Linear Technology Product Eases Design of Hybrid Vehicle Battery Systems

MILPITAS, Calif. Sept. 22, 2008 - A new, highly integrated battery stack monitor from Linear Technology Corporation significantly eases the design of battery monitoring systems for hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and a range of battery backup systems. The new product unveiled today, the LTC6802 Battery Stack Monitor, is a semiconductor chip, capable of measuring the voltage of up to 12 individual battery cells. In addition, multiple LTC6802 devices can be stacked in series, allowing precise voltage monitoring of every cell in long strings of series-connected batteries. The device serves as a data acquisition device for large battery stacks, and is particularly well suited for Li-Ion battery stacks.

Such battery strings enable powering of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, scooters, motorcycles, golf carts, wheelchairs, boats, forklifts, robotics and portable medical equipment. In addition, the device can be used in uninterruptible power supplies for telecommunications backup power, server backup power, wind and solar energy storage, and remote weather stations.

Erik Soule, Vice President, Signal Conditioning products for Linear Technology, stated, “This new product leverages Linear’s rich history in delivering highly precise, rugged semiconductor products. We anticipate good acceptance of our battery stack monitor, further fueled by the current trend toward high power, high battery cell systems for applications ranging from hybrid and electric vehicles to battery backup for data centers and power storage for wind and solar energy systems.”

With rising oil prices and concern about the environment, sales of hybrid electric vehicles are growing fast. According to J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting Services, US hybrid electric vehicle sales are expected to grow 268% between 2005 and 2012, with the number of hybrid models in the US increasing from 12 up to 52 models. A recent research report by RNCOS Industry Research projects that global sales of hybrid vehicles will surge at a compound annual growth rate of 12% from 2008 to 2015. In addition, RNCOS projects the hybrid car component market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.4% from 2008 to 2012.

The superior energy density of Li-Ion batteries makes them an ideal power source for use in hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles and battery backup systems. However, designing a large, highly reliable, long-lasting Li-Ion battery stack presents a complex design challenge. Such batteries are sensitive to overcharging and over discharging, requiring precise monitoring of each battery cell in the stack. Linear Technology’s LTC6802 battery stack manager makes this possible, with quick and accurate measurements of all cell voltages, even in the presence of very high stack voltages over 1000 volts.

Linear Technology has a long history of delivering robust, high quality and high performance analog solutions. These include products for a range of power management, signal conditioning and mixed signal applications. The company’s deep expertise in these areas contributed to the development of this groundbreaking product.

Linear Technology is now sampling the product to key customers with production quantities planned for the fourth calendar quarter of this year.