The Complete Guide to Battery Management Systems on Electric Scooters

Introduction

Along with numerous other electric inventions, electric scooter has become hugely popular since their launch. These nifty scooters are eco-friendly and convenient thanks to their user-friendly controls and features.

We all know a motorized scooter runs on a battery; however, the more powerful ones also have a Battery Management System or BMS. This system protects and monitors the battery, ensuring it lasts long.

Let’s look deeper at the battery management system in this article. We’ll also go through some of its key features, like the State of Health (SOH), Safe Operating Area (SOA), State of Charge (SOC), and more.

What Is the Battery Management System (BMS) On Electric Scooters? 

The Battery Management System (BMS) is an integral part of the electric scooter’s battery, as installed in the Varla Eagle One Powerful electric scooter with seat. It acts as a guardian, continuously monitoring and managing the battery’s performance during charging, discharging, and operating conditions.

The main job of the BMS is to keep the battery safe. It also prevents the battery from being overcharged or drained too much and ensures that it works efficiently. The BMS can calculate and show secondary data from the battery. It also helps to control, authenticate and balance the environment of the battery. 

A. Safe Operating Area (SOA):

The Safe Operating Area refers to the safe limits between which the voltage and current of your motorized scooter should be. In case you don’t know, even electric scooters have lithium-ion batteries, just like many of our electronic items. If overcharged or subjected to high temperatures, they can be pretty unsafe.

The BMS monitors the battery’s temperature and voltage when used and ensures that it stays within safe limits (safe operating area). If the voltage /current of the battery gets close to those unsafe limits, the BMS will function promptly to prevent any damage.

For example, it might reduce the voltage release to avoid overheating or turn it off to protect the scooter battery from draining.

B. State of Charge (SOC):

The State of Charge (SOC) is like a report card for the battery. It tells us about the amount of power left. As you ride the electric scooter, the SOC decreases gradually, showing how much power the battery has used. The electric scooter BMS monitors the SOC and tells the rider how charged the motorized scooter is through the scooter’s display or app.

Knowing the SOC is important for scooter riders because it helps them plan their rides. They can make sure they have enough charge to reach their destination. The BMS also uses SOC information to stop the scooter battery from getting too drained. If the SOC gets too low, the BMS will turn off the scooter to protect the battery, which helps make the battery last longer.

C. State of Health (SOH):

The State of Health (SOH) is like a health check for the battery over time. The chemistry of individual cells in the battery changes over time due to the storm’s aging and other reasons. During a battery charge, some cells get charged faster than others, and the BMS cuts the power supply as soon as the battery charges to avoid overheating.

So, even though you get a charged battery, it is not optimally set, as some cells still have yet to reach the maximum charge levels. The BMS has a crucial role to play here; it monitors the charging state of each cell, takes the excess current from fully charged cells, and passes it to those not at that stage. This process helps to prevent heating issues.

Checking the SOH helps the BMS tell the rider how much useful life the battery has left. Electric scooter makers sometimes give warranties based on the SOH, so riders can replace the battery if it gets too worn out.

2. Why Are Battery Management Systems (BMS) Needed, and How Do They Work?

You need battery management systems to ensure your power-packed electric scooter is working and safe. The BMS assures you that its battery works optimally and won’t give you headaches.

Without the BMS, the batteries might get damaged by being overcharged or drained too much, which can be dangerous and reduce lifespan.

The BMS works like a protection for the battery. It helps monitor and optimize the battery’s essential aspects, temperature, voltage, and charging levels. Overall, a battery management system acts as the brain of your electric scooter by communicating the scooter’s condition to the rider through screens and safeguarding the scooter battery pack.

3. Tasks of Smart Battery Management Systems (BMS):

Monitoring Battery Parameters: The BMS monitors different battery aspects to ensure it works safely and efficiently. It looks at voltage, temperature, coolant flow, and current. It also checks each cell’s health and ensures they are balanced.

Battery Thermal Management: The BMS is in charge of keeping the battery’s temperature within safe limits. It uses cooling systems, like fans or a liquid coolant, to prevent overheating and maintain battery efficiency.

Computation of Battery Values: The BMS calculates important battery values based on the data it collects. It determines the minimum and maximum cell voltages, the battery’s charge level, and more.

Communication and Data Exchange: The BMS communicates with the battery’s hardware to get information regarding individual cells. You can view this information on its screen or any connected device.

Protection Mechanisms: Your motorized scooter’s BMS helps protect the battery. Its key mechanisms avoid overcharging, over-discharging, and extreme temperatures. If the BMS detects any issues, it may use internal switches or devices to reduce the power supply.

Balancing the Battery Cells:  The BMS assists in balancing the charge among all cells, ensuring that all cells maintain the same voltage. Balancing helps to enhance the functional capacity of the battery.

4. Keep Your Batteries and Your Family Safe With a BMS:

A Battery Management System (BMS) is crucial for keeping your batteries safe and ensuring your family’s safety while riding off-road electric scooters. BMS helps prevent dangerous situations by monitoring the performance of the motor scooter battery system.

Excessive charging or draining of the battery can be dangerous. The BMS avoids this by managing the charging process. Furthermore, the BMS can assist in preventing road accidents by properly shutting down the scooter battery when it is about to run out of power. As a result, the danger of accidents will be lower because there will not be any unexpected power decrease when riding.

With a BMS, you may ride your off-road electric scooter with assurance, knowing that the battery system is safeguarded and you are secure during your trip.

Bottom Line

Battery Management Systems (BMS) are vital in keeping electric scooters safe, efficient, and long-lasting.

A smart BMS protects the battery, helps optimize its performance, and gives real-time information to the riders for better navigation.

Riding an electric scooter with a BMS, such as the Eagle One PRO All Terrains Electric Scooter, provides you with the peace of mind that the scooter battery is working optimally, ensuring your overall safety as a rider. With time, BMS technology keeps advancing, making electric scooters safer and environmentally friendly.