery is synchronized with driver or vehicle demanded current disturbances by phase tracking the fundamental frequency of the desired pulse charging profile to those driver or vehicle demanded current disturbances. When these driver or vehicle demanded disturbances are not active, the tracked charging profile is honored.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include a plurality of solar cells electrically connected to form a solar panel array having a minimum output voltage at a specified standard solar irradiance. The vehicle may also include a battery pack having an output voltage at least equal to the minimum output voltage of the array and configured to provide energy for moving the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a controller configured to selectively electrically connect the array and battery pack to trickle charge the battery pack.

Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.

Abstract: A pulse charging profile for a vehicle battery is synchronized with driver or vehicle demanded current disturbances by phase tracking the fundamental frequency of the desired pulse charging profile to those driver or vehicle demanded current disturbances. When these driver or vehicle demanded disturbances are not active, the tracked charging profile is honored.

Abstract: A method for heating a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle has an engine, a battery, a motor generator powered by the engine or the battery, and a control module. The method includes the steps of determining a battery temperature and determining whether a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred. The polarity of the battery is reversed if the battery temperature is below a predetermined value and if a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has electrode leads of different lengths extending from the terminals to the respective plate sets of the cell. The electrode leads have a cross-sectional area which varies along the length of the electrode leads, such that the electrical resistances of the electrode leads are substantially the same. Typically, each electrode lead has a first region having a first cross-sectional area, and a second region having a second cross-sectional area. The relative lengths of the first region and the second region of the electrode leads are varied to achieve the substantially constant total resistance.

Abstract: An electrical terminal provides an electrical interconnection between the exterior and the interior of the pressure vessel of an energy storage cell. The terminal includes an external electrical conductor exterior to the pressure vessel and an internal electrical conductor within the interior of the pressure vessel. An electrically nonconductive support mounts the electrical conductors to the wall of the pressure vessel. The two electrical conductors are cooperatively engaged, preferably by matching threads. A compliant seal is positioned between the external electrical conductor and the internal electrical conductor, on the one hand, and the wall of the pressure vessel, on the other, and a biasing washer set applies a force between the seal and the electrical conductors to maintain hermeticity in the event that the seal deforms during service.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell having a battery cell housing, and a housing support external to the battery cell housing. The housing support is formed of at least two split shell segments. Each split shell segment includes a heat conductor inner layer having a plurality of heat-conducting fibers with heat sink ends, and a structural support outer layer overlying the heat conductor inner layer. The structural support layer is made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. A layer of a structural adhesive bonds the respective heat conductor inner layer of each split shell segment to the battery cell housing. A thermal sink is in thermal contact with the sink ends of the plurality of heat-conducting fibers of each of the split shell segments, and the structural support outer layer of each split shell segment is joined to a structural base.

Abstract: A battery system comprises a plurality of sodium-sulfur storage cells connected in series to form a battery, with voltage measurement leads attached across each of the individual storage cells. A charge-limiting circuit controllably isolates an individual storage cell from a charging current applied across the battery when the measured voltage across that individual storage cell exceeds a preselected maximum storage cell voltage. Preferably, the charge-limiting circuit includes a bypass circuit connected through the voltage measurement leads and a circuit element that becomes conductive when the voltage across the individual storage cell exceeds the preselected maximum storage cell voltage. There are a plurality of charge-limiting circuits, one for each of the storage cells of the battery.

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur electrical storage cell (10) has a planar solid electrolyte (16) that is permeable to sodium ions, a planar permeable porous cathode (24) filled with sulfur, a planar permeable porous anode (28) filled with sodium, and an electrically nonconducting, closed flat container (12) for these elements. The electrolyte (16) is thin and strengthened, as by an integral supporting structure (22), or supported, as by a structural anode core structure (36) or by cross members (22) of the container, to minimize its deformation during operation. The anode (28) and cathode (24) are electrically conducting even without sodium and sulfur present, so that the cell (10) fails to a shorted state.