Batteries & Other Energy Storage Devices

August 2023
PSDcast – The Importance of a Battery Management System

Texas Instruments’ Mark Ng

Why is a reliable battery management system so important? Texas Instruments’ Mark Ng is here to discuss.
Date:
08/29/2023
Revolutionizing e-Bike Charger Efficiency

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Figure 1. PFC-flyback currents with regard to the input voltage

­E-bike chargers play a pivotal role in addressing common pain points riders face, such as the fear of running out of power and the burden of carrying or storing portable chargers. As e-bikes continue to gain traction as a sustainable and economical mode of transportation, it becomes imperative to emphasize th
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Date:
08/29/2023
All-Electric Flying Car Gets Go-Ahead for Testing

Ally Winning, European Editor, PSD

“I was told we’d all have flying cars by now” is a common put down among those cynical of potential technological advancements. Up until now, they may have had a point, but with the news of the FFA granting Alef Aeronautics legal permission to test its Model A vehicle both on the road and in the air, they ma
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Date:
08/01/2023
Powering A Sustainable Future with Electric Vehicle Battery Technology

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Figure 1: Electric vehicles are forecasted to represent approximately 20% - 25% of total vehicles sales in 2030. Source Bloomberg NEF Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020

With the continued development and improvement of electric vehicle battery technology, it’s easy to imagine the future of transportation: a world where everything from personal cars and SUVs to the trucking industry runs on batteries. Carbon emissions will be reduced dramatically. But that’s just the start. Ol
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Date:
08/01/2023
Do EVs Still Require A 12V Battery?

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Figure 1: Transient test comparison: 48V-to-12V at 75A compared to a 12V battery. The Vicor NBM2317 power module response to a 50A load is three times faster than a standard 12V battery

Look under the hood of an electric vehicle and you may be surprised to find a conventional 12V lead-acid battery, or an additional 48V battery. You may wonder why does an EV need a conventional battery when there’s a 400V or 800V battery already in the vehicle to power the motors? Today the 12V or 48V batteries po
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Date:
08/01/2023
Wireless Communication in Automotive BMS

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Figure 1: Wired vs Wireless BMS

Batteries in EV/HEV reach nominal voltages of 400 V or 800 V. The batteries are typically organized in modules that are managed by a dedicated battery management integrated circuit (BMIC). Typically, one BMIC can monitor up to 16 cells connected in series. The main role of the BMIC is to periodically measure th
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Date:
08/01/2023
Silicon Carbide E-Fuse Demonstrator Offers Designers Solution for Circuit Protection in Electric Vehicles

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Figure 1: Microchip's Auxiliary E-Fuse Technology Demonstrator

With the increased voltage and lessons learned from 400V systems, designers are now focused on enhancing the performance of high-voltage protection circuits along with improving reliability. The incumbent solution using a fuse, contactor or relay is being reevaluated for faster-reacting, more robust and reliable so
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Date:
08/01/2023
Use Soft Termination to Improve Reliability in Vehicle Applications

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Figure 1: Shows major causes and the process of board flexure

The automotive industry is in the midst of a transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV). At the same time, automakers are adding assisted-driving features to both ICE vehicles and EVs. Both trends represent multifunctional capabilities enabled by high power electronic control un
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Date:
08/01/2023