Dual charge ports could allow electric trucks a lot of energy flexibility
Common Motors recently filed a patent application for a twin charge port set up that could aid get the most out of Ultium battery procedure in the automaker’s electrical pickup trucks.
GM has developed a double-layer battery pack that is presently currently being applied in the GMC Hummer EV, and is slated for the forthcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV. The proposed setup could provide a lot more overall flexibility in how those people two layers are charged.
Applying a collection of controllers and switches, as well as the pack’s designed-in skill to work as two different packs in sequence or in parallel, the software describes distinctive charging scenarios for the twin-layer motor vehicles.
GM patent submitting – dual demand ports
For reference, in the GMC Hummer EV 12 battery modules are wired in collection to make up a single layer, which is functionally a individual battery pack. That layer is connected in parallel to one more identical layer with the identical number of modules. In the Hummer EV, that provides up to extra than 100 kwh of battery capacity, with 800-volt charging to consider gain of speedier 350-kw DC quick-charging hardware.
GM outlines that a single charging port could be configured to charge at 800 volts or 400 volts, even though the other port would be connected to the second layer of the pack and be minimal to 400V. The system could connect them in sequence, charging equally the upper and lessen layers concurrently at 800V employing the initial port only. Or it could charge both levels at 400 volts by connecting them in parallel.
A third configuration would isolate the two levels, charging them one particular at a time, GM observed. Alternatively, the next port could be applied for charging extras at 400 volt even though the auto proceeds to cost at 800 volts. That could enable GM vehicles to electric power equipment or other gear though they cost. Ford has advertised its F-150 Lightning as a mobile energy source, but it only has 1 cost port and therefore won’t be able to do that.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV
GM also famous that, with the addition of an additional switch, it would be achievable to upgrade the next cost port to 800 volts. An illustration submitted with the patent software shows each ports side by side—a structure that possibly tends to make more feeling for fleet autos currently being charged at organization garages than personal autos, which would most likely advantage from a port on each individual side.
It’s unclear if GM will in fact place twin demand ports into generation, but far more trucks with dual-layer battery packs are on the way. The Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV are each expected to hit the market in 2023 as 2024 designs.
