ADI’s Wireless BMS in Rimac’s Supercar EV

The heart of an electric vehicle (EV) is the battery making it the focal point of developers. And from a manufacturing point, determining the total costs of EVs for consumers is derived from the price of developing the battery system. With detailed precision, the battery must transfer energy throughout the system and to do so requires a robust management system, a BMS. The BMS allows developers to securely get the right amount of power dissipated to specific components of the system such as the powertrain. 

 

ADI’s ICs will become an integral part of Rimac’s new line of Supercars. Image used courtesy of Analog Devices.

Rimac Automobili, a Croatian car manufacturer, aims to design electric sportscars that bring elegance, efficiency, and sustainability to the market. To achieve that goal, Rimac has sought out battery technology suppliers to help design a robust battery management system. Toward the end of 2019, Rimac gave ADI the green light to help create a suitable BMS for the next-generation of Supercars. 

 

Rimac’s SuperCar, C_Two

In 2018, Rimac Automobili was registered as a new company, ready to deliver fast and sporty EVs to the automotive market. The Supercar, C-Two is able to go 258 miles on a single charge with 1,914 Hp of power. With so much anticipated driving force behind this vehicle, it is crucial that a reliable BMS is designed to operate efficiently while experiencing the Supercar.  

 

Rimac has been testing and modifying its C_Two Supercar since 2018, the next-gen of production will include wireless BMS technology from ADI. Image used courtesy of Rimac Automobili. 

Rimac’s CEO Mate Rimac commented on the importance of creating a robust BMS by integrating ADI’s portfolio, “Our application of BMS is among the most demanding in the world, requiring the highest accuracy, massive current and voltage draws over very short time scales and rapid dynamic adjustment within the battery management control system. We have decided to adopt the Analog Devices portfolio of battery management ICs across our complete product line of battery management systems.”

 

ADI’s Battery Technology 

Analog Devices offers a broad portfolio of high-performance battery management devices including battery chargers, companion battery charge controllers, and battery backup managers. BMS technology lies behind battery packs managing the output, charging, and discharging as well as providing measurements during vehicle operation. 

A battery pack consists of groups of individual battery cells that work together to deliver maximum power output to the car. ADI models its BMS with redundancy because if cells go out of balance, the cells can get stressed leading to premature charge termination. ADI’s BMS provides vital safeguards to protect the battery from damage to preserve the battery’s lifespan. 

ADI’s Vice President of Automotive Electrification and Infotainment, Patrick Morgan stated, “Precision accuracy directly translates to maximizing battery capacity and range with fast charging time. We are pleased to support Rimac with our precision battery management ICs for its leading-edge electric vehicle systems with the goal of achieving some of the best performance in the world.”

ADI’s is equipped with an extensive portfolio of battery management devices including a line of wireless power transfer products that help designers eliminate wiring within a vehicle. 

 

The Next Phase of ADI and Rimac’s Collaboration 

In a recent video update, ADI and Rimac discussed their partnership and the updates on their current Supercar project. ADI and Rimac have had to redesign the entire BMS to ensure that the battery is able to accurately measure and monitor the state of charge as it simultaneously delivers energy throughout the vehicle. ADI’s BMS is able to store energy and dissipate 10kW to the EV’s powertrain. 

Another update provided by Rimac and ADI is there next development will impact EV charging, an upcoming 300kW of charge that will maintain the temperature of the battery cells to not affect the battery’s lifetime. The future of EVs will be based on changing the supply chain to create a simpler bill of materials with an increase the software and a decrease in hardware. By integrating ADI’s BMS technology, Rimac intends to establish a line of EVs that will transform how consumers spend their time on the road. The next-gen Supercar will not just be another electric vehicle, it will be new opportunities for redefining infrastructure and interaction with cities and people.