SAUSFIELD, Michigan-Intelligent power management company Eaton recently announced that it has partnered with Munich Electrification to develop and sell the Battery Configuration Switch (BCS), an advanced solution for 400-volt/800-volt dual-string battery packs in electric vehicles.
This innovative integrated bi-stable device for parallel/series reconfiguration allows 800-volt vehicles to be effectively charged through a 400-volt charging facility while also providing many advantages over traditional solutions.
, Mark Schneider, president of Eaton’s Vehicle Electrification Division, said: “We are leveraging our extensive background in developing electric mobility solutions to launch this promising new technology in partnership with Munich Electrification, which focuses on developing cutting-edge battery management systems.
There are many 800-volt vehicles on the market, but many charging stations can only provide 400-volt power.
BCS provides charging flexibility to consumers who want to use an expanded DC charging network.
“, Eaton’s BCS is specifically designed for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and all-terrain utility vehicle applications and reduces up to 12 components in the battery pack disconnect unit, streamlining systems and simplifying packaging and assembly.
In addition, BCS minimizes contact resistance and improves overall system efficiency and performance by reducing the number of contact points required for traditional contactors.
, The BCS has a mechanical interlock that prevents battery packs from shorting due to collisions, software errors or contactor failures, ensuring higher safety standards for electric vehicles.
The BCS can also remain stable when the electronic control unit is powered off.
Its bi-stable feature improves efficiency during normal operation by eliminating the holding current of traditional contactors and provides resilience to low-voltage faults by maintaining safe operating conditions in various potential failure modes.
, Uwe Wiedemann, Managing Director of Munich Electrification, said: “We are excited to partner with Eaton to launch this groundbreaking new technology developed by our outstanding R & D team.
Munich Electrification’s tradition of innovation in the electric vehicle battery industry combined with Eaton’s expertise in electrical switching and automotive manufacturing will help us together solve our customers ‘biggest challenges.
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