As the popularity of green energy increases, more and more electric vehicles are poised to appear on the roads worldwide in the near future. Batteries will play an integral part in the smooth functioning of electric vehicles. In order to avoid, control, and monitor the damage of EV batteries, OEMs and automakers are focusing on efficient battery management systems (BMS). The automotive battery management systems market is witnessing significant growth, with the rising popularity of clean vehicles in the global marketplace. From an environmental perspective, the green automobile is well-established in the developed market in line with greater awareness of robust technological advancements in automotive equipment. Today, demand for green vehicles is on an upswing, as governments in both developed and developing countries are increasingly enforcing stringent rules and regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The gradual shift from traditional fossil fuel-based vehicles to renewable energy sources and battery-driven cars is expected to push demand for automotive battery management systems.
Lithium-ion Battery to Shape the Future of Automotive BMS Market
The concept of electric cars has come a long way since its first inception a few years ago. In January 2013, a Boeing 787 flight parked for maintenance went up in flames, with the fire breaking out from the lithium-ion battery pack of the flight. 10 days later, another incident of battery failure occurred in Boeing 787 flight operated by All Nippon Airways. These two incidents grounded Boeing flights which tarnished the manufacture’s reputation. In the present scenario, lithium-ion batteries are redeveloped and proven for the highest application in electric vehicles, due to their low weight and high charge density. Despite witnessing higher demand, these batteries are highly unstable in nature. Li-ion batteries need continuous observation to avoid overcharging and ensure their efficient operation in portable devices, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles. The result is leading to an increased need for an efficient battery management system. In addition, the reduced cost of lithium-ion batteries and their high adoption in EVs are expected to increase the demand for BMS in the near future.
Leading car manufacturers and OEMs are seeking highly innovative battery management solutions as the potential for electric vehicles in the international market is augmenting. Top tier companies are partnering with battery manufacturing companies to develop and fulfill the demand for effective battery management systems. For instance, Varroc Engineering Limited, a Tier-1 auto component supplier, entered into a strategic agreement with Lithium Balance A/S, a Danish BMS supplier to manufacture EV battery management system in India. It is pertinent to note that li-ion batteries have become mainstream due to the largest energy-saving density per weight and volume offered to the electronics, transport, and industrial sector.
In recent times, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on developing effective and new solutions, in order to address the growing demand for battery management systems. For instance, in February 2019, Idneo, a global strategic engineering and design firm supporting customers’ transformation, developed a new battery management system for electric motorcycles of L3-A1 type and light electric vehicle. This development is expected to monitor and control battery packs of up to 60V via semiconductor elements. The system also allows continuous discharge currents from the battery pack of 180 A in a 30 minutes period along with discharge peaks of 270 A that lasts for 10 seconds and 300 A for approximately 3 seconds. Owing to these features, BMS can subsequently be used in all types of light electric vehicles that comply with electrical safety regulations of maximum working voltage up to 60V needed to be fulfilled. Idneo’s BMS communicates with the rest of the components within the electric motorcycle such as battery charger, motor controller, instrument cluster by CAN Bus protocol, used by BMS to integrate diagnostic functions compatible with ISO 9141-2 OBD protocol. This protocol is mandatory in Europe since January 2017 for all 2 or 3 wheeler motorbikes. Furthermore, in order to comply with increasingly demanding standards of functional safety, Idneo implemented different control and monitoring redundant systems of the most crucial parameters of li-ion batteries such as battery over-current and cell overvoltage.
Intelligent Battery Management System: The New Era of Innovation
Features such as electric power steering, automatic start/stop, and electric braking systems have increased the power load on batteries. Thus, prioritizing these electrical loads from safety to comfort level has been a major issue in-vehicle electric system. Therefore, the need for an intelligent battery management system (IBMS) is increasing among automakers across the globe. IBMS comprises of advanced electronics that measure the state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) along with temperature across the battery that is connected in parallel and series array in a vehicle battery pack. These three components ensure accurate measurements while rapidly changing the internal conditions of the vehicle. IBMS helps in shutting down these vehicle electric systems in order and warns the driver about impending battery problems to protect them from the risk of battery explosions.
