Feature: Batteries


Compared to a typical wired solution, Dukosi’s architecture is more fl exible and can be scaled without requiring re-design and re-certifi cation, allowing module-less designs that can be tailored more precisely


Dukosi, a semiconductor technology


company based in Edinburgh, is known for its advancements in cell monitoring technology. Its solutions signifi cantly improve safety, reliability and sustainability of high-performance, high-capacity Lithium-ion batteries, for use in electric vehicles, industrial transportation and energy storage systems. T ey also enable cell re-use, for sustainable supply chain and circular economy.


Chip-on-cell technology Dukosi’s approach is to put a ‘cell monitor’ chip on every single cell in the battery pack; see Figure 2. Each chip contains a processor, a DSP and a temperature sensor, and is also extendable, providing support for adding more sensors. Each monitor continuously measures


and reports in real time a cell’s condition, with over 200 allowed to be connected to one of Dukosi’s specially-designed ‘system hub’ chips, which are placed on the BMS platform. Compared to a typical wired solution,


Dukosi’s architecture is more fl exible and can be scaled without requiring re-design and re-certifi cation, allowing module-less designs that can be tailored more precisely. Dukosi’s system hub communicates with


all cell monitors via a near-fi eld contactless technology. A single bus antenna is routed over every cell monitor in the battery, or can be integrated into the chassis – ideal for modern cell-to-pack architectures. T is type of design can reduce component count by up to ten times compared to complex wiring harnesses and connectors in a typical, wired battery design.


Reliability is also doubly improved. Furthermore, the simplifi ed and


scaleable design supports a fully- automated production line, allowing gigafactories to scale more eff ectively. T is contactless design is inherently extremely robust, off ering wired-like performance and providing a ‘Goldilocks’ middle-road solution that is signifi cantly more reliable when subject to vibration and bumps than physical connectors in long-term use. Additionally, it overcomes the limitations of interference, qualifi cation and security in far-fi eld wireless BMS designs. Tying its chips together, Dukosi has


developed its own proprietary protocol, called C-SynQ, that operates between the cell monitors and system hub. Unlike existing available communication systems, C-SynQ is designed from the ground up for the challenging, safety-critical


environments of large battery systems. It provides essential synchronicity of data from all cells, ensuring the BMS can make the right decisions – even in rapidly changing power demands, such as an EV’s sudden acceleration.


The second life of a battery With the rise of EVs, comes the question of how we ensure EV batteries’ sustainability. What happens once a battery reaches end of life? T is is particularly important as EVs


are expected to grow at a 13.7% CAGR to 2030, with regulatory conditions in many countries eliminating internal combustion engine vehicle sales by 2035. EV drivers are incredibly sensitive to


the drop in usable capacity over their vehicles’ lifetime, compared to other battery-powered applications. T e usable capacity determines the end of a battery pack’s usability within a vehicle. However, even at this point, the cells within a battery might still be useful for other purposes, like energy storage applications that are less constrained by the ratio of performance to space and weight. Given the highly-valuable materials used


in Lithium-ion batteries, and with rapidly growing global EV markets, the need to overcome barriers to re-use are crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for the battery supply chain. T e environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors enable new


Figure 2: Dukosi’s cell monitoring chips


www.electronicsworld.co.uk April 2024 23


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