Cell Balancing: Better Safe Than Sorry (Part 1)

Upal Sengupta, Staff Applications Engineer
Texas Instruments, Battery Management Solutions

It may not be the law, but it’s a good idea!

Many of us can still remember when seat-belt laws started becoming the norm a while back. There were advertisements that said, “It’s not just a good idea – it’s the law!” We were reminded that we all should do the right thing and fasten our seat belts every time we get in the car. I feel the same way about cell balancing in a multi-cell, Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack. Read more about Cell Balancing: Better Safe Than Sorry (Part 1)

It’s Time to Align US Lithium Battery Air Transport Rules with International Standards

George Kerchner, Executive Director
PRBA – The Rechargeable Battery Association

For years, PRBA–The Rechargeable Battery Association, along with other business and transportation groups, has urged the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to update its regulations applicable to air shipments of lithium batteries by harmonizing its regulations with the more stringent international requirements.   Read more about It’s Time to Align US Lithium Battery Air Transport Rules with International Standards

Global Lithium Battery Industry Faces Multiple Regulatory Tests in 2014

George A. Kerchner, Executive Director
PRBA – The Rechargeable Battery Association

Right from the start, the global lithium battery industry will address a barrage of regulatory issues in 2014.

From February 4th to 6th, a multi-disciplinary working group meeting organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) will meet in Atlantic City, N.J., to consider potential restrictions on the shipping of lithium metal batteries on cargo and passenger aircraft.  The meeting has been dubbed by ICAO as the “First International Lithium Battery Transport Coordination Meeting.” Read more about Global Lithium Battery Industry Faces Multiple Regulatory Tests in 2014

Energy Harvesting: Is There No Free Lunch?

Upal Sengupta, Staff Applications Engineer
Texas Instruments, Battery Management Solutions

We’ve all heard the familiar saying “there’s no free lunch.”  It seems to apply to so many situations in life as well as in circuit design.  But still, we all like the idea of getting something for nothing.  The concept of “Energy Harvesting” has been getting some attention lately because of newly available technologies that allow us to take advantage of free energy sources like sunlight, ambient heat, or the vibration from traffic on a roadway.  So do we finally get our free lunch? Read more about Energy Harvesting: Is There No Free Lunch?