Active cell balancing improves the overall performance of electric vehicle (EV) batteries primarily by redistributing charge among battery cells rather than dissipating it, which leads to several key benefits:
- Higher energy efficiency and longer system runtime: Unlike passive balancing that dissipates excess charge as heat, active balancing transfers charge from stronger cells to weaker ones. This efficient energy redistribution increases the usable capacity of the entire battery pack, thereby extending the driving range of the EV and overall battery runtime.
- Faster balancing times: Active balancing supports significantly higher balancing currents (up to 6A) compared to passive methods (about 0.25A), enabling quicker equalization of cells. This faster balancing is especially beneficial for large-capacity battery packs and supports rapid charge-discharge cycles typical in EV operation.
- Lower heat generation and improved thermal management: By transferring energy rather than wasting it as heat, active balancing reduces thermal load on the battery pack. This helps maintain safer operating temperatures and enhances overall battery health and longevity.
- Ability to balance during both charging and discharging: Active balancing can be performed continuously, including during vehicle operation (discharging), not just during charging. This ongoing balancing capability helps maintain cell state-of-charge (SoC) uniformity more effectively, protecting weaker cells and improving overall pack performance.
- Extended battery cycle life and enhanced safety: By preventing overcharging and deep discharging of individual cells, active cell balancing keeps cells healthier for longer cycles, reducing the risk of battery damage and contributing to safer EV operation.
In summary, active cell balancing significantly improves EV battery performance by enhancing energy efficiency, speeding up balancing, reducing heat, extending driving range, and increasing battery lifespan through smarter and dynamic charge redistribution within the battery pack. This makes active balancing a vital technology for advanced EV battery management systems.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-active-cell-balancing-improve-the-overall-performance-of-ev-batteries/
