Battery Management Applications

LEM Automotive: battery management

Conventional battery management

Car makers have been focusing their attention on reducing fuel consumption for several years. Currently, the main focus is to reduce fuel usage by managing the charging of the main battery. Early progress in energy management has now shifted focus and is heavily concerned with power management. This includes managing the battery, the combination of additional functions of the battery’s state of health and safety features, such as auto-disconnect. Secondary functions have been reduced and the size of the alternator has been optimized thus instantly reducing global electrical consumption.

Battery management for hybrid and EV markets

The production of electric car and hybrid vehicles is increasing. Both types of vehicle need high current capability batteries to run the 50kW or more motors and these use high voltage systems. The current sensors for these batteries need to be isolated. Hall-effect sensors are the product of choice for this application. The DHAB for the main current and the HC2 for the cell current are suited to accurate and fully isolated current sensing.