Abstract: A method for monitoring a battery installed in a vehicle includes utilizing a system provided within the vehicle to determine that a test of the battery should be performed when a first condition is satisfied. The method also includes electrically coupling at least one vehicle load to the battery and utilizing the system to analyze the response of the battery to the at least one vehicle load coupled to the battery. The system may be utilized to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes a component for determining the magnitude of current flowing through a battery cable based on a magnetic field produced by the current. The component is configured to provide an output signal representative of the magnitude of current for use in characterizing the battery. A method for characterizing a battery utilizing a battery monitoring system includes inferring a magnitude of battery current based on a magnetic field generated by current flowing through a battery cable coupled to the battery. The battery monitoring system is adapted to characterize the battery utilizing at least one mathematical construct.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a battery system for a vehicle utilizes a hierarchy to disconnect electrical loads from the battery system. One embodiment of the method includes receiving an input signal representative of a condition of one of the components of one of the systems provided in a vehicle. The method also includes comparing the input signal with at least one parameter to determine whether the condition indicates that at least one of the plurality of electrical loads should be disconnected from the battery. The method also includes disconnecting at least one of the plurality of electrical loads from the at least one battery according to a predetermined hierarchy if the input signal when compared to the parameter indicates that at least one of the plurality of electrical loads should be disconnected from the at least one battery.

Abstract: A method of selecting a battery for a vehicle includes identifying a plurality of batteries and obtaining ratings for a plurality of characteristics for each of the plurality of batteries. The method also includes obtaining information relating to the usage of the vehicle and identifying a battery for use with the vehicle based on the ratings and the information relating to the usage of the vehicle. The method may also include weighting a plurality of the ratings and utilizing the weighted ratings to identify an optimal battery.