The GM Ultium EV skateboard really is a different breed of platform— that’s partly because its battery packs are arranged in two layers, which, if a recently uncovered patent filing is to be believed, could be made to behave like two EVs being charged at the same time, for ultra-super-quick EV charging on the road.
That recent GM patent filing shows what looks like an all-electric Chevy Silverado packing two high-speed CCS charging ports. As described, the two-charger system seems to rely on a series of controllers and switches that tap into the GM Ultium battery’s baked-in ability to operate as two different batteries wired in series or in parallel, according to Bengt Halvorson over at Green Car Reports. That ability to switch between a “two” or “one” battery architecture could allow the top and bottom layers to act, temporarily, like they’re wired “in series,” which would allow for 800-volt charging to utilize 350-kw DC fast-charging hardware.
It’s a bit easier to see than to explain, I think. Take a look at the patent drawing for yourself and see if you don’t immediately get the whole, “more plugs = more electricity” concept at work here.
Chevy Silverado Dual-charging Port Patent Filing
Patent filings are public domain.
Another interesting capability here is ability to keep the second port “open” and provide what GM seems to be calling “an accessory load at 400V.” I can’t think of many 400V accessories off-hand (even in the context of a job site, where most power tools are in the 18-48V range), but we do know of at least one thing a Silverado owner might have in their garage that’s 400V: the recently re-launched Chevy Bolt EUV.
The “read between the lines” conclusion seems to be that a fully charged electric Silverado might be able to provide emergency power to stranded Bolt or LYRIQ drivers in a “roadside assistance” context. If they keep this as a GM-only feature, it would be madness for large vehicle fleets to employ anything but GM vehicles that can “tap into” that kind of vehicular ecosystem … wouldn’t it?
I’ve been accused of being too “pro-legacy brand/dealers” in recent days, and that may be fair. As such, I leave it to you guys. Do you think having the ability to charge a small EV with a big one would give GM a real-world advantage in the market? Scroll on down to the comments and let us know.
Source | Images: GM; the US Patent Office, via Green Car Reports.
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