Lotus Cars to Integrate Analog Devices’ Wireless BMS in Future EVs
In a new partnership, Analog Devices’ wireless battery management system will be incorporated into Lotus Cars’ electric vehicle architecture.
Semiconductor giant Analog Devices recently announced a new partnership to supply its wireless battery management system (wBMS) to U.K.-based automaker Lotus Cars. The wBMS will be integrated into Lotus’ new Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture, which will be the basis for all future EVs designed by the company.
Analog Devices’ wireless battery management system. Image courtesy of Analog Devices
Analog Devices (or ADI) says its wBMS system reduces battery pack wiring by up to 90% and volume by 15%, while also improving design flexibility and manufacturability without sacrificing range and charge accuracy.
Lotus Cars’ director of propulsion and chassis engineering, Richard Lively, stated in the announcement that removing the wire harness offers a “lightweight solution that optimizes performance and is consistent with our brand of delivering powerful performance cars with exceptional handling.”
Roger Keen, general manager of ADI’s E-Mobility Group, also touted Lotus’ “ultralightweight powertrain architecture” and ADI’s “wireless battery management system that enables peak performance as well as a more sustainable environment for a healthier planet.”
ADI’s wBMS was introduced in September 2020 to debut on General Motors’ Ultium battery-powered production EVs. Prior to that, the Massachusetts-based company expanded its BMS portfolio last May to include functional safety and continuous battery monitoring facilities. Separately, ADI’s precision BMS integrated circuits are used in Rimac’s high-performance supercars.
The Lotus Cars partnership comes as ADI is seeing record revenue growth in its automotive segment. According to its latest earnings report, ADI’s automotive revenue topped $290 million in the third quarter of 2021, up 13% from last quarter and marking an 80% jump from $161.5 million in the third quarter of 2020. The company’s auto segment now accounts for 16% of its quarterly revenue, compared to 11% in the third quarter of 2020.
In an August earnings call, Analog Devices President and CEO Vincent Roche said that the third quarter was the first time the company recognized revenue for its wireless BMS solution as General Motors ships its first of 30 Ultium battery-powered EV models. Roche added that he expects ADI’s BMS technology to expand its reach as more original equipment manufacturers see the value in using wireless data to scale their fleets.
Roche also said that over the last two years, ADI has realigned its automotive business to focus on electrification and the in-cabin experience, adding, “We're seeing the benefits of this strategy as we continue to scale our market leadership in battery management, power management, audio systems, and connectivity.”
