Californian shared micromobility provider Bird has launched a battery management system (BMS) which the company says raises the bar on micro-EV battery safety and technology.
The system, says Bird, features all the functionality of a BMS found in full-size electric cars, including cell monitoring, reporting, rebalancing and anomaly detection.
Paired with components from suppliers such as LG and Panasonic, these innovations have undergone extensive testing in Bird’s research and development centre through simulations – which span events that impact batteries, including extreme temperatures, humidity and vibrations – to help to increase battery longevity and safety “regardless of external conditions”.
Furthermore, the BMS provides real-time diagnostics that measure battery conditions such as humidity levels and temperature to avoid pushing cells beyond their rated capacity. If abnormalities are detected, Bird’s operations team is notified so that they can immediately remove the vehicle from public use.
The system aims to maintain safety and performance regardless of changing conditions, such as hilly terrain, by continuously calculating the maximum allowable charge and discharge based on temperature, voltage and other sensor parameters.
Additionally, data capture enables Bird’s operations and engineering teams to analyse historical statistics, as well as monitor diagnostics and performance across large fleets of vehicles. These inputs help to identify potential issues and inform future battery and vehicle innovations and advancements.
Bird’s Chief Vehicle Officer, Scott Rushforth says, “Our state-of-the-art battery management system provides real-time monitoring and feedback to help to ensure that our vehicles remain ready to get riders from point A to B and reduce reliance on gas-powered car trips.”
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