阅读说明：本技术 便携式充电系统和充电方法 (Portable charging system and charging method ) 是由 克里希纳·普拉撒度·巴特 迈克尔·W·德格纳 艾伦·罗伊·盖尔 邹轲 陆樨 于 2019-09-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供了“便携式充电系统和充电方法”。一种示例性充电系统,尤其包括第一便携式充电器,所述第一便携式充电器在第二便携式充电器提供电能以对电动化车辆的牵引电池充电时电耦合到所述电动化车辆以对所述牵引电池充电。一种示例性充电方法尤其包括将第一便携式充电器和第二便携式充电器两者电耦合到电动化车辆,以使用来自所述第一便携式充电器和所述第二便携式充电器两者的电能来对所述电动化车辆的牵引电池充电。(The present disclosure provides a "portable charging system and charging method". An exemplary charging system includes, among other things, a first portable charger electrically coupled to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle when a second portable charger provides electrical energy to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging method includes, inter alia, electrically coupling both a first portable charger and a second portable charger to an motorized vehicle to charge a traction battery of the motorized vehicle using electrical energy from both the first portable charger and the second portable charger.)

1. A charging system, the charging system comprising:

a first portable charger electrically coupled to an motorized vehicle to charge a traction battery of the motorized vehicle when a second portable charger provides electrical energy to charge the traction battery.

2. The charging system of claim 1, further comprising the second portable charger, the first and second portable chargers each comprising a storage battery and an electronic conversion module configured to adjust a parameter of electrical energy received from the respective storage battery to provide adjusted electrical energy to charge the traction battery, and optionally wherein upon charging the traction battery, electrical energy outputs from the electronic conversion module are connected in series.

3. The charging system of claim 2, wherein the power output from the electronic conversion module is connected in parallel when charging the traction battery, and optionally, the charging system further comprises a controller module of the first portable charger that controls the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

4. The charging system of claim 3, wherein the controller module of the first portable charger is configured to adjust a current of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

5. The charging system of claim 2, wherein the batteries of the first and second portable chargers are connected in parallel when charging the traction battery, and optionally wherein the power outputs from the electronic conversion modules are combined in parallel when charging the traction battery.

6. The charging system of claim 1, further comprising the second portable charger, wherein the first portable charger and the second portable charger are interconnected to each other while charging the traction battery.

7. The charging system of claim 1, further comprising the second portable charger and at least one third portable charger, the first portable charger configured to electrically couple to the motorized vehicle to charge the traction battery when the second portable charger provides power to charge the traction battery and when the at least one third portable charger also provides power to charge the traction battery.

8. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the motorized vehicle is a first motorized vehicle and the first portable charger is configured to be electrically coupled to both the first and second motorized vehicles to simultaneously charge traction batteries of the first and second motorized vehicles.

9. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the first portable charger is configured to feed power to an electrical grid.

10. A method of charging, the method comprising:

electrically coupling both a first portable charger and a second portable charger to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle using electrical energy from both the first portable charger and the second portable charger.

11. The charging method of claim 10, further comprising receiving power from a storage battery of the first portable charger and using an electronic conversion module of the first portable charger to provide adjusted power for charging the traction battery of the motorized vehicle and receiving power from a storage battery of the second portable charger and using an electronic conversion module of the second portable charger to provide adjusted power for charging the traction battery of the motorized vehicle, and optionally further comprising connecting storage batteries of the first and second portable chargers in parallel while charging the traction battery.

12. The charging method of claim 11, further comprising connecting a power output from an electronic conversion module of the first portable charger in parallel with a power output from an electronic conversion module of the second portable charger while charging the traction battery, and optionally further comprising controlling a parameter of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger using a controller module of the first portable charger.

13. The charging method of claim 12, wherein the controller module of the first portable charger is configured to adjust a current of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

14. The charging method of claim 10, further comprising connecting the storage batteries of the first and second portable chargers in parallel while charging the traction battery, and further comprising connecting the power output from the electronic converter module of the first portable charger in parallel with the power output from the electronic converter module of the second portable charger while charging the traction battery.

15. The charging method of claim 10, further comprising connecting a power output from an electronic conversion module of the first portable charger in series with a power output from an electronic conversion module of the second portable charger when charging the traction battery.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a portable charger that may be used to charge a traction battery of an electric vehicle.

Background

An electrically powered vehicle differs from a conventional motor vehicle in that the electrically powered vehicle uses one or more electric machines that are powered by a traction battery to selectively drive. The electric machine may drive the electric vehicle instead of or in addition to the internal combustion engine. Example electric vehicles include Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

The traction battery is a relatively high voltage battery that selectively powers the electric machine and other electrical loads of the motorized vehicle. The traction battery may include battery arrays, each battery array including a plurality of battery cells that store energy. Some motorized vehicles, such as PHEVs, may charge the traction battery from an external power source.

Disclosure of Invention

A charging system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first portable charger electrically coupled to an electric vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electric vehicle when a second portable charger provides electrical energy to charge the traction battery.

Another example of the foregoing system includes a second portable charger. The first portable charger and the second portable charger each include a storage battery and an electronic conversion module. The electronic conversion module is configured to adjust a parameter of the electrical energy received from the respective battery to provide an adjusted electrical energy for charging the traction battery.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the batteries of the first portable charger and the second portable charger are connected in parallel when charging the traction battery.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the power outputs from the electronic conversion modules are connected in parallel when charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing systems includes a controller module of the first portable charger controlling power output from an electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the controller module of the first portable charger is configured to adjust a current of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the batteries of the first portable charger and the second portable charger are connected in parallel when charging the traction battery. The power outputs from the electronic conversion modules are combined in parallel when charging the traction battery.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the power outputs from the electronic conversion modules are connected in series when charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing systems includes a second portable charger. The first portable charger and the second portable charger are interconnected with each other when charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing systems includes a second portable charger and at least a third portable charger. The first portable charger is configured to electrically couple to the motorized vehicle to charge the traction battery when the second portable charger provides power to charge the traction battery, and when the at least one third portable charger also provides power to charge the traction battery.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the motorized vehicle is a first motorized vehicle, and the first portable charger is configured to be electrically coupled to both the first motorized vehicle and a second motorized vehicle to simultaneously charge traction batteries of the first motorized vehicle and the second motorized vehicle.

In another example of any of the foregoing systems, the first portable charger is configured to feed power to a power grid.

A charging method according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, electrically coupling both a first portable charger and a second portable charger to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle using electrical energy from both the first portable charger and the second portable charger.

Another example of the foregoing method includes receiving power from a battery of a first portable charger and providing, using an electronic conversion module of the first portable charger, conditioned power for charging a traction battery of the electric vehicle. The method also includes receiving power from a battery of a second portable charger and providing, using an electronic conversion module of the second portable charger, conditioned power for charging a traction battery of the motorized vehicle.

Another example of any of the foregoing methods includes connecting the batteries of the first portable charger and the second portable charger in parallel while charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing methods includes connecting a power output from an electronic conversion module of a first portable charger in parallel with a power output from an electronic conversion module of a second portable charger while charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing methods includes controlling a parameter of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger using the controller module of the first portable charger.

In another example of any of the foregoing methods, the controller module of the first portable charger is configured to adjust a current of the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger.

Another example of any of the foregoing methods includes connecting the batteries of the first portable charger and the second portable charger in parallel while charging the traction battery. The method also includes connecting the power output from the electronic conversion module of the first portable charger in parallel with the power output from the electronic conversion module of the second portable charger while charging the traction battery.

Another example of any of the foregoing methods includes connecting a power output from an electronic conversion module of a first portable charger in series with a power output from an electronic conversion module of a second portable charger when charging the traction battery.

The embodiments, examples and alternatives in the above paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings may be used independently or in any combination, including any of their aspects or individual features. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible.

Drawings

Various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

fig. 1 shows a partially schematic side view of an electrically powered vehicle.

Fig. 2 shows a portable charger for charging a traction battery of the motorized vehicle of fig. 1 and a traction battery of another motorized vehicle.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the portable charger of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the portable charger of fig. 2 charging the traction battery of the motorized vehicle and docking with other loads.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of use associated with the portable charger of fig. 2, according to an exemplary aspect of the disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of use associated with the portable charger of fig. 2, according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of use associated with the portable charger of fig. 2, according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 illustrates a charging system incorporating the portable charger of fig. 2 and other portable chargers according to an exemplary configuration.

Fig. 9 illustrates a charging system incorporating the portable charger of fig. 2 and other portable chargers according to another exemplary configuration.

Fig. 10 illustrates a charging system incorporating the portable charger of fig. 2 and other portable chargers according to another exemplary configuration.

Fig. 11 illustrates a charging system incorporating the portable charger of fig. 2 and other portable chargers according to another exemplary configuration.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the portable charger of fig. 2 interconnected with another portable charger.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates generally to a portable charger that may be used to charge various loads of an electrically powered vehicle, such as, for example, a traction battery. The portable charger may be operatively connected to another portable charger in various configurations to provide more power to the load.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary electric powered vehicle 10 includes a traction battery 14, the traction battery 14 storing electrical energy for powering an electric machine 18. When energized, the electric machine 18 generates torque to drive one or more vehicle drive wheels 22. The exemplary motorized vehicle 10 is a purely electric vehicle. In other examples, the electric vehicle 10 may be another type of electric vehicle that incorporates a traction battery, such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The traction battery 14 can be recharged with more power from the grid power supply when needed.

With continued reference to fig. 1, and referring now to fig. 2, the portable charger 26 may instead be used to charge the traction battery 14. The portable charger 26 may be used when mains power is not available.

When charging the traction battery 14 of the example motorized vehicle 10, a charging cord 30 is used to electrically couple the portable charger 26 to the motorized vehicle 10. Power may then be moved from the portable charger 26 to the traction battery 14. In this example embodiment, the portable charger 26 is charging the motorized vehicle 10 as well as the second motorized vehicle 10 a.

Referring now to fig. 3, the portable charger 26 includes a housing 34, a plurality of wheels 38, a battery 42, an electronic conversion module 46, an electrical receptacle 50, a wireless communication module 54, a human-machine interface (HMI)58, and control devices and sensors 62.

The wheels 38 facilitate portability of the portable charger 26. The portable charger 26 may, for example, be pushed to a location of the motorized vehicle 10 that requires charging of the traction battery 14. The movement of the portable charger 26 may be autonomous. In another example, the user may push or drive the portable charger 26 to a desired location.

The battery 42 of the portable charger 26 stores electrical energy that may be used to charge the traction battery 14. The battery 42 of the portable charger 26 may be charged in a first position, transported closer to the motorized vehicle 10, and then pushed to a final position where the charging cord 30 may electrically couple the portable charger 26 to the motorized vehicle 10. When the charge level in the battery 42 is low, the portable charger 26 may be recharged from the mains power supply. In some examples, the portable charger 26 may be returned to a central recharging station where the battery 42 is recharged.

The electronic conversion module 46 of the portable charger 26 may adjust the parameters of the electrical energy flowing from the battery 42 before the electrical energy moves through the electrical outlet 50. The adjustment parameter may include current, voltage, or both. For example, if the traction battery 14 can be charged via a Direct Current (DC) boost process, the electronic conversion module 46 may regulate the voltage of the electrical energy from the battery 42 to 220 volts. The power conditioned by the electronic conversion module 46 is then provided as conditioned power to the electrical outlet 50. The electrical energy conditioned by the electronic converter module 46 then flows through the charging cable 30 to the electric vehicle 10.

The electronic switching module 46 may include, for example, semiconductor switches (e.g., IGBTs, MOSFETs), electronic boards (gate drivers), sensors (voltage, temperature, current), mechanical interconnects (copper or aluminum bus bars), and inserts/sockets for electrical connections. In some examples, the electronic conversion module 46 may be cooled with air or liquid coolant. An inlet and an outlet for the coolant flow may be provided.

Passive components (such as resistors, inductive transformers), microcontroller units, communication lines

The wireless communication module 54 of the portable charger 26 may communicate with an at least partially cloud-based communication module 66 external to the portable charger 26. The communication between the cloud-based communication module 66 and the wireless communication module 54 of the portable charger 26 may include communicating the location of the motorized vehicle 10 to the portable charger 26 and communicating desired parameters, such as the power provided by the portable charger 26.

The HMI 58 of the portable charger 26 may receive input from a user. Via the HMI 58, the user can command the portable charger 26 to begin charging the traction battery 14 of the motorized vehicle 10, to stop charging the motorized vehicle 10, or to provide power having certain parameters, such as 220 volts.

The control device and sensors 62 of the portable charger 26 act as a control module that can monitor, among other things, the various components of the portable charger 26. For example, the control and sensor 62 may identify the amount of charge remaining in the battery 42 (whether or not power is being delivered through the electrical outlet 50), and the type of conversion performed by the electronic conversion module 46.

Referring now to fig. 4, a portable charger 26 may be used to charge a load instead of or in addition to the motorized vehicle 10. For example, the portable charger 26 may be moved to a job site to provide power to the tool 70. Other loads powered by the portable charger 26 may include one or more residential homes or events such as concerts. The portable charger 26 may be selected to have a particular size and scale based on the load requiring power.

The portable charger transport vehicle 74 may be used to transport the portable charger 26 to a job site having the tool 70, or to the location of the motorized vehicle 10. The transport vehicle 74 may also be used as a service vehicle to transport a user to the location of the portable charger 26 for servicing the portable charger 26.

The portable charger 26 may rely on the mains power supply 78 to recharge the battery 42. In some examples, the transport vehicle 74 transports the portable charger 26 from a location where the battery 42 can be charged from the grid power supply 78 to a location of the motorized vehicle 10, or a location of the implement 70.

In some examples, the battery 42 may be used to provide power back to the grid power supply 78 if desired. For example, if the motorized vehicle 10 has a charge level in the traction battery 14 that exceeds the desired charge level, electrical energy may be transferred from the motorized vehicle 10 back to the battery 42 of the portable charger 26 and then fed back to the grid power supply 78. Thus, in this example, the portable charger 26 is designed for bi-directional power flow capability.

Referring now to fig. 1, 3, 4, and 5, an exemplary method of use 100 associated with the portable charger 26 includes dispatching the portable charger 26 from a portable charger distribution center. Various types of portable chargers may be stored at a portable charger distribution center.

The method 100 begins at step 110. Next, at step 120, the method 100 evaluates whether a user of the electrified vehicle 10 has requested use of the portable charger 26 to recharge the traction battery 14. If no request is received, the method 100 continues with monitoring.

If the user does request recharging, the method 100 moves to step 130. The user may be, for example, in a parking lot and send a request to the cloud-based communication module 66 requesting that the traction battery 14 be recharged from the portable charger 26. The cloud-based communication module 66 communicates the request to the portable charger distribution center.

At step 130, the method 100 requests or otherwise obtains details associated with charging. The details may include the user identifying that charging of the motorized vehicle 10 is desired at step 140a, or identifying that charging of one or more tools 70 is desired at step 140 b.

The method 100 then moves to step 150 where the required size and rated power requirements are calculated based on the user request. The portable charger distribution center may include portable chargers of various sizes and battery capacities. Based on size and power rating requirements, a particular type of portable charger 26 may be selected. For example, if the request is for a relatively large amount of power, a portable charger capable of storing more power in the battery may be selected.

It is noted that the size of the portable charger 26 may vary in response to the size of the battery 42. For example, a portable charger for charging a single motorized vehicle may only be as large as a suitcase. Portable chargers for charging a plurality of motorized vehicles may be as large as outdoor barbecue grills. Portable chargers for providing emergency power to multiple residential homes or for events may be as large as shipping containers.

The method 100 then moves to step 160, which step 160 identifies a transport vehicle, such as transport vehicle 74, capable of transporting the portable charger 26 having the appropriate size and power rating to satisfy the request 140a or 140 b. The transport vehicle 74 may transport the portable charger 26 in a cargo compartment. In another example, the transport vehicle 74 may tow the portable charger 26.

The delivery vehicle 74 is then dispatched 170 to a location where the portable charger 26 can process the request. The portable charger 26 is then provided at step 180. The portable charger 26 is provided with a battery 42, said battery 42 having a charge level adapted to suit the user's request. If the amount of charge required in the request is greater than the amount of charge that the battery 42 of a single portable charger can provide, more than one portable charger 26 may be scheduled, as will be explained later.

With respect to providing a portable charger, the portable charger 26 may be activated by the driver of the transport vehicle 74. The driver of the transport vehicle 74 may also accept payment from the user requesting the portable charger 26. After the portable charger 26 is used to charge the traction battery 14 or another load of the motorized vehicle 10, the transport vehicle 74 may pick up the portable charger at step 190 and transport the portable charger 26 back to the portable charger distribution center, or another location where the battery 42 may be recharged.

Referring now to fig. 6 with continued reference to fig. 1, 3, and 4, another exemplary method of use 200 associated with the portable charger 26 may be conducted when the portable charger 26 is near the location of a user requesting recharging from the portable charger 26. For example, the requesting user may be located in a parking lot, and the portable charger 26 is one of a plurality of portable chargers located near the parking lot that accommodate recharging requests from vehicle users within the parking lot.

The method 200 begins at step 210, where the portable charger 26 is in proximity to the user's location. At step 220, the user communicates with the portable charger 26 via the interface to request recharging. Then, at step 230, the portable charger 26 validates the request. Authentication may include determining whether the user is authorized to request recharging from the portable charger 26.

Next, at step 240, the user may communicate payment information for recharging. The payment information may be obtained directly from the user or from a user account within cloud-based communication module 66. After the portable charger 26, the cloud-based communication module 66, or both authorize payment, the portable charger's electrical outlet 50 is activated at step 250. Activation of the electrical receptacle 50 may be in response to commands from the control device and the sensor 62. Activation of the electrical receptacle 50 permits the user to receive power from the portable charger 26 through the electrical receptacle 50.

After activation of the electrical outlet 50, the traction battery 14 may be charged using the portable charger 26. During charging, the method 200 monitors and detects a connection with the motorized vehicle 10 at step 260. At step 270, the HMI 58 of the portable charger 26 may display and notify the user of the time remaining required to charge the traction battery 14, the amount of charge in the traction battery 14, or both.

Referring now to fig. 7 with continued reference to fig. 1, 3, and 4, another exemplary method of use 300 associated with the portable charger 26 may include the step 310 of monitoring the remaining capacity of the battery 42 of the portable charger 26. At step 320, the portable charger 26 may request the user to confirm additional use of the portable charger 26, or the user returns the portable charger 26 to the portable charger distribution center.

At step 330, the user request is validated and responded to. The response to the user request may include dispatching the transport vehicle 74 to pick up the portable charger 26, recharging the portable charger 26, or replacing the portable charger 26. Next, at step 340, the transport vehicle 74 is scheduled to pick up, recharge, or replace the portable charger 26.

Referring now to fig. 8, the portable charger 26 may be combined with other portable chargers 26a and 26b to provide a charging system configuration that charges the traction battery 14 of the motorized vehicle 10. When combined, the portable charger 26 is electrically coupled to the motorized vehicle 10 to charge the traction battery of the motorized vehicle. Portable chargers 26a and 26b are also electrically coupled to the motorized vehicle 10 to charge the traction batteries.

In the charging system of fig. 8, the charging system has a first configuration in which the storage batteries 42 of the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b are connected in parallel when charging the traction batteries of the motorized vehicle 10. Power from the battery 42 of the portable chargers 26, 26a and 26b moves through the electronic conversion module 46 of the portable charger 26. This may require the portable charger 26 to have components of the electronic conversion module 46 and other components with sufficiently high ratings to accommodate power from the portable charger 26 and the portable chargers 26a and 26 b.

Referring to fig. 9, a charging system configuration according to another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment is configured such that when charging the traction battery of the motorized vehicle 10, the electrical outputs from the electronic conversion modules 46 of the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b are connected in parallel. In contrast to the configuration of fig. 8, the electronic conversion module 46 of the configuration of fig. 9 needs to have a rating that accommodates the power from the storage battery 42 of the corresponding portable charger 26, 26a, or 26 b.

To control the flow of electrical energy from the electronic conversion module 46, the portable charger 26 may communicate with other portable chargers 26a and 26b in a master/slave type relationship. The communication may be wireless and send and receive communications from the wireless communication module 54 (fig. 3) of the portable charger 26, 26a, 26 b. The controller and sensors 62 (fig. 3) of the portable charger 26 act as a control module that controls communication with the portable chargers 26a and 26b to control the power output from the portable chargers 26a and 26 b.

The portable charger 26 may, for example, command the portable charger 26a to provide power at, for example, a particular current, and command the portable charger 26B to provide power at a particular current. For example, if the traction battery 14 of the electrified vehicle 10 requires current I, the portable charger 26 may adjust the electronic conversion module 46 of the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b to provide power at I/3, respectively.

Referring to fig. 10, a charging system configuration according to another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment is configured such that when charging the traction battery 14 of the electrified vehicle 10, the power outputs from the portable chargers 26, 26a and 26b are connected in parallel. The configuration of fig. 10 may be used to provide power to something other than the illustrated motorized vehicle 10, such as a power grid or a home. The configuration of fig. 10 may be used, for example, to provide a relatively small amount of power for a relatively long duration of time, such as powering a home for three days, for example.

The configuration of fig. 10 may be used when the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b are charged on a distribution vehicle that transports the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b to the location of the motorized vehicle 10. In such an example, the delivery vehicle may carry the portable chargers 26, 26a, 26b when they are connected to the common DC bus. Multiple converters may be used when charging portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b from the DC bus to ensure that battery 42 properly shares power from the DC bus.

Referring to fig. 11, a charging system configuration according to another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment is configured such that when charging the traction battery of the motorized vehicle 10, the electrical outputs from the portable chargers 26, 26a and 26b are connected in series.

The series connection may permit the supply of power for a high voltage load demand or another load associated with the motorized vehicle 10. For example, if the power from the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b were all 100 volts, the output to the motorized vehicle 10 would be 300 volts when the outputs from the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b are connected in series.

If the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b are connected in series, the isolation ratings of the components of the portable chargers 26, 26a, and 26b may need to be as high as the values of the portable chargers connected together in series.

A common electrical connection cable may be used to interconnect the batteries 42 of the portable chargers 26, 26a and 26b shown in fig. 8-11, the output from the power conversion module 46, or both.

Fig. 12 shows another example interconnection between the portable charger 26a and the portable charger 26. The interconnection may involve a positive connector 82 of the portable charger 26, the positive connector 82 receiving the positive connector of the portable charger 26 a; and a negative connector 86 of the portable charger 26, the negative connector 86 receiving a corresponding negative connector of the portable charger 26 a.

Features of examples of the present disclosure may include providing a portable charger with a modular configuration to accommodate varying load requirements. In some examples, the portable charger may have components connected in parallel or series.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.