GM has filed a patent application for a device described as “Adaptive Fast-Charging Of Multi-Pack Battery System In A Mobile Platform Having Dual Charge Ports.” The device outlined in the patent relates to direct current fast-charging (DCFC) architectures and adaptive charging methodologies for use with all-electric vehicles and other mobile platforms with dual charging ports. The system could be useful for GM’s upcoming range of new EVs.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 11,336,101 B2 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on May 17th, 2022. The patent was originally filed on February 3rd, 2020, and lists several Michigan-based engineers as the inventors, including Lei Hao, Yue-Yun Wang, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Rashmi Prasad, and Madhusudan Raghavan.
The patent describes a charging station for use with electric vehicles and mobile platforms (including battery-electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as well) and an adaptive charging system that provides power via a dual-port architecture, enabling a reconfigurable multi-pack battery system to receive maximum charging power while undergoing direct current fast-charging, or alternatively, dual low-voltage charging.
With the two power cables plugged into the vehicle, the first charge port can provide either low or high charging voltage from the charging station, while the second port provides low charging voltage. When the station is able to supply high charging to the first port, a controller establishes a series-connected configuration, and continues to charge the battery via the first charging port with high voltage. If only low voltage is available, both ports use low voltage.
This system would obviously be useful for integration with GM’s latest range of all-electric vehicles. General Motors’ battery packs have a “double-layer” design that enable it to switch between a series and parallel configuration, which could allow for a dual charging system as needed. This would not only enable theoretically faster charge times via low-voltage sources, but would also enable the batteries to be charged while supplying electrical power to ancillary devices, such as power tools. Another possible use case would be the use of low-voltage in extreme temperatures to condition the powertrain for high-voltage quick charging.
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Comments
Wooooooow. Great idea if it works.
Look at that, Automakers that spend money on BEV R&D coming up with great new ideas.
Way to go GM….I am on record saying that GM will overtake VW and Toyota to become the Worlds Biggest Automaker with their Switch to BEV’s.
I honestly cannot think of any other Legacy Automaker that is close in Tech to GM.
Obviously VW is ahead on manufacturing of BEV’s but we shall see how long that lasts when GM finally gets their Factories up and running in scale.
GM will overtake VW as they aren’t abandoning ICE. Toyota will become dominant as they aren’t going all in on wokeness. Go woke, go broke. The BEV fad is crashing fast. We’ll see if Buick even gets one over here before Chevy starts discontinuing EV models.
That picture looks like a Ram
Wow, so now you can tick off all the other EV drivers by taking up 2 charging spots for half an hour and look like a d***. First a powered trailer that costs 4X as much, now filling up 2 spots at the charging station. The diversity hires at gm’s EV department have no shortage for stupid.
Um, Jake − they are proposing a new charging station with two connectors. This is a far-field invention that requires significant infrastructure and vehicle changes. By the time it sees the light of day, we will have significantly more renewable energy sources on line. ** Are you just trolling all of us? **