Battery Management Solution Improves EV Performance, Reliability, Safety
AMP Inc. has received funding for its e-Mobility solution that integrates electric vehicle charging, battery management, and cloud analytics for improved performance, reliability, and cost.
Effective battery management solutions will be key for every manufacturer transitioning to electric vehicle and e-Mobility solutions. Battery management has an impact on many fronts, including safety, reliability, and performance of the EV. Helping to address this need for e-OEMs, AMP Inc. has announced the close of its $17.5 million Series A investment round led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and Helios Climate Ventures.
An EV powertrain battery. Image used courtesy of AMP
Along with passenger EVs, AMP’s battery management solutions are suitable for a wide range of high- and low-voltage e-Mobility applications including drones, scooters, trucks, trains, and buses. AMP’s solution relies heavily on the smart, modular integration of hardware with advanced software to move the performance needle for e-Mobility battery management.
Integrated e-Mobility Platform Provides Embedded Solutions
AMP’s core offering is a vertically integrated e-Mobility management platform (ampOS) that offers embedded hardware and software solutions for battery charging and battery management functions in EVs. These embedded platforms can then be connected to the ampCloud service for real-time monitoring and data analytics. As a fully integrated hardware and software solution, the ampOS platform aims to help manufacturers lower costs while improving the reliability, safety, and performance of their EVs.
The ampOS integrated battery management platform. Image used courtesy of AMP
Battery Management System Handles Low-, High-voltage Applications
The Battery Management System (BMS) manages all aspects of battery operation and monitoring for EVs and other e-Mobility platforms, including both low-voltage (scooters, drones, etc.) and high-voltage (passenger cars, trucks, buses, etc.) applications. Features of the AMP BMS include scalability for different battery configurations, a wide operating voltage range (24 to 1,000 volts), system currents up to 400 amperes, and an ASIL C safety rating.
All variants of AMP BMS hardware use proprietary, embedded artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software to improve safety, reliability, and range of the vehicle or mobility platform.
The BMS board module. Image used courtesy of AMP
AMP System’s EVCC Enables Level 3 Fast DC Charging
The charging portion of the AMP system includes the Electric Vehicle Charge Controller (EVCC), onboard charger (OBC), DC-DC converter, and Fast Charge Junction Box (FCJB). All charging system communications are handled by the Combined Charging System (CCS) software stack.
The EVCC helps enable Level 3 fast DC charging of the vehicle by communicating with the Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), or charging station, over one of the standard protocols - ISO15118/DIN70121, GB/T, or CHAdeMO.
The FCJB is formed by the integration of the EVCC and CCS software stack into a single module designed specifically for fast charging of passenger and larger commercial vehicles. It can support ultra-fast charging rates up to a 350-amp peak.
Fast Charge Junction Box (FCJB) supports a 350-amp peak. Image used courtesy of AMP
The CSS software stack is an embedded solution that assists with charging system communications. Written in C, it can easily be ported to a vehicle's existing Engine Control Unit (ECU) or another embedded processor. It supports global charging standards to include CCS, GB/T, and CHAdeMO and also connects with the ampCloud for real-time monitoring and analytics.
ampCloud Monitors, Analyzes Battery Data in Real Time
Battery data from the BMS and charging system are communicated to the ampCloud for real-time monitoring and analysis to help customers optimize battery performance across the battery’s lifecycle. Among other capabilities, AI-powered diagnostics can assess the battery for degradation or faults, improving reliability and reducing service calls. The cloud analytics engine can also generate custom fleetwide performance reports for commercial fleet operators.
The ampCloud real-time monitoring and analytics. Image used courtesy of AMP
AMP Holds More Than 30 Industry Patents
Founded in 2017, AMP (also known as Auto Motive Power) is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Detroit, Michigan; Bengaluru, India; London, England; and Shanghai, China. The company holds more than 30 patents and is managed by a team with 300-plus years of combined battery and automotive OEM experience from companies including Honda, General Motors, Tesla, and Toyota.
The recent funding will be used to drive customer adoption of AMP’s advanced battery management solutions and further develop its product offerings in battery health and vehicle-to-grid applications.
Following a $6 million seed round in 2021, the recent funding brings total investment in AMP to $22.3 million.
