Nuvoton Releases Battery Monitoring IC for EV and Energy Storage Systems

Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan (NTCJ) announced on September 29 that it will commence sample shipments of the KA85010UA, a 6th-generation 26-cell battery monitoring IC with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) functionality, starting January 2027. This chip is designed to improve battery health assessment.

NTCJ's proprietary inductive method reportedly reduces PCB temperature rise during EIS measurements by approximately 93% compared to conventional approaches. This advancement aims to enable diagnostics of battery degradation, prediction of lifespan, and early detection of cell anomalies. The company will also provide EIS analysis algorithms to facilitate integration into applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

The KA85010UA integrates battery monitoring capabilities with EIS measurement onto a single chip. EIS measures a battery's impedance by applying an AC current, allowing for system-level measurements without specialized equipment. This enables continuous monitoring and diagnosis of the battery's internal state.

By quantitatively assessing internal battery conditions, which are difficult to determine solely from voltage, current, and temperature, EIS can estimate State of Health (SOH) and internal temperature. NTCJ also offers support for EIS data analysis, setup of measurement environments, and algorithm integration, aiming to shorten development cycles for customers.