Texas Instruments has introduced the BQ78926Z-Q1, a new battery monitor designed to support up to 26 cells per device. This capacity exceeds competing products by eight cells, allowing engineers to reduce the number of monitoring components required in a system. The reduction in component count aims to lower material costs, simplify system architecture, and decrease the physical space needed on circuit boards.
The device incorporates electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology to provide continuous, real-time data on battery health. This capability allows the monitor to detect fault conditions from within individual cells, offering early warnings for potential safety issues in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The technology is intended to help maintain safety standards and alert users to hazards before they become critical.
According to the company, the BQ78926Z-Q1 offers voltage accuracy of less than 2 millivolts across a temperature range of negative 40 degrees Celsius to positive 125 degrees Celsius. It utilizes a high-resolution analogue-to-digital converter and ultra-low noise components to improve state-of-charge calculations. The EIS measurement process is described as five times faster than previous solutions, providing higher functional-safety voltage readings per cell.
The monitor complies with Automotive Safety Integrity Level D and International Organisation for Standardisation 26262 standards. When paired with the BQ79881-Q1 pack monitor and optional TI communications bridge, the devices form a chipset that supports various module sizes, battery chemistries, and mechanical designs. This scalability is intended to reduce engineering overhead and accelerate product development for automotive and energy storage designers.
Texas Instruments will showcase the BQ78926Z-Q1 and other innovations at PCIM 2026 in Hall 7, Booth No. 652. The company will feature an EIS-enabled battery management system reference design that includes the new monitor. Other displayed technologies include an 11kW single-stage bidirectional onboard charger and a 50kVA solid-state transformer cell stack with Ethernet and Fast Serial Interface communication.
