An energy storage and management system (ESMS) comprising: a plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) for coupling to a vehicle drivetrain (18, 26, 14, 24) and configured to store DC energy; a power electronic conversion system having a plurality of energy connections, the power electronic conversion system comprising a plurality of DC electrical converters (104, 106, 108), each DC electrical converter (104, 106, 108) configured to step up and to step down a DC voltage, wherein: one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more energy sources (264, 266); a first energy source coupleable to a first energy connection of the plurality of energy connections, and a second energy source coupleable to a second energy connection of the plurality of energy connections such that electrical energy is provided simultaneously to each of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) from the first energy source and the second energy source; and a controller configured to: determine a voltage of each energy connection having either an energy storage device (32, 34, 36) or an energy source (264, 266) coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection (114, 122) with an energy source (264, 266) to a second energy connection (118, 120) with an energy storage device (32, 34, 36), wherein at least one of the plurality of DC electrical converters is a buck-boost converter and that at least one of the DC electrical converters (104, 106, 108) either steps up or steps down an input DC voltage to at least one of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) based on the determined voltage of each energy connection. a plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) for coupling to a vehicle drivetrain (18, 26, 14, 24) and configured to store DC energy; a power electronic conversion system having a plurality of energy connections, the power electronic conversion system comprising a plurality of DC electrical converters (104, 106, 108), each DC electrical converter (104, 106, 108) configured to step up and to step down a DC voltage, wherein: one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more energy sources (264, 266); one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and one or more of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to one or more energy sources (264, 266); a first energy source coupleable to a first energy connection of the plurality of energy connections, and a second energy source coupleable to a second energy connection of the plurality of energy connections such that electrical energy is provided simultaneously to each of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) from the first energy source and the second energy source; and a controller configured to: determine a voltage of each energy connection having either an energy storage device (32, 34, 36) or an energy source (264, 266) coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection (114, 122) with an energy source (264, 266) to a second energy connection (118, 120) with an energy storage device (32, 34, 36), wherein at least one of the plurality of DC electrical converters is a buck-boost converter and that at least one of the DC electrical converters (104, 106, 108) either steps up or steps down an input DC voltage to at least one of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) based on the determined voltage of each energy connection. determine a voltage of each energy connection having either an energy storage device (32, 34, 36) or an energy source (264, 266) coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection (114, 122) with an energy source (264, 266) to a second energy connection (118, 120) with an energy storage device (32, 34, 36), wherein at least one of the plurality of DC electrical converters is a buck-boost converter and that at least one of the DC electrical converters (104, 106, 108) either steps up or steps down an input DC voltage to at least one of the plurality of energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) based on the determined voltage of each energy connection.