Hybrid Auto Center, which is currently selling Leaf lithium battery pack specifically for the Vectrix, is also selling battery management systems. From what I can tell, the option that would best suit the 18-cell Leaf battery is the Orion set for 24 cells.
Has anyone had experience with Orion? From the experts, does this system look like it will do the trick?
A problem with most off-the-shelf BMS's when using the LEAF modules, is that each LEAF module is two cells in series (actually 2S2P) and so their voltage is twice that of single cells that the BMS's are designed for.
I wish I could use HAC's LEAF modules in my (non Vectrix) scooter becasue they are not only better quality but also cheaper than the Chinese cells we've had to use - which obstinately refuse to go down in price even with currently strong US dollars.
Not really, have a closer look at the leaf module:
It has 3 terminals, you can access all cells, the voltage is "normal" between every 2 terminals.
This is a sample with the EMUS BMS:
http://visforvoltage.org/forum/13767-nissan-leaf-modules-li-conversion-questions?page=1#comment-72993
About Orion BMS ... somebody in Volttour used it in a DIY Prius Plugin system.
If you're interested, I can ask him how it performed.
As previously mentioned, each of the Leaf modules contain 2 pairs of parallel cells connected in series (which must be monitored as individual pairs) so you would need to use the 36 cell BMS to be able to monitor and protect all of the cells contained within the 18 modules (36 groups of two paralleled cells).
Alan
Yup, you need a BMS that can manage 36 cells (if you go with 18 Leaf modules) or 38 cells (if you go with 19 modules).
Hi R,
can you please, advise the BOM list for EMUS BMS project?