A concept car demonstrating a wireless battery management system for automotive applications was demonstrated at the Electronica exhibition.

Linear Technology Korea (CEO Hong Sa-gwak) announced that it will demonstrate the industry's first wireless battery management system (BMS) concept car for automotive use at the Electronica Show held in Munich, Germany this week (Hall A4, Booth 524).

This wireless BMS concept car, developed by Linear's design partner LION Smart, integrates Linear's high-accuracy battery stack monitor and SmartMesh® wireless mesh networking products into a BMW i3 model, replacing the traditional wired connection between the battery pack and battery management system with wireless technology. This fully wireless BMS car represents a significant innovation for large multi-cell battery stacks in electric and hybrid vehicles, significantly improving reliability, reducing cost and weight, and reducing complex wiring connections.

Automakers face the challenge of demonstrating the safety and reliability of electric and hybrid vehicles to drivers. Linear's road-proven high-voltage battery stack monitors deliver industry-leading accuracy and reliability, enabling battery management systems to maximize battery pack performance and service life.

The LTC6811 is a complete battery measurement device for electric and hybrid vehicles, capable of measuring the voltage of up to 12 series-connected battery cells with an accuracy of better than 0.04%. The combination of the LTC6811 and Linear's SmartMesh wireless mesh networking system solves persistent reliability issues associated with automotive wiring harnesses and connectors.

Proven in industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications, the SmartMesh embedded wireless network employs path and frequency diversity technology to deliver reliable connectivity of over 99.999% even in harsh environments. This wireless mesh network not only enhances reliability by creating multiple redundant connectivity points, but also enables the implementation of additional BMS functionality.

Wireless connectivity allows for greater freedom in battery module placement, allowing sensor installation in locations previously unsuitable for wiring harnesses. Wireless sensors integrated into the SmartMesh network, such as current and temperature monitors, also offer the potential to synchronize these measurements with cell voltage.

“Linear’s innovations in two key industry-leading technologies have made automotive reliability-grade wireless battery management possible,” said Erik Soule, Vice President of Signal Conditioning Products at Linear Technology. “New electric and hybrid vehicle designs are proliferating rapidly, and all major automakers are looking for ways to improve the performance and reliability of their battery management systems as they move into high-volume production. This wireless BMS concept car, realized through Lion Smart’s BMS design expertise, exemplifies our product vision.”

“One of our goals in this ambitious project is to demonstrate the improvements in range and charging time that can be achieved by leveraging cutting-edge technologies developed in partnership with world-leading companies,” said Daniel Quinger, CEO of Lion Smart. “By combining Kreisel Electric’s laser-welded 18650 modules with direct liquid cooling, Linear Technology’s SmartMesh IP wireless mesh and LTC6811 battery monitoring IC with Lion Smart’s Open BMS, we were able to charge over 55kWh of energy in a record time of just 15 minutes, enabling a range of over 400km. This is truly a remarkable achievement.”

Featured in the BMW i3, this wireless BMS concept car showcases the future of wireless technology, which promises to significantly improve reliability and simplify automotive battery management system design.