What Are the Advantages of Smart Battery Cells?

From passenger planes to wind farms, smart cells are revolutionising applications for batteries. Thanks to built-in sensors and instruments, batteries are now smarter, safer and more efficient than ever. Read on for a closer look at some of the key advantages of smart battery cells.

Enhanced performance

Access to performance metrics can drastically improve the performance and efficiency of battery systems. This is particularly useful in the EV sector, where improving battery range, charge times and life cycle is a priority. In a document published for the 2020 IEEE International Symposium on Power Line Communications and its Applications (ISPLC), the authors explain how smart sensor technology is at the heart of EV engineering.

“Smart cells, instrumented with miniature sensors, can help meet both the consumer and regulatory demands for the battery packs of next-generation of electric vehicles (EVs),” write the authors. By using power line communication (PLC) to collect and process data, the team maintain they can track important parameters like current, voltage and temperature, without increasing the overall weight of the vehicle.

Superlative safety

Safety is front of mind when developing battery technology, especially in the transport sector where the lives of passengers are at risk. Following the maiden flight of the world’s first all-electric aircraft, decarbonising the aviation industry is closer than ever. So how do aircraft engineers ensure planes meet the strict safety regulations enforced by the industry?

Smart battery management systems offer up-to-the-minute information on the State of Health (SoH) of battery packs. This allows operators to address thermal and functional issues that can lead to safety concerns.

“When batteries are the primary source of onboard power and energy, it is crucial to be able to estimate their state-of-health in terms of capacity and power capability,” write the authors of a paper published in MRS Bulletin. As well as strategic pack design, aircraft engineers use intelligent battery management systems to prevent issues like thermal runaway, which can spark fires and trigger total battery pack failure.

Sustainable and eco-friendly

One of the core goals of smart battery cells is to extend the operational life of the system. In an article published in the journal eTransportation, the environmental merits of fibre optic sensing technologies are explored. The authors spotlight the role smart batteries will play in transitioning to a “carbon-neutral world” but also highlight the sustainability issues that plague the industry. Using intelligent sensors to extend the life cycle of cells and reduce the landfill burden is a major benefit of smart batteries.

“Battery sensors that decode the fundamental physical/chemical processes are thus poised to maximise the quality, reliability, lifetime, and safety of batteries and to minimize the environmental footprint,” write the authors.

Want to know more about the latest smart battery cell innovations? Don’t miss our complete guide, ‘What Are Smart Battery Cells? Definition, Applications & Advantages’.