The battery is the heart of your EV, and the battery management system (BMS) is what keeps your car’s heart pumping. The BMS helps your car battery work properly and last longer. In this article, motoring journalist Nick Harper shares the key information about BMS so you can enjoy a smooth driving experience with your EV.
The battery is the heart of an Electric Vehicle (EV). In a petrol or diesel car, the engine powers the vehicle, but for an EV, the battery does the work. And if the battery is the heart, then the Battery Management System (BMS) is the brain.
All EVs have a BMS. It’s hidden near the battery, usually on the car floor, and it works quietly in the background. Its job is to help the battery work efficiently and keep it in good condition for as long as possible.
To understand the BMS better, here are the key things you should know.
- What is a battery management system?
- How does the battery monitoring work?
- Why is battery balancing important?
- What information can you get from a BMS?
- How does the BMS affect your driving experience?
- How to you take care of your EV’s battery?
What is a battery management system?
A BMS is an electronic device that monitors an EV’s battery. Its main job is to make sure the battery stays at the right temperature to work efficiently and effectively. This is called state-of-health monitoring. It’s vital because EV batteries heat up when they charge and when the car is driven. The BMS checks the battery and sends information to the car’s dashboard. This helps the driver see how the car is doing in real time.
How does the battery monitoring work?
The BMS watches over the thousands of cells inside the battery. Each cell needs to charge and discharge at the same level. But over time, cells get worn out and at different speeds. The BMS checks each cell to see if the charging is balanced. If some cells are charging slower, the BMS spreads the charge evenly across all the cells. It can also turn on cooling systems or reduce power to keep the battery from getting too hot.
Checking and controlling the temperature of each individual cell makes sure the battery is always running safely and at the most efficient levels.
Click here to find out why EVs are designed to keep you safe.
Why is battery balancing important?
Balancing the battery helps keep it healthy for longer. All batteries become less effective over time. EV batteries usually last at least 10 years. As the battery ages, you’ll notice you may have a shorter range, but balancing helps protect each cell and the battery as a whole to help it last longer. The good news is,battery aging should not affect you as Scheme customer during your three-year lease.
Battery balancing is vital because lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most EVs, are very sensitive to temperature. If the battery gets too hot or too cold, it cannot perform as efficiently, leading to fewer miles and longer charging times. Thermal management keeps the battery at a safe and efficient temperature. This helps protect the battery, shortens charging times, and extends the battery’s life.
What information can you get from a BMS?
The BMS can show the battery’s status, including how much charge is left, its temperature and its overall health. It can also show how far you can go on the current charge and how much energy was used while charging. The BMS can also alert you to any issues that might need your attention, like the red warning lights in a petrol or diesel car. All this information is shown on the dashboard in real time, improving your driver experience, and is also often available in more detail on the EV’s app.
Your all-inclusive lease package with the Motability Scheme
When you lease a brand-new vehicle with the Motability Scheme, you get an all-inclusive package, including insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, and more. Plus, when you lease your first EV, the Scheme will either:
- arrange and cover the cost of a home chargepoint and standard installation
- give you a subscription to the bp pulse network of over 9,000 public chargepoints
Plus, you’ll get a Motability Go Charge card to help you charge on the go. It’s exclusively for Motability Scheme customers and gives you access to more than 50,000 public chargepoints through a single card and app.
How does the BMS affect your driving experience?
A healthy battery will help an EV perform better. When the BMS does its job, the cells and the battery will work more efficiently. The EV’s range will stay high, so you will not need to charge as often or for as long.
In many EVs, the BMS can lower the battery’s power or shut it down if it gets too hot. It also switches off the power if there is a collision. The BMS aims to keep the driver and passengers safe and help the EV run well.
How do you take care of your EV’s battery?
Every vehicle has a battery, and this can be affected by extreme heat or cold. So, it’s important to protect your EV battery as much as possible. You can use features like preconditioning to easily set the temperature to your needs, which is especially helpful during cold periods.
General advice says you should try to keep the battery charged between 20-80%. You can charge it to 100% when needed, like if you’re going on a long trip, but your EV does not need to be fully charged for every journey you make.
Another great feature of EVs is regenerative braking, which can enhance your driving experience and extend your range. Make sure to use it to help you drive smoothly and efficiently.
Find an electric car with the Motability Scheme
To see the full range of electric vehicles (EVs) available on the Motability Scheme click the ‘Electric’ box under ‘Fuel Type’ in our Find a vehicle tool.
Request a free information pack to learn more about the Scheme.
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