As vehicle electrification progresses, engineers must take care to maximize battery life while ensuring the highest levels of functional safety. Battery-monitoring application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can assist with both aims, implementing an automatic host-reverse-wakeup function, monitoring cell voltage and temperature, and providing autonomous cell balancing.
Electric-vehicle safety considerations are multifaceted. They include protecting production workers, owners, mechanics, and recyclers from high voltages; protecting battery cells from puncture and impact damage; and maintaining the integrity of the electrical system that ensures the cells operate within safe temperature and voltage ranges.