Global warming, air pollution and other environmental issues have accelerated the trend away from the internal combustion engine (ICE*) towards EV, PHEV, HEV and other environmentally conscious vehicles.
The EU ELV* Directive is a vigorous effort to reduce the environmental impact through a reduction of substances of concern including lead. However, the 12V lead-acid battery is exempt from the Directive and will continue to be used as there is no alternative that can replace its use in ICE, EV, PHEV or HEV vehicles.
Since 12V lead-acid batteries are expected to be prohibited in the near future, battery manufacturers are working on developing a 12V lithium-ion battery replacement. Lithium-ion batteries differ from lead-acid batteries in that they require a BMS* for high-accuracy monitoring of battery voltage, charge-discharge current, temperature, etc. To prevent battery depletion, a reduction in standby current is indispensable.

ABLIC provides a host of products that are ideal as ICs in a BMS. ABLIC's lineup includes lithium-ion battery protection ICs suitable for voltage monitoring of any battery cell, high-speed battery monitoring ICs suitable for total voltage monitoring of battery cells, operational amplifiers suitable for monitoring charge-discharge current, intermittently operating convenience timer ICs suitable for reducing standby current or low current consumption power supply ICs. ABLIC has a host of products enabling selection of ICs ideal for 12V BMS.

• *ELV: End of Life Vehicle
• *BMS: Battery Management System