A vehicle traction battery 20 includes first and second cell sets 402, 404, each having a plurality of electrical cells 402a, 402b, 404a, 404b. A switching arrangement (e.g. first and second switches 406, 408), associated with the traction battery, is controlled to electrically connect the first cell set to a traction bus of the vehicle. A temperature of at least of portion of the traction battery is determined and the switching arrangement is controlled to electrically connect the second cell set to the traction bus when the determined temperature exceeds a first threshold temperature. A cooling system may circulate coolant to the first cell set. When a temperature of at least a portion of the first cell set is determined as greater than, or equal to, a second threshold, the cooling system may circulate coolant to the first and second cell sets. The switching arrangement may connect the second cell set to the traction bus in dependence on a monitored temperature of a portion of the first or second cell sets. The switching arrangement may connect one of the cell sets to the traction bus in dependence on first and second parameters (e.g. first and second voltages) respectively associated with the first and second cells sets. When a difference between the first and second parameter values is less than a threshold value, the switching arrangement may connect both cell sets to the traction bus.
Vehicle traction battery control system
14.10.2020
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch