Volkswagen has adopted NXP’s battery management system (BMS) into its MEB (Modular Electric Propulsion) platform to help increase vehicle range, extend battery longevity, and enhance safety. 

VW adopts NXP BMS

NXP’s BMS provides flexibility and scalability from an ID.3, a plug-in hybrid, or a luxury electric vehicle like the ID.4, Audi e-Tron or Porsche Taycan.

It is battery-agnostic in most applications.”Usually the battery management IC is agnostic – suitable for all different kinds of batteries and the customer doesn’t have to do anything,” Robert Li, vp and GM of Product Line Driver & Energy Systems at NXP, told EW, “but there may be a need for system-level optimisation. We provide the MCU, PMIC and software derivers and can help customers to speed up their engineering time.”

VW intends to market 75 full-electric VW vehicle models by 2021.

The pace of new EV model introductions across the industry is accelerating, says Li. “We only used to see 20 new EV models every year,”  he says, “last year there were 120 new models and this year there will be 150.”

Li attributes this to the declining cost of ownership of an EV compared to and ICE car. “In 2024 it will be cheaper to own an EV than a conventional car,” says Li.

 After many years of automotive industry EV development, the core challenge facing the sector remains the extension of range. 

With its ID series, Volkswagen is pressing the boundaries of EV travel with a flexible offering that enables 45 kWh, 58 kWh or 77 kWh powered models. 

The medium battery can recharge to enable a range of up to 260 miles in 30 mins, in quick charge mode with DC (direct current) with 100 kW performance. The larger battery can enable a vehicle to travel up to 340 miles on a full charge.

Currently, 16 of the leading Top 20 car makers have designed in NXP battery management solutions.