TEST, SAFETY & SYSTEMS


Battery intelligence software can help OEMs to better understand how a battery is performing


RELIABILITY INTELLIGENCE


THROUGH


Tim Engstrom explains how long term battery reliability is determined as much by the battery management system as the cell itself


B


atteries are still something of a mystery even within the automotive industry, with uncertainty around


longevity continuing to be a point of 30 www.engineerlive.com


nervousness amongst consumers and a source of anxiety for OEMs assessing warranty liabilities. With batteries making up 30-50% of the value of a car, knowing more about


what is going on inside these sealed boxes becomes vital rather than a ‘nice to know’. Currently, signifi cant challenges


exist when trying to understand what the present or future state of a battery will be. This creates a trust issue for customers and for fl eets who are wary of being stuck with cars that nobody wants to buy due to the battery not performing as advertised.


SIMPLE SOFTWARE Part of the issue is the relative lack of sophistication seen in the software of many battery management systems (BMS), which has not kept pace with the rapid improvement in cell constructions and chemistries. Most battery software is designed around keeping within values of current,


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