NXP Unveils New Battery Cell Controller IC Series

On July 2, NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) officially introduced its latest BMx7318/7518 series of 18-channel lithium-ion battery cell controller ICs. These new devices are purpose-built for high-voltage battery management systems (HVBMS) in electric vehicles (EVs), industrial energy storage systems (ESS), and 48V battery architectures.

Engineered with NXP's proprietary per-channel ADC architecture, the BMx7318/7518 series provides precise, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that improve overall battery system performance. These ICs offer pin-to-pin compatibility across different variants, enabling flexible design options and simplifying system upgrades. They are fully compliant with automotive ASIL-C and industrial SIL-2 functional safety standards.

Designed to meet the growing demand for scalable, high-performance energy solutions, the BMx7318/7518 series helps OEMs and system integrators address the critical balance between accuracy, system longevity, reliability, and flexibility. By integrating key functions such as the analog front-end (AFE), battery junction box, and gateway features (e.g., I-sense and SPI2TPL bridge), the new ICs reduce the need for external components by up to 50%, significantly lowering total system cost.

The architecture supports semi-centralized BMS configurations, enhancing system stability while optimizing cost at a platform level. Each cell sampling channel is fully isolated, ensuring no crosstalk and enabling high-fidelity filtering. The series supports up to 18 busbars and delivers parallel active cell balancing at 150mA per channel (125°C), with a peak of up to 300mA per channel—greatly enhancing balancing efficiency.

Additionally, the BMx7318/7518 offers an ultra-low-power standby mode consuming only 5µA, making it ideal for long-term storage and maritime shipping. Dedicated hardware alarm pins allow rapid overcurrent event detection, ensuring greater safety and responsiveness in mission-critical applications.