Built for Chemistry: Why Advanced Batteries Need Smarter, High-Voltage BMS Solutions

­The next wave of battery innovation is unfolding across a broader range of applications, from e-bikes and lawn equipment to solar-powered RVs, marine systems, and autonomous machines. These categories are rapidly adopting electrification, driven by the growing use of advanced battery chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion. These alternatives offer significant advantages in terms of safety, cost, and material availability, but they also introduce new engineering challenges, particularly when it comes to voltage requirements and cell count.

To support these chemistries, battery management systems must evolve. Many traditional BMS designs fall short, either due to limited voltage support or form factors that are not suited for compact, high-performance systems. Qorvo’s high-voltage battery management ICs are built to meet these demands. With support for up to 20 cells and the ability to handle the distinct electrical characteristics of LFP and sodium-ion batteries, these solutions provide the flexibility and reliability needed for modern, chemistry-driven designs.

The Chemistry Behind the Shift

Historically, lithium-ion batteries have relied heavily on cobalt- and nickel-based chemistries, such as NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum). These delivered strong energy density but came with high costs, environmental concerns, and challenging supply chains. Cobalt, in particular, is toxic, difficult to source ethically, and a known driver of battery safety concerns.

In response, the industry has steadily shifted toward more sustainable chemistries. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) has emerged as a preferred alternative, offering stable performance, a long cycle life, and significantly improved safety, all without the use of cobalt or nickel. Its primary components — lithium, iron, and phosphorus — are widely available and easily sourced, enabling regional manufacturing and simplifying the supply chain. LFP is already dominant in energy storage and is gaining ground in personal transport, garden tools, and recreational equipment.

Following close behind is sodium-ion, a chemistry that replaces lithium entirely with sodium, a material derived from salt. Sodium-ion cells are particularly promising for applications in colder climates, maintaining performance down to -40°C, and providing a new pathway for ultra-low-cost energy storage. While its energy density is lower than that of LFP, its material abundance and environmental profile make it attractive for emerging use cases, such as solar lighting, entry-level electric scooters, and others.

More Cells, More Challenges

The transition to LFP and sodium-ion isn’t without tradeoffs. These chemistries operate at lower nominal voltages than legacy cobalt-based cells, requiring more cells to be wired in series to achieve equivalent pack voltages. For example, to maintain a 60-volt output with LFP, a manufacturer may require 15 to 20% more cells than a cobalt-based design. That adds complexity across the battery management system (BMS), which must monitor and balance a larger number of individual cell voltages, temperatures, and states of charge.

It also increases the demand for accuracy and efficiency. As higher cell counts push voltage and thermal thresholds, precise, real-time data acquisition becomes essential not just for safety, but for maximizing battery life and enabling smaller, more compact designs.

Why Traditional BMS Designs Fall Short

Many conventional battery management systems were developed for earlier lithium-ion chemistries that required fewer cells and operated at higher nominal per-cell voltages. As newer chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion become more prevalent, system designers are working with lower per-cell voltages and, as a result, need to connect more cells in series to reach the same overall pack voltage. This increase in series cell count doesn’t raise the total system voltage beyond design targets, but it does require more measurement channels and greater coordination across the battery pack.

Legacy BMS architectures often struggle in this environment. A common workaround is to stack multiple BMS monitoring ICs, which adds complexity to the design, increases component count, and can raise long-term reliability concerns. For compact products or cost-sensitive markets, these additional burdens can slow development and constrain innovation.

Click image to enlarge

Figure 2: A close-up view of a man riding an electric mountain bike up a technical trail in the forest. He rides an enduro-style e-bike with full suspension and disc brakes. He wears casual cycling clothes, a bicycle helmet, a fanny pack, and knee pads

Beyond chemistry compatibility, there is a broader value in supporting higher-voltage battery configurations. In many high-power applications such as electric tools, marine drives, and mobile robotics, higher voltage is a strategic choice. It allows systems to deliver the same amount of power at a lower current, significantly reducing conduction losses and improving overall efficiency. With less energy wasted as heat, designers can maximize battery runtime and reduce the size and cost of supporting electronics, such as connectors and wiring.

Battery management solutions that natively support these higher-voltage, high-cell-count configurations are increasingly essential. They offer more than just a way to adapt to new chemistries; they provide a foundation for building smarter, more efficient systems across a growing range of electrified products.

Built for Higher Voltage, Optimized for Integration

Managing higher cell counts reliably and efficiently calls for battery management solutions that are purpose-built for the job. Qorvo’s Gen 1 Battery Management System on Chip (BMSoC) devices are designed with this exact challenge in mind, offering support for up to 20 cells per chip, making them well suited for modern LFP and sodium-ion battery systems. This high cell-count capability is essential for maintaining performance in applications where lower nominal cell voltages are the norm.

While voltage support is the core enabler, Qorvo’s integrated approach offers additional value. By combining the analog front end, microcontroller unit, power management IC, and I/O drivers into a single device, the BMSoC architecture reduces board complexity, minimizes component count, and frees up space for additional battery capacity. This compact design is especially valuable in space-constrained applications like e-bikes, garden tools, and marine systems, where every millimeter counts.

Qorvo’s BMSoC solutions are engineered to handle the full range of lithium-based chemistries, including those with lower nominal voltage, while maintaining stable operation across an extended temperature range of -40°C to 125°C. This combination of high-voltage capability and compact integration makes them a practical and forward-looking choice for battery-powered systems across a growing number of markets.

Applications at the Edge of Innovation

The convergence of advanced battery chemistries and integrated BMS is driving innovation across a range of high-growth markets. Electric bikes and scooters, for example, are quickly replacing cars in densely populated and emerging regions. Their popularity hinges on safe, lightweight, and cost-effective battery solutions, criteria well-suited to LFP and sodium-ion chemistries. Meanwhile, lawn and garden equipment is undergoing a dramatic shift as regulations push out two-stroke gas engines. Electric trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws are becoming more common, supported by battery systems that are quiet, clean, and easy to maintain.

In recreational markets, marine and RV applications are gaining momentum as consumers look for alternatives to noisy gas-powered systems. Whether it’s an electric outboard motor or a portable solar-charged battery bank for an RV, LFP batteries offer the safety, runtime, and affordability needed to make these systems viable. Finally, autonomous and robotic systems, ranging from commercial floor cleaners to lawnmowers and last-mile delivery bots, are emerging as early adopters of compact battery management solutions. For these devices, space efficiency and robust thermal management are paramount, making system-on-a-chip BMS designs a practical necessity.

Looking Forward

As chemistry diversification continues and cell counts rise, flexible and integrated BMS solutions will become essential across all electrified sectors. Qorvo expects to enhance performance in future BMS solutions to meet the growing need for high-performance, compact battery control.

Designers navigating today’s battery technology landscape face a dual challenge: manage more complexity while delivering better performance in smaller, smarter, and more affordable systems. Advanced battery chemistries paired with system-on-a-chip BMS solutions represent a key enabler, and for many of tomorrow’s electrified products, a quiet revolution has already begun.

Qorvo