A novel method for determination of SOC of Lead-acid battery in E-Rickshaw application

Electric rickshaws are a popular mode of short-distance transportation in cities and an alternative to petrol- or diesel-powered auto-rickshaws because of their low capital and running cost and less human effort compared to pedal rickshaws. E Rickshaws can operate if there is energy or charge in the battery. State of Charge (SoC) indicates the amount of energy left in the batter. Accurate estimation of SoC is essential for estimating how long the vehicle can travel apart from overcharge and under-discharge protection resulting in life enhancement. Conventional methods of SoC prediction are based on the estimation of open-circuit voltage. These are inaccurate and time-consuming and become erroneous as the battery ages. A method for quick determination of SoC using a high current short-time discharge is proposed for both old and new batteries. Experimental investigations on 90Ah C10 batteries using the said methodology can determine the correct state of charge in any condition with a maximum error of ± 8 %. © 2023