Imagine if we could bring power to the places on Earth that really need it, and do so without breaking the bank. This is a common inquiry regarding regions of the world without developed electrical infrastructure. Because of this, power outages, brownouts, and potentially dangerous energy shortages are inevitable consequences of not being able to store energy and regulate its use during high demand times. Energy storage technology is at the heart of the issue, as there are currently no commercially feasible batteries to supplement the present power supply.
Another sector is experiencing difficulties of its own.To reduce pollution and carbon emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) are being heralded as the mode of transportation of the future. However, there is a major flaw in EVs: what to do with a half-ton battery after it no longer has enough juice to run the car. As it stands, recycling batteries to reclaim their raw materials is the best option, but it’s also the most expensive, least regulated, and least well-defined one. The Institute of Energy Research predicts that by 2025, the world would have amassed more than 3,450,000 used electric vehicle (EV) batteries that have been abandoned.
Analog Devices has been making significant headway in producing the electronics necessary to enable a better battery, which is necessary for improved energy storage technology. Our advancements in BMS (battery management systems) are the source of the advances. Our innovative wireless battery management system (wBMS) technology is the result of our extensive experience as the industry leader in wired BMS. When it comes to expanding their electric vehicle fleets, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can benefit greatly from wireless battery management systems since they provide a flexible and reusable platform that cuts costs and provides data that guides the life of the battery cell modules into a second life.
These developments, taken as a whole, are making batteries a more viable energy storage technology for second-life applications (such as ESS). The use of ESS enables renewable energy sources (wind turbines, solar panels, etc.) to support the grid during peak operation by capturing energy, storing it, and releasing it at a later time. The powerful data collection capabilities of our wBMS sensors significantly enhance this implementation. The vendor can use this information to determine the battery’s condition before reusing it, including how often it was charged and discharged, whether or not the EV was involved in an accident, and the results of any routine maintenance. Such detailed health monitoring can be implemented even in previously inaccessible regions.
Ultimately, Analog Devices has contributed to resolving two enormous, worldwide energy concerns with a single, superior battery. The affordability of EVs has increased alongside the accessibility of reusing EV batteries to store renewable energy in the developing nations. For us, it’s just another milestone on the road to enabling innovations that improve the quality of human existence.