A Hardware-Oriented Design Approach for Light Electric Vehicles: Onboard State-of-Charge Estimation

The development of a battery management system (BMS) necessitates the collaboration of multiple engineering disciplines to create a customized solution. To optimize power and energy density at the pack level, the BMS must be seamlessly integrated, occupying minimal space in the overall assembly. This becomes particularly crucial for light electric vehicles (EVs) with limited space compared to passenger cars. Electronic hardware design is influenced by mechanical assembly, requiring careful component and sensor selection for optimal firmware performance. However, the literature often introduces algorithm solutions without proper validation on embedded processors, compromising accuracy for real applications. While selecting a lower-cost microcontroller may reduce retail expenses, it can impact firmware performance. This article explores the key aspects of BMS design and validation, emphasizing that comprehensive system awareness is essential for certain design decisions. It underscores the significance of validating algorithms for the battery state, crucial for effective lithium-ion battery (LiB) utilization, cautioning against compromising these algorithms for cost reduction. It includes a validation cycle case study to highlight the benefits of early validation in the process.