An energy storage and management system (ESMS) comprising: one or more 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: each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to each of the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to an electrical charging system; a first external energy source coupled to a first connection of the plurality of energy connections, and a second external energy source coupled to a second connection of the plurality of energy connections such that electrical energy is provided to each of the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) simultaneously from the first external energy source and the second external energy source; and a controller configured to: determine a voltage of each energy connection having either an energy storage device (32, 34, 36) or a DC electrical charging system coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection with the electrical charging system to a second energy connection with the 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 the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) based on the determined voltage of each energy connection. one or more 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: each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to each of the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to an electrical charging system; each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to each of the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36); and each of the plurality of energy connections is coupleable to an electrical charging system; a first external energy source coupled to a first connection of the plurality of energy connections, and a second external energy source coupled to a second connection of the plurality of energy connections such that electrical energy is provided to each of the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) simultaneously from the first external energy source and the second external energy source; and a controller configured to: determine a voltage of each energy connection having either an energy storage device (32, 34, 36) or a DC electrical charging system coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection with the electrical charging system to a second energy connection with the 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 the one or more 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 a DC electrical charging system coupled thereto; and electrically connect a first energy connection with the electrical charging system to a second energy connection with the 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 the one or more energy storage devices (32, 34, 36) based on the determined voltage of each energy connection.