Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Marc Reischmann

Andrew J Namou

James E Tarchinski

Russell K Steele

Volker Formanski

Alastair Gordon Anderson

Manfred Herrmann

Peter Andres

David J Mifsud

Marjorie A Bassham

Erik Heil

Michael Kueffe

Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for a distributed high-voltage bus for a battery system included in a vehicle. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein provide for a scalable high-voltage bus architecture utilizing a common high-voltage rail for powering vehicle systems and/or modules. Independent contactors may be utilized on the opposite rail to selective power high-voltage branches. In further embodiments, a common rail pre-charge circuit may be utilized allowing for independent pre-charging of HV branches and systems and/or modules coupled to the HV bus.

Distributed vehicle battery high-voltage bus systems and methods

A battery circuit for an electric vehicle that employs a resistor that provides both a pre-charging function at system start-up and battery heating. The battery circuit includes a positive high voltage bus line electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the battery and a negative high voltage bus line electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the battery. A first end of the resistor is electrically coupled to the positive high voltage bus line, a first switch is electrically coupled between a second end of the resistor and the positive high voltage bus line and a second switch is electrically coupled between the second end of the resistor and the negative high voltage bus line. The pre-charging operation is provided when the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and the heating function is provided when the second switch is closed and the first switch is opened.

Combined heating and pre-charging function and hardware for propulsion batteries

A method and system for controlling temperature in an electric vehicle battery pack which preserves battery pack performance and longevity while maximizing vehicle driving range. A controller prescribes a minimum allowable operating temperature in the battery pack, where the minimum operating temperature increases as battery pack state of charge and remaining useful life decrease. During vehicle driving operations, the minimum allowable temperature is computed, and a thermal management system is used to warm the battery pack only if necessary to raise its temperature above the calculated minimum level. By minimizing use of the thermal management system to warm the battery pack, energy consumption is reduced and vehicle driving range is increased, while not adversely affecting battery pack performance or durability. The same strategy is employed during charging, which reduces the amount of energy consumed from the grid for warming the battery pack.

Battery thermal system control strategy

A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.

Battery pack for a vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Wallertheim, Germany

Marc Reischmann