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A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the system including a first battery, a second battery, and a load coupled to the batteries. The system includes a passive storage device, a unidirectional conducting

A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the system including a first battery, a second battery, and a load coupled to the batteries. The system includes a passive storage device, a unidirectional conducting apparatus coupled in series electrical circuit with the passive storage device and poled to conduct current from the passive storage device to the load, the series electrical circuit coupled in parallel with the battery such that the passive storage device provides current to the load when the battery terminal voltage is less than voltage on the passive storage device, and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement.

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What is claimed is: 1. A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the electrically powered system including a first battery, a second, and a load coupled to the first and second batteries, said battery load l

What is claimed is: 1. A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the electrically powered system including a first battery, a second, and a load coupled to the first and second batteries, said battery load leveling system comprising: a passive electrical energy storage device; a unidirectional electrical conducting apparatus coupled to the passive storage device and to the load, and the unidirectional electrical coupling apparatus configured to conduct current only from the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device is in parallel with the first and second batteries to the load; and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement to allow a measurable terminal voltage of a circuit from the first and second batteries to the load to be switched from a first, higher voltage mode back and forth with a second lower voltage mode; and when the battery switching circuit is in the second lower voltage mode, then the terminal voltage of the circuit from the first and second batteries to the load also is less than a measurable voltage of the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device responds to the battery switching circuit being in the second lower voltage mode by supplying electrical current to the load; and further comprising a pre-charge circuit configured to charge said passive storage device using an external power source, wherein said external power source comprises a hybrid vehicle engine that charges said passive storage device though an electrical circuit with the drive configured to accept regenerative power from the load. 2. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an electrical disconnect configured to disconnect said battery switching circuit from said passive storage device. 3. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a controller to selectively operate said electrical disconnect based on the voltage of said passive storage device and direction and magnitude of power flow from the load. 4. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said battery switching circuit comprises a first contactor, a second contactor, and a third contactor, said first and second contactors operable to connect the first and second batteries in a lower voltage parallel arrangement, and said third contactor is operable to connect the first and second batteries in a higher voltage series arrangement. 5. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 4 further comprising: a fourth contactor that is coupled in series with said first contactor; a first apparatus for approximately simultaneously actuating said first and fourth contactors; and a second apparatus for approximately simultaneously actuating said second and third contactor. 6. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second apparatus comprises a mechanical interlock that is coupled between said first and fourth contactors and said second and third contactors, said mechanical interlock configured to open said first and fourth contactors and approximately simultaneously close said second and third contactors to facilitate preventing a short circuit. 7. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a mechanical interlock configured to prevent switching said first and second batteries from a parallel arrangement to a series arrangement in the event of a fault including welded contacts. 8. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first diode coupled in series with said first battery and a second diode coupled in series with said second battery such that when power flows from said first and second batteries to the load, said first and second batteries are arranged in the lower voltage parallel mode. 9. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising an electrical disconnect that electrically connects said first and second batteries in a higher voltage series mode for either direction of power flow or current flow from the load. 10. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said electrical disconnect is implemented using back-to-back silicon controlled rectifiers. 11. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said electrical disconnect is implemented using a solid state switch. 12. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second batteries comprise at least one of a sodium nickel chloride battery and a sodium sulfur battery that are each operable at a temperature that is greater than 260 degrees Celsius. 13. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising at least one electrical disconnect coupled in series with one or both terminals of each of said first and second batteries to allow galvanic isolation and to prevent leakage current flowing though said first and second batteries when in a cold or frozen state. 14. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to said battery switching circuit, said controller configured to connect said first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement based on at least one of a motor speed, a torque command, a passive storage device voltage, and a battery unit voltage. 15. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second batteries comprise at least one of a sodium nickel chloride battery, a sodium sulfur battery, a fuel cell, a nickel metal hydride battery, a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, and a lead acid battery. 16. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unidirectional conducting apparatus comprises a diode. 17. An electric vehicle comprising a battery load leveling system as defined in claim 1. 18. A hybrid vehicle comprising: a battery load leveling system as defined in claim 1. 19. A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the electrically powered system including a first battery, a second, and a load coupled to the first and second batteries, said battery load leveling system comprising: a passive electrical energy storage device; a unidirectional electrical conducting apparatus coupled to the passive storage device and to the load, and the unidirectional electrical coupling apparatus configured to conduct current only from the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device is in parallel with the first and second batteries to the load; and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement to allow a measurable terminal voltage of a circuit from the first and second batteries to the load to be switched from a first, higher voltage mode back and forth with a second lower voltage mode; and when the battery switching circuit is in the second lower voltage mode, then the terminal voltage of the circuit from the first and second batteries to the load also is less than a measurable voltage of the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device responds to the battery switching circuit being in the second lower voltage mode by supplying electrical current to the load; and further comprising a pre-charge circuit configured to charge said passive storage device using an external power source, wherein said pre-charge circuit is configured to accept regenerative power from the load using a semiconductor switch. 20. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said semiconductor switch comprises at least one of a silicon-controlled rectifier, a bipolar transistor, a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and a Gate Turnoff Thyristor (GTO). 21. A battery load leveling system for an electrically powered system in which a battery is subject to intermittent high current loading, the electrically powered system including a first battery, a second, and a load coupled to the first and second batteries, said battery load leveling system comprising: a passive electrical energy storage device; a unidirectional electrical conducting apparatus coupled to the passive storage device and to the load, and the unidirectional electrical coupling apparatus configured to conduct current only from the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device is in parallel with the first and second batteries to the load; and a battery switching circuit that connects the first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement to allow a measurable terminal voltage of a circuit from the first and second batteries to the load to be switched from a first, higher voltage mode back and forth with a second lower voltage mode; and when the battery switching circuit is in the second lower voltage mode, then the terminal voltage of the circuit from the first and second batteries to the load also is less than a measurable voltage of the passive storage device to the load, and the passive storage device responds to the battery switching circuit being in the second lower voltage mode by supplying electrical current to the load; and further comprising a pre-charge circuit configured to charge said passive storage device using an external power source, wherein said external power source comprises said first and second batteries, said battery switching circuit configured to couple said first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement. 22. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 21 further comprising an electrical disconnect configured to disconnect said battery switching circuit from said passive storage device. 23. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 22 further comprising a controller to selectively operate said electrical disconnect based on the voltage of said passive storage device and direction and magnitude of power flow from the load. 24. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said battery switching circuit comprises a first contactor, a second contactor, and a third contactor, said first and second contactors operable to connect the first and second batteries in a lower voltage parallel arrangement, and said third contactor is operable to connect the first and second batteries in a higher voltage series arrangement. 25. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 24 further comprising: a fourth contactor that is coupled in series with said first contactor; a first apparatus for approximately simultaneously actuating said first and fourth contactors; and a second apparatus for approximately simultaneously actuating said second and third contactor. 26. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said second apparatus comprises a mechanical interlock that is coupled between said first and fourth contactors and said second and third contactors, said mechanical interlock configured to open said first and fourth contactors and approximately simultaneously close said second and third contactors to facilitate preventing a short circuit. 27. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a mechanical interlock configured to prevent switching said first and second batteries from a parallel arrangement to a series arrangement in the event of a fault including welded contacts. 28. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 21 further comprising a first diode coupled in series with said first battery and a second diode coupled in series with said second battery such that when power flows from said first and second batteries to the load, said first and second batteries are arranged in the lower voltage parallel mode. 29. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 28 further comprising an electrical disconnect that electrically connects said first and second batteries in a higher voltage series mode for either direction of power flow or current flow from the load. 30. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said electrical disconnect is implemented using back-to-back silicon controlled rectifiers. 31. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said electrical disconnect is implemented using a solid state switch. 32. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said first and second batteries comprise at least one of a sodium nickel chloride battery and a sodium sulfur battery that are each operable at a temperature that is greater than 260 degrees Celsius. 33. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 32 further comprising at least one electrical disconnect coupled in series with one or both terminals of each of said first and second batteries to allow galvanic isolation and to prevent leakage current flowing though said first and second batteries when in a cold or frozen state. 34. A battery load leveling system in accordance with claim 21 further comprising a controller coupled to said battery switching circuit, said controller configured to connect said first and second batteries in either a lower voltage parallel arrangement or a higher voltage series arrangement based on at least one of a motor speed, a torque command, a passive storage device voltage, and a battery unit voltage.