Like CNG, EV battery management systems need more investment, scrutiny

In the same way that compressed natural gas systems were aligned to Indian climate conditions, a better choice of battery cells and battery design is quite imperative now

The internal combustion engine may be on its way out, but planning for electric battery-run vehicles still needs many months of effort. 

Recent accidents have demonstrated the need for investing in improved management of batteries using emerging technologies. The choice of batteries, the cells and the systems which manage them are important even as policy incentives to use electric vehicles (EVs) increase. 

India has made similar fuel transitions before. When CNG was introduced for transport and domestic usage, several safety and management systems were put into place. It has taken several years but now a robust gas management system is in place for domestic use as well as for transportation. 

Investment in a similar ecosystem is needed for charging and management of batteries for EVs. In the same way that the CNG systems were aligned to Indian climate conditions, a better choice of battery cells and battery design has to be an imperative now. In the wake of several fire incidents, it is clear that the ecosystems must be set up faster than the roll-out of EVs. 

Managing batteries and their charging can be improved and made safer with monitoring and measuring technologies.

To begin with, India has to manufacture or import battery cells which are sturdy enough for the local climate. This was endorsed by eminent scientist and NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat. “Battery is an evolving technology. India does not manufacture battery cells at the moment...we should set up our own cell manufacturing plants at the earliest. We should make sure that whatever cells we manufacture are suitable for Indian conditions of high temperature,” Saraswat said. “What (battery) cells India is getting may not be suitable for Indian conditions...so what is important is when we import cells, we should do our own screening and (have a) rigorous testing system.”

This testing and management system is an important prerequisite for EVs to be successful and safe. “Battery management systems (BMS) are electronic control circuits that monitor and regulate the charging and discharge of batteries. The battery characteristics to be monitored include the detection of battery type, voltages, temperature, capacity, state of charge, power consumption, remaining operating time, charging cycles, and some more characteristics,” according to the semiconductor company Infineon. Such systems have applications not just in EVs but also in home appliances, wearables and robotics. 

Use of authorised accessories and cell monitoring is equally important. Cell monitoring ensures that each cell is operating in a safe range. The state of health, charge and discharge has to be continuously managed. 

Battery management systems use predictive maintenance tools using the Internet of Things and digital twins. This can help predict when a battery is at the end of its use cycle, or whether its cells are dying. Undue stress on batteries can cause rapid degradation and, therefore, accidents. 

Some level of regulatory and rule-based ecosystem is required for charging batteries in India. The same way as qualified professionals manage the filling of CNG at stations, India needs basic training for charging station technicians. 

The roadside, informal and unqualified battery charging and swapping system can seriously harm the growth of the EV market in India. Low-quality wires, degraded batteries and neglect in maintenance cannot be the norm. Battery swapping stations must be appropriately equipped while users should be educated on precautionary procedures. 

The government and the automotive industry must collaborate to invest in BMS to ensure that public faith in EVs is not eroded. Battery charging is not a simple task of plugging in alone. The EV charging ecosystem needs appropriate equipment, charging protocols and qualified professionals, too.