A traction battery for a vehicle includes: a first plurality of cells 120; a second plurality of cells 140; a battery connection terminal 111, 112; and a battery control circuit that includes a contactor 400. In a first mode of operation, the battery control circuit selectively interconnects the first and second plurality of cells in a series configuration to provide a first battery voltage (e.g. 800V) at the battery connection terminal. In a second mode of operation, the battery control circuit selectively interconnects the first and second plurality of cells in a parallel configuration to provide a second battery voltage (e.g. 400V) at the battery connection terminal. The contactor is arranged to switch the configuration between series and parallel via mechanically exclusive contacts, wherein the contactor is biased towards the parallel configuration. The biasing may be provided by spring loading a coil 430 of the contactor, wherein the coil may switch from parallel to series when energised. The contactor may include: a first set of contacts 410 for interconnecting the first and second plurality of cells in the series configuration; and a second set of contacts 421, 422 for connecting the first and second plurality of cells in the parallel configuration. A spacing element 440 between the first and second sets of contacts may provide the mechanical exclusivity.
Traction battery assembly for vehicle
2024-05-22
Patent
Electronic Resource
English