Thermal runaway happens when a lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell, or a small region within a cell, reaches a critical temperature where the materials start to undergo decomposition reactions. These reactions generate significant additional heat. The … [Read more...]
What are the basics of wireless energy transfer for EVs?
An electric vehicle (EV) can be conveniently charged while parked over a wireless charger without plugging in a cable. It’s also possible to dynamically charge while driving if the vehicle has a wireless electric road system. Wireless power … [Read more...]
How wireless charging works in electric vehicles
Wireless charging allows an electric vehicle (EV) to be charged by parking it over a wireless charging pad containing an electrical coil that generates an alternating electromagnetic field when an electric current flows through it. The EV is equipped … [Read more...]
Understanding battery overheating in EVs
The battery pack in an electric vehicle (EV) can produce a lot of heat, especially during rapid charging. Ideally, batteries should be operated at temperatures below 35° C. When consistently operated at higher temperatures, degradation of the … [Read more...]
How does regenerative braking work in EVs?
Regenerative braking uses a vehicle’s motor to slow it down, allowing the kinetic energy to be converted into electricity and stored in the battery. This contrasts conventional friction brakes, which convert kinetic energy to heat, which is … [Read more...]
How do you measure and manage a thermal load?
Electric vehicles (EVs) experience thermal loads from heat generated by the battery pack, motor, power electronics, brakes, and the cabin heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. These thermal loads must be managed to varying degrees … [Read more...]
What is a thermal load in EVs?
Thermal loads are heat sources. The most significant thermal loads in electric vehicles (EVs) are the major powertrain components, including the battery pack, motor, power electronics, and charger. Additional thermal loads include the cabin heating, … [Read more...]
How does a wireless BMS work?
The life of lithium-ion batteries depends on how each cell is managed throughout its life. This is the job of the battery management system (BMS). If a cell is discharged to an extreme end of its state of charge, especially below 2.5V, its life … [Read more...]
What are the fundamentals of testing cycling battery cells?
The cycle life of a battery is defined as the number of charge-discharge cycles a battery can perform before its performance has degraded beyond its useful level. This is a somewhat imprecise definition, dependent on the amount of degradation that's … [Read more...]