Yes, you can recharge an auxiliary battery. It typically charges with the main battery, or you can use a trickle charger or conventional charger for direct charging.
Instead of using an alternator to charge the auxiliary battery like gas-powered vehicles do, auxiliary batteries in HEVs and EVs are recharged by the HV battery using an inverter/converter. Batteries in gas-powered vehicles are charged via the engine and alternator.
Where is the auxiliary battery located on an EV?
You can find your EV's auxiliary battery almost anywhere in the vehicle. Common locations include: Because the 12v battery is not used to crank the engine and typically only provides electricity to electronics and accessories, it has a very low energy capacity.
What types of electrical systems can auxiliary batteries support?
The auxiliary battery supports all 12v electrical systems: The exceptions are the air conditioning and heating systems. An auxiliary battery can also be used as a safety backup to support the main battery when required or to provide constant voltage for specific vehicle systems.
An auxiliary battery can also be used as a safety backup to support the main battery when required or to provide constant voltage for specific vehicle systems. Many vehicles with Start/Stop and ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) systems may also use an auxiliary battery alongside the main vehicle starter battery.
What is a battery-to-battery charger & how does it help?
So what is a Battery-To-Battery charger and how does it help? If you have a smart alternator then you will need to use a Battery-To-Battery charger (also known as a DC-DC charger) to ensure that you can charge your auxiliary battery effectively.
Do hybrid electric vehicles use auxiliary batteries?
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) use auxiliary batteries to charge many accessories. Instead of using the high-voltage (HV) battery to power these accessories, the auxiliary battery allows systems that require a constant voltage supply to remain powered up.