LG Innotek aims to dominate EV battery management tech

LG Innotek has developed a wireless battery management system (BMS), an electric vehicle (EV) component that can increase efficiency and decrease malfunctions, according to the wireless communication technology giant, Sunday.

The breakthrough makes EVs lighter, takes up less space than its wired predecessor and increases battery capacity for better mileage, said the company. The BMS is an essential component for all EVs. It monitors battery voltage, electric current and temperature in real-time and optimizes a battery's performance and lifespan.

The new BMS, expected to be equipped in the majority of EVs worldwide starting next year, will be officially unveiled at the company's booth at CES 2024, a globally renowned tech exhibition held in Las Vegas. The component's significance will push its global market size from 9 billion won ($6.9 million) in 2022 to 1.3 trillion won by 2028, according to the firm.

The wireless feature has given the BMS strengths critical to the advancement of EV design. The biggest of all is allowing the cars to shed serious weight. By making the dozens of previously required cables and connectors redundant, the advanced BMS reduces the typical battery pack's volume and weight by up to 90 kilograms.

It also creates up to 15 percent of free space under the hood, which the company can take advantage of to boost battery capacity and thus extend maximum driving distances. The company said up to 50 kilometers can be added by employing the new BMS. The additional space also allows the company to come up with alternative battery designs.

Going wireless means lessened risk of battery malfunction related to cables and connectors which are mostly affected by vibration and the force of inertia when a car is in motion. The feature also no longer requires human labor to connect cables to batteries, as assembly of the new wireless battery packs can be automated. Efficiency and cost-saving in manufacturing will naturally follow.

The wireless BMS works with 800V batteries, the highest voltage currently adopted by commercialized EVs worldwide. The higher the voltage, the shorter the time an EV battery requires to recharge. The company plans to mass-produce the BMS starting next year.

"We have been working on wireless communication technologies for the past 40 years, with 14 years dedicated to BMSs," said the company CEO Moon Hyuk-soo. "Those years have allowed the company to acquire a competitive edge in this field."