hotebike
New 48 V Reference Design Goals to Propel E-Bike and E-Scooter Growth
The demand for e-bikes, e-scooters, and related merchandise are undoubtedly on the rise. In truth, in an article on how e-bikes are designed, AAC contributor Steve Arar notes that e-bike firm Lime not too long ago introduced that they’ve reached 150 million rides in simply 3 years.
E-bike gross sales over the previous couple of years. Picture used courtesy Cycle Volta
To assist enhance and develop such applied sciences, Renesas recently released a new 48 V mobility solution. Dubbing their resolution a “successful mixture,” Renesas expressed hope that the reference design will assist clients speed up their designs and push them extra rapidly to market.
Why 48 Volts?
48 V could look like an arbitrary quantity, however it actually serves a specific purpose.
Traditionally, 12 V has been an ordinary voltage stage for energy distribution in lots of functions. But as units from energy instruments to server racks develop and require extra energy, I2R losses have change into vital. So, to fight this problem, engineers have began to undertake 48 V as an ordinary for industrial-type energy provides.
Delivering the identical quantity of energy to a load at 48 V versus 12 V gives 16 instances much less I2R losses—nothing to scoff at. And since e-bike techniques usually require excessive energy outputs to the motor with the intention to produce massive quantities of torque, 48 V has change into an ordinary in lots of designs.
Renesas’ Reference Design for 48 V
With this normal in thoughts, Renesas has now launched a new mobility solution for e-bikes designed at 48 V.
Purposes of the brand new Renesas resolution. Picture used courtesy of Renesas
This reference design employs a modular strategy to help within the design of each core and optionally available practical blocks that may be adopted for a lot of 24 V–48 V. The design itself consists of 15 completely different Renesas ICs, highlighted by the ISL94216 16-cell battery entrance finish (BFE), the HIP2211 100 V MOSFET drivers, and the RX23T 32-bit microcontroller for motor management.
The answer is designed to be powered from a 25 AHr Li-ion battery that drives a 1,600 W inverter, good for reaching speeds as much as 5,000 rpm.
The Foremost Blocks
The system consists of two core practical blocks and two optionally available ones. The core practical blocks embrace the battery entrance finish (BFE) and the motor management board whereas the optionally available blocks are a Bluetooth low-energy management board and a wi-fi charging receiver board.
The BFE boasts over 200 mA exterior cell balancing, which Renesas claims to allow quick recharging and excessive utilization in massive battery packs.
System block diagram. Picture used courtesy of Renesas
The motor management board helps a 48 V battery pack and may attain as much as 5,000 RPM utilizing a 1,600-W inverter powertrain with motor management sensors.
Objective-Constructed for Mobility Options
With this launch, Renesas hopes to assist its clients develop e-bikes and lots of different mobility options. In line with the corporate, the answer is designed for functions like lawnmowers, electrical carts, robotic cleaners, energy instruments, energy banks, and extra.
DK Singh, director of the techniques and options group at Renesas, says, “Our new 48 V mobility successful mixture resolution combines Renesas’ superior BFE, industry-leading MCUs, together with analog and energy units, and modern motor management expertise to assist clients velocity up the event of their excessive energy and torque e-scooters and e-bikes.”