Abstract: A hybrid battery charger-testing device is described being a modification of a battery charger having a DC output stage, and a boost converter added to the DC output stage of the charger, the boost converter being configured to output pulses and/or a continuous AC wave for testing a battery. The hybrid charger can be used to output a purely AC test wave, e.g. sinusoidal wave for an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test, to output pulses such as HPPC pulses and/or to perform GITT or incremental charge tests. For example, determination of battery parameters by diagnostic testing can be achieved by combining the existing functionality of a battery charger with test procedures involving currents much lower than used during charging of the battery or of returning battery energy to the electricity grid.

Abstract: Reconfiguration of a rechargeable energy storage system into two or more new capacitor or battery or fuel cell packs arranged in “connections”, e.g. series or parallel strings. Each pack of rechargeable energy storage devices includes rechargeable energy storage modules. In each rechargeable energy storage module, which can include one or more capacitors or fuel cells or battery cells, there is arranged a network of banks of switches. A first bank of switches is arranged to connect a rechargeable energy storage module in a first series connection string with other rechargeable energy storage modules. A second bank of switches is arranged to connect a rechargeable energy storage module in a second connection string with other rechargeable energy storage modules. A first bypass switch is arranged to exclude a rechargeable energy storage module from the first series connection string when the first bypass switch is activated.

Abstract: A method or system for controlling an energy or power supply network having a coordination centre, a plurality of local end-user units and a communications network linking the local units and the coordination centre and a supply network connecting the local units and the coordination centre for energy or power supply. The supply network has constraints that limits power or energy consumption at at least one of the local end-user units. The method or system is adapted so that the coordination centre transmits a control signal indicating a degree of imbalance of the system to the at least one of the local end-user units, and the at least one local end-user unit is adapted to transmit a reaction signal to the coordination centre indicative of a power schedule for the local unit.

Abstract: A hybrid battery charger-testing device is described being a modification of a battery charger having a DC output stage, and a boost converter added to the DC output stage of the charger, the boost converter being configured to output pulses and/or a continuous AC wave for testing a battery. The hybrid charger can be used to output a purely AC test wave, e.g. sinusoidal wave for an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test, to output pulses such as HPPC pulses and/or to perform GITT or incremental charge tests. For example, determination of battery parameters by diagnostic testing can be achieved by combining the existing functionality of a battery charger with test procedures involving currents much lower than used during charging of the battery or of returning battery energy to the electricity grid.

Abstract: Reconfiguration of a rechargeable energy storage system into two or more new capacitor or battery or fuel cell packs arranged in “connections”, e.g. series or parallel strings. Each pack of rechargeable energy storage devices includes rechargeable energy storage modules. In each rechargeable energy storage module, which can include one or more capacitors or fuel cells or battery cells, there is arranged a network of banks of switches. A first bank of switches is arranged to connect a rechargeable energy storage module in a first series connection string with other rechargeable energy storage modules. A second bank of switches is arranged to connect a rechargeable energy storage module in a second connection string with other rechargeable energy storage modules. A first bypass switch is arranged to exclude a rechargeable energy storage module from the first series connection string when the first bypass switch is activated.

Abstract: Systems, methods and component parts for portable or handheld measuring of a characteristic of batteries or other energy storage devices, in particular, for measuring a characteristic of high voltage batteries, e.g. 0.1 to 1 kV and/or automotive batteries as used in electric or hybrid automobiles or vehicles. The systems, methods and component parts are used to perform a battery diagnostic test, for example on high voltage batteries, e.g. 0.1 to 1 kV and/or automotive batteries as used in electric or hybrid automobiles. One such characteristic or diagnostic parameter is the impedance of such batteries and one such method is impedance spectroscopy testing.

Abstract: A method or system for controlling an energy or power supply network having a coordination centre, a plurality of local end-user units and a communications network linking the local units and the coordination centre and a supply network connecting the local units and the coordination centre for energy or power supply. The supply network has constraints that limits power or energy consumption at at least one of the local end-user units. The method or system is adapted so that the coordination centre transmits a control signal indicating a degree of imbalance of the system to the at least one of the local end-user units, and the at least one local end-user unit is adapted to transmit a reaction signal to the coordination centre indicative of a power schedule for the local unit.