Unveiled by researchers: Technique for on-the-spot monitoring of electric vehicle battery health status in real-time
In a groundbreaking development, the German research organization, Fraunhofer, has introduced a new method for real-time measurement of electric vehicle (EV) battery health. This advanced technique, known as dynamic impedance spectroscopy, offers continuous, non-intrusive, and highly precise monitoring, transforming the way we assess battery health [1][3][4].
Dynamic impedance spectroscopy overlays a multi-frequency test signal onto a battery's normal charging or discharging current, enabling real-time measurement of battery impedance while the battery is actively operating. The response signal from the current and voltage is measured up to one million times per second during this process [1][2].
This cutting-edge technology provides more detailed, accurate, and in-depth information about the state of EV batteries compared to current methods. It can reveal detailed information about the battery's state of charge (SoC), state of health (SoH), temperature, stress, and ageing [1][2][3].
Unlike traditional impedance spectroscopy, which requires the battery to be idle for up to 20 minutes, dynamic impedance spectroscopy works continuously during operation without interrupting battery use. This allows for immediate detection of anomalies such as overheating cells or deteriorating health, enabling faster and more precise management of battery condition and safety [1][2][3].
Potential applications of this technology include electric vehicles, rapid charging stations, renewable energy storage systems, and safety-critical sectors such as electric aircraft and the shipping industry. In electric vehicles, real-time battery health monitoring enhances operational safety, optimizes battery management, and extends battery lifespan by allowing rapid intervention when problems arise [1][2][3].
Rapid charging stations can monitor batteries to ensure no cell reaches dangerous temperatures even under fast charging conditions, preventing damage or hazards. In renewable energy storage systems, the method supports stable, continuously monitored battery storage paired with renewable installations, improving reliability [3][4].
Applications in electric aircraft and other domains where battery safety is paramount benefit from this continuous, precise monitoring. The market for electric aircraft is currently in its infancy, but the technology could find a place in this sector [3][4][5].
Dynamic impedance spectroscopy also eliminates the need for conventional temperature sensors on the outside of battery cells, which may register thermal issues with a potentially costly and dangerous delay. The real-time algorithms developed by researchers facilitate easier extraction of results from the massive data pulled during dynamic impedance spectroscopy [1].
All data from dynamic impedance spectroscopy flows into a data processing system running alongside, which informs a software program as it calculates the evolution of the impedance values. A battery management system that incorporates real-time impedance data can detect local overheating in a cell during operation and take corrective measures, such as turning off the cell or reducing power [1].
Joshua S. Hill, a Melbourne-based journalist, has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for over 15 years, with a focus on Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. This development in battery health monitoring promises safer, longer-lasting batteries and new operational possibilities across transportation, energy storage, and aerospace industries [1][3][4].
References: [1] Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM). (2021). Dynamic Impedance Spectroscopy. Retrieved from https://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en/research-and-development/research-projects/dynamic-impedance-spectroscopy.html [2] Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM). (2021). Real-time analysis of battery cells. Retrieved from https://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en/research-and-development/research-projects/real-time-analysis-of-battery-cells.html [3] Hill, J. S. (2021). Fraunhofer's dynamic impedance spectroscopy could revolutionize EV battery health monitoring. Retrieved from https://reneweconomy.com.au/fraunhofers-dynamic-impedance-spectroscopy-could-revolutionize-ev-battery-health-monitoring-289772/ [4] Hill, J. S. (2021). Fraunhofer's dynamic impedance spectroscopy: A game-changer for EV battery health monitoring. Retrieved from https://thedriven.io/2021/06/10/fraunhofers-dynamic-impedance-spectroscopy-a-game-changer-for-ev-battery-health-monitoring/ [5] Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM). (2021). Battery monitoring for electric aircraft. Retrieved from https://www.ifam.fraunhofer.de/en/research-and-development/research-projects/battery-monitoring-for-electric-aircraft.html
- The technology developed by Fraunhofer, dynamic impedance spectroscopy, brings revolutionary advancements to various industries, particularly in environmental science and finance, by offering precise monitoring of electric vehicle (EV) batteries' health.
- This real-time, non-intrusive method is poised to reshape the climate-change discourse, as it promises safer, longer-lasting batteries for electric vehicles, rapid charging stations, renewable energy storage systems, and safety-critical sectors like electric aircraft and the shipping industry.
- By continuously monitoring battery impedance, dynamic impedance spectroscopy streamlines data-and-cloud-computing capabilities, allowing for immediate detection of anomalies and facilitating easier extraction of results from the massive amounts of data generated.
- As the market for renewable energy technologies grows, the potential applications of dynamic impedance spectroscopy in various domains emphasize the role of technology in fostering sustainable environmental-science practices and driving the transition towards renewable-energy adoption and climate-change mitigation.
