NXP Semiconductors has improved the capacity and stability of battery cell controller ICs, extending the lifespan and ensuring the safety of lithium-ion batteries and energy storage devices.

NXP announced on the 19th that it has launched a next-generation battery cell controller IC.

The NXP MC33774 18-channel analog front-end device provides cell measurement accuracy of at least 0.8 mV and superior cell balancing capabilities over a wide temperature range.

In addition, it supports ASIL D to maximize available capacity, enabling use in high-voltage lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries where safety is critical.

Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density relative to their volume and weight, low self-discharge, are easy to maintain, and can withstand thousands of charge-discharge cycles.

Due to these advantages, it is mainly used in electric vehicles and accounts for about 30–40% of the total cost of electric vehicles.

A typical 800V lithium-ion battery system consists of approximately 200 individual cells connected in series.

It is very important to accurately predict how the battery pack's state of charge (SoC) will perform under various temperatures and conditions over its life cycle spanning several years.

The NXP MC33774 runs at -40°C and above 12°CIt is designed to provide accurate cell measurement data throughout the entire lifecycle in a temperature range up to 5°C, supporting very precise range prediction.

Robert Li, Vice President and General Manager of Product Lines for Driver and Energy Systems at NXP, said, “The MC33774 has undergone rigorous design and verification processes to ensure safety and reliability for automotive use. The verification process includes system-level validation testing electromagnetic compatibility, electrostatic discharge, transient immunity, and communication reliability in harsh environments. The MC33774 is designed to maintain reliability while reducing costs for OEM systems. This enables the safe launch of vehicles even within the short development cycles of the electric vehicle industry.”

The MC33774 lithium-ion battery cell controller, based on NXP SmartMOS SOI (Silicon-on-Isolator) technology, provides ±0.8mV cell measurement accuracy, supporting lifespan performance guarantees for nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell chemistry. In addition, precision design and calibration technology reduce end-of-line (EoL) calibration costs for customers.

The NXP MC33774 18-channel lithium-ion battery controller IC is part of the NXP High Voltage BMS chipset solution. This solution includes the upcoming MC33777 battery junction box controller for pack level measurement and the already released MC33665 battery management communication gateway.

The comprehensive and robust NXP high-voltage BMS system solution provides a First Time Right (FTR) battery system where every procedure is performed correctly from the start at every moment, while simultaneously preventing unexpected field emergencies. A comprehensive design package including production-grade software and a functional safety library shortens the development time of functional safety systems and helps reduce system material costs.