Testing Battery Management Systems (BMS)

Your BMS is only as strong as its components. We help you validate each unit step by step, with support for isolated communication protocols and high-voltage I/O:

• CMU (Cell Monitoring Unit)
  Distributed along the battery pack, the CMUs balance the individual battery cells and provide the battery management unit (BMU) with the required sensor information for protection and state estimation. Testing a CMU requires emulation of sensors as well as the balancing power of series-connected cells in high-voltage environment.
• BMU (Battery Management Unit)
  The BMU is the main controller, running the core BMS algorithms for state estimation, charging, system-level protection, and thermal control. Testing the BMU requires the emulation of interacting components, from CMU and PDU functions and interfaces to external systems such as VCUs or charging units.
• PDU (Power Distribution Unit)
  The PDU safeguards and manages the link between the battery pack and external electrical systems such as powertrains and chargers. Testing the PDU requires the emulation of key components—such as pyro-fuses and shunt sensors—as well as realistic battery pack power levels.

Typical BMS setup showing CMUs, a BMU, and a PDU — connected through isolated protocols to ensure safe, synchronized operation.

Speedgoat test systems, paired with Simulink, help you streamline every stage of your BMS development—from testing signal interfaces and cell balancing to system-level validation at rated power levels.

The diagram on the right illustrates a typical BMS development journey covering progressive BMS testing (from component to full BMS testing), usually starting with the validation of its components with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation or by testing BMS algorithms with rapid control prototyping (RCP).

Your BMS development journey starts with a concept, modeled in Simulink, and advances into a fully operational real-world BMS that protects your battery pack while optimizing power delivery to your electric or hybrid system. 

But how do you ensure that your safety, reliability and compliance requirements are met, as you transition from desktop simulation to a final product? 

With our test systems, you can develop and verify your BMS end to end. Start by rapidly prototyping algorithms in Simulink, then progress to full system testing with virtual battery cells, powertrains, and external charging systems. This integrated workflow shortens development cycles, supports validation at every stage, and ensures your battery system is ready for real-world performance. Automated testing and CI/CD workflows help you validate firmware, track testing coverage, and shorten software release cycles across all stages.

BMS journey with Speedgoat—from signal tests to full hardware validation with CMU, PDU, and battery pack emulation.

• Test a BMS against virtual battery cells including electric power and its temperature sensors. Simply pair battery models from Simulink with a Speedgoat battery cell emulator (BCE). 
• Design and prototype BMS algorithms. Use Speedgoat test system as a BMS main controller and connect to your cell monitoring units (CMUs) via isolated protocols. 
• Validate BMU signal interfaces. Use Speedgoat test systems to emulate all key hardware interfaces of the BMU such as vendor-specific CMU devices, shunt sensors, or high-voltage I/O. 
• Perform system integration tests at rated electric power including charging stations, powertrains, and electric faults. 

Working in Simulink means you can also take advantage of tools like Simscape™ Battery™, which makes BMS development even more efficient:

• Ready-made models of battery cells and packs including thermal effects, ion concentration, electrolyte dynamics, and cell aging.
• Interfaces to Speedgoat BCE from a few cells to hundreds of cells including temperature and electric power.
• An automated battery builder app to create and configure complete battery packs with thermal effects, cooling systems, different cell types, and multiple geometries.

• BMS algorithm building blocks and ready-made examples including Kalman-based SoC estimation or fast-charging strategies.
• Certify and qualify BMS algorithms in Simulink for automotive or aerospace applications with Certification/Qualification Kits (ISO 26262, IEC 61508, DO-178, DO-254).
• Perform automated testing while tracking requirements and test coverage with Simulink Test™ and the Requirements Toolbox.
• Validate all components with turnkey interfaces and protocols from Speedgoat.