ST unveils a new generation of battery management technology that will make electric vehicles faster and safer

     STMicroelectronics has released battery management technology that improves the reliability, safety, range and cost-effectiveness of electric vehicles (EVs). The manufacturing cost of electric vehicles is expected to be comparable to that of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030, and sales of electric vehicles will exceed those of traditional cars by 2038 . To help automakers achieve these goals through its technological capabilities, ST has introduced an advanced battery management system (BMS) controller with the industry's highest voltage detection accuracy, extending the driving range and battery life of electric vehicles. The controller also adds a temperature monitoring input to enhance battery safety.

     The L9963 controller is the latest development in ST's BMS battery Management System program. The program has resulted in the development of advanced semiconductor chips for ST's projects with leading EV battery developers, including LG Chem, which began in 2008 and is still running, as well as projects announced in 2017 with the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the electric vehicle battery technology company ZOCIC Times.

     Alberto Poma, Vice President of ST's Automotive and Discrete Devices Division and General Manager of Smart Power Solutions MACRO-Division, said: "We are expanding the scope of our electronic technology expertise to help car companies develop more environmentally friendly vehicles. Building on more than 10 years of experience working with key partners in the field of EV battery management technology, the new battery management chip will further enhance the performance of EV energy management systems and directly improve the end-user experience, an important indicator in product evaluation, thereby increasing market appeal and consumer confidence."

     A typical use case for a power management system is to monitor the battery pack using multiple L9963 chips, which are managed via a master microcontroller (MCU), such as ST's high-performance, safety-focused SPC5 car gauge microcontroller.