Patent ID: 8030880

Claim:
A power system to be installed in a vehicle comprising: a first battery having a first battery voltage and a second battery having a second battery voltage; an electrical power generator configured to charge the first battery; an electrical load powered by at least one of the first battery, the second battery or the electrical power generator; a converter connected to both the first and second batteries and configured to operate in either a neutral mode or a first battery charging mode or a second battery charging mode, wherein the converter is configured to create a voltage difference between the first and second batteries in the charging modes; and a battery management controller configured to monitor the first voltage of the first battery and the second voltage of the second battery and/or to monitor current flow to and from the first and second batteries, and wherein the controller controls operation of the converter to operate in either the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode or the second battery charging mode; wherein in the second battery charging mode, the converter is configured to adjust the voltage difference between first battery and the second battery to cause current to flow from the first battery to the second battery to thereby charge the second battery.