Characterization tests are key to improve the Lithium-Ion batteries performance. Unfortunately, they require expensive equipment that small companies and laboratories can hardly afford. In this paper a novel low-cost battery characterization setup is proposed. It uses an auxiliary battery to strongly reduce the required maximum instrument power and cost. A simulation framework of the proposed setup is developed in Matlab/Simulink environment and is applied to the characterization of a 48 V mild hybrid battery. This case study is used to both explore setup advantages and guide through its sizing. The obtained results show a strong reduction of the power required to the test equipment and a reduction up to about 70% of the energy drawn from the grid.
Keywords: Lithium Ion Batteries; Battery Characterization; Low Cost Test Setup
