Active cell balancing significantly enhances the runtime of electric vehicle (EV) batteries by distributing charge more efficiently among cells. Here’s how it impacts runtime:
- Efficient Charge Redistribution: Active balancing uses DC/DC converters or other means to transfer energy from cells with higher state of charge (SOC) to those with lower SOC. This ensures that all cells in the pack are utilized more effectively, maximizing the battery’s overall capacity and enhancing runtime.
- Increased Usable Capacity: By ensuring that no single cell becomes the limiting factor due to its lower capacity, active balancing allows the battery to operate closer to its full potential. This results in better utilization of the battery pack’s total capacity, thereby extending runtime.
- Reduced Thermal Load: Active balancing allows for balancing during both charging and discharging cycles. This flexibility means that cells are less likely to be overcharged or undercharged, reducing the thermal stress on the pack. Lower thermal loads can prevent degradation, which might otherwise reduce runtime due to capacity loss over time.
- Enhanced Performance During Fast Cycles: In applications with rapid charge/discharge cycles (e.g., aggressive driving), active balancing’s ability to handle higher currents ensures that cells are balanced quickly. This is crucial for maintaining performance and extending runtime in such dynamic conditions.
- Advanced Control Strategies: Techniques like model predictive control (MPC) further optimize active balancing by predicting cell behavior and dynamically adjusting balancing to maximize battery performance. This targeted approach can help extend the driving range by ensuring all cells operate within optimal parameters.
Overall, active cell balancing plays a critical role in maximizing the runtime of EV batteries by ensuring each cell contributes its full potential to the pack’s operation.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-active-cell-balancing-affect-the-runtime-of-an-ev-battery/
