Patent ID: RE40820

Claim:
A battery charging system for an automotive vehicle including a starter motor, a catalytic converter for reducing emissions, a fuel burning engine, and vehicle load and accessory load circuits, comprising: a start battery for providing a discharge current for operating the starter motor to start the engine; a run battery for operating vehicle load and accessory load circuits; a storage battery having a first very high discharge current; a heater for heating the catalytic converter to an elevated temperature in response to the first high discharge current; means for initiating a starting operation by connecting the start battery to the start motor for a first period of time and for connecting the storage battery to the heater for a second period of time; an alternator having a variable output condition including a regulated and selectable output voltage with an output current, the alternator being driven by the vehicle engine; a first circuit for connecting the alternator output to the start battery for recharging the start battery; a second circuit for connecting the alternator output to the run battery for recharging the run battery; and a third circuit for recharging the alternator output to the storage battery for recharging the storage battery.