Visteon Complements Industry-First Smart Wireless Battery Management System with Additional Electrification Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Visteon (NASDAQ: VC) showcased its innovative electrification electronics at CES 2022, positioning itself as a leader in supporting the electric vehicle (EV) market. The company highlighted its first-to-market wireless battery management system (smartBMS), which enhances scalability and reduces complexity for OEMs. Visteon’s technologies, such as the smart junction box and integrated power electronics, aim to improve vehicle performance and lower costs. With net sales around $2.5 billion in 2020, Visteon continues to play a pivotal role in the ongoing transition towards electrification in the automotive sector.

Positive

• Introduction of first-to-market wireless battery management system (smartBMS) that enhances scalability and reduces complexity for OEMs.
• Demonstration of innovations like smart junction box and integrated power electronics to optimize EV design and performance.
• Strong historical support for battery management systems dating back to 1998, indicating experience and expertise in EV technology.

Negative

• None.

• Intelligent Electrification Capability on Full Display at CES^® 2022
• Electrification electronics designed to support global growth of electric vehicles
• Power electronics capabilities beyond smartBMS innovation
• Visteon BMS systems provide OEMs with scalability across brands and vehicle segments

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visteon (NASDAQ: VC), a leading global technology company serving the mobility industry, will showcase its suite of electrification electronics designed to support the global growth of electric vehicles and the electrification trends of OEM customers at CES^® 2022.

As the global mobility industry undergoes a once-in-a-century electric transformation, Visteon is evolving its electrification electronics capabilities to include a variety of intelligent systems for battery management and integrated power electronics.

“Visteon’s history of producing battery management systems and digital cockpit electronics places us in a good position to support the industry’s shift to electrification,” said Visteon President and CEO Sachin Lawande. “Our first-to-market smart wireless battery management system (smartBMS) solution is the centerpiece of a growing electrified product line that will help automakers reduce the complexity, weight and materials used to manufacture electric vehicles and enhance the ownership experience for their customers.”

Battery Management System (BMS)

Visteon’s BMS capability dates back to the earliest days of EV production when it supported the 1998 Ford Ranger EV and various other automakers since then. In 2020, Visteon transformed its wired BMS solution into a first-to-market smart system that communicates wirelessly to key EV components.

Wireless BMS technology replaces traditional wired connections with a highly secure and reliable wireless communication technology. Visteon builds its wireless cell monitoring/supervising units with a wireless network control unit and a battery control and interface unit, eliminating the need for OEMs to assemble battery packs with a low-voltage wiring harness. This can reduce overall vehicle weight and offer scalability across brands and vehicle segments. The smartBMS system platform delivers highly accurate battery cell measurement and maximizes energy use per cell required for better vehicle range.

Visteon’s wireless smartBMS can help automakers drive EVs to market faster, as time will not be needed to develop specific communication systems or redesign complex wiring schemes for each new vehicle. Instead, the wireless system will help to ensure the scalability of batteries across future EV lineups encompassing different brands and vehicle segments, from heavy duty trucks to performance vehicles.

Because the integrated hardware architecture and system software can extend across multiple vehicle platforms with minimal module configuration changes, this flexible wireless solution reduces engineering costs significantly and can more easily be integrated with thermal management systems and other vehicle controls.

The wireless smartBMS keeps a constant eye on battery health and operation, helping automakers enhance vehicle and passenger safety and improve overall quality and reliability. Visteon’s smart cell sensing controller adds extra processing capability to the battery-monitoring network that enables advanced diagnostics and more flexibility for future applications and algorithms.

General Motors uses the Visteon wireless BMS technology on all of its planned EV models powered by Ultium batteries. A second global OEM will use the Visteon wireless BMS on its EV launches starting in 2024. The company continues to offer its smart wired BMS system with advance features to automakers.

Intelligent Electrification Electronics Beyond smartBMS

Visteon is working to grow is electrification capabilities beyond its smart wired and wireless BMS solutions. The company’s CES 2022 display will demonstrate innovations that can be used to optimize EV design and performance of EVs, including:

• Smart junction box, a more cost effective and safer alternative to traditional battery disconnect units (BDUs). The smart junction box combines the traditional BDU with the battery management controller (BMC) to help lower cost, increase safety and create higher volumetric efficiency. The single unit performs all the functions of standalone BDUs and BMCs, including fusing, pre-charging, external charging, voltage sensing, temperature control, diagnostic, terminal interfacing and more.
  
  The integrated solution is compatible with 400V and 800V systems, reduces high-voltage harnesses and connectors, and meets the highest Automotive Safety Integrity Levels for electric current and voltage measurement.
  
  By combining a traditional BDU with a range of other electronics into a single integrated unit, Visteon’s customers reduce complexity, decrease mass and weight, and offer added protection for electrical connections.

• Integrated power electronics that combine key components into a single integrated unit through power stage integration to help reduce cost and size, and increase reliability and efficiency. Visteon’s multi-component design brings several key components used in EVs including the junction box, DC/DC converter and on-board charger into a single unit. Visteon’s single package design helps reduce EV architecture complexity by minimizing electrical connections, wire harnesses, and other connectors while also integrating system communication and a simplified cooling mechanism.
  

“Visteon has a passion for innovation and a clear vision for the future of electrification in the mobility industry,” Lawande said. “Our intelligent electrification capability is complemented by our cockpit electronics portfolio of digital clusters, Android-based infotainment, advanced display technologies and SmartCore™ domain controllers that lead to more enjoyable, connected and safe driving experiences in all types of EVs.”

The company’s intelligent electrification capabilities and vision can be seen at its new CES 2022 home, the Paris Hotel Las Vegas Meeting and Convention Space, on Jan. 5-7, 2022.

About Visteon
Visteon is a global technology company serving the mobility industry, dedicated to creating a more enjoyable, connected, and safe driving experience. The company’s platforms leverage proven, scalable hardware and software solutions that enable the digital, electric, and autonomous evolution of our global automotive customers. Visteon products align with key industry trends and include digital instrument clusters, displays, Android-based infotainment systems, domain controllers, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and battery management systems. Visteon reported net sales of approximately $2.5 billion and booked $4.6 billion of new business in 2020. Learn more at https://www.visteon.com/newsroom/.

Visteon Contacts:
Media:                        
Dave Barthmuss                        
805-660-1914                        
dave.barthmuss@visteon.com

Investors:
Kris Doyle
201-247-3050
kdoyle@visteon.com 

FAQ

What innovative technologies did Visteon showcase at CES 2022?

Visteon showcased its wireless battery management system (smartBMS), smart junction box, and integrated power electronics.

How does Visteon's smartBMS technology benefit automakers?

The smartBMS reduces complexity, weight, and materials needed for EVs, enabling faster market deployment.

What were Visteon's sales figures in 2020?

Visteon reported net sales of approximately $2.5 billion in 2020.

Which automaker is using Visteon's wireless BMS technology?

General Motors is planning to use Visteon's wireless BMS technology for all its upcoming EV models.

What is the importance of Visteon's electric vehicle technologies?

Visteon's technologies support the global growth of electric vehicles, enhancing vehicle performance and reducing manufacturing costs.