Using Volkswagen MEB battery modules

• Introduction and overall specs
• Pouch and prismatic
• EV conversion configurations
• Battery management system
• Using original Volkswagen hardware
• Connecting an aftermarket BMS
  • 12s module pinout
  • 8s module pinout
• Validating cell tap connections!
  • Dummy MEB module
  • n-BMS cell tap validator
• Cooling / heating modules
• Charging

Introduction and overall specs

With their MEB platform, Volkswagen has set a new standard for their battery system. Main requirements when developing this system was scalability, usable for both 2wd and 4wd, lightweight, easy to assemble, integrated cooling and adaptable to different cell types. As a result these Volkswagen MEB battery modules are also very interesting to use in DIY EV conversions.

The battery box has integrated cooling/heating in a double floor and is completely isolated from the battery modules. Currently there are three battery packs made out of two module configurations: 12s2p (VW part 0Z1915592H) and 8s3p (VW part 0Z1915599H) both with a gross capacity of 6,85 kWh. The module is standardized in terms of form factor and has 24 cells inside. The weight of one MEB module is 32 kg.

Volkswagen builds the following packs with these modules

• 7x 12s2p = 48 kWh (usable 45 kWh in ID.3 Pure, WLTP 330 km)
• 8x 12s2p = 55 kWh (usable 52 kWh in ID.3 Pure Performance, WLTP 348 km)
• 9x 12s2p = 62 kWh (usable 58 kWh in ID.3 Pro, WLTP 420 km), VW part 0Z1915911N
• 12x 8s3p = 82 kWh (usable 77 kWh in ID.4, ID.5 and ID.Buzz), VW part 0Z1915910N

The modules are also used/found in the Cupra and Skoda.

There are multiple manufacturers that make these modules for Volkswagen. Currently we see modules made by LG (full metal laser welded case) and by CATL (plastic removable cover).

Pouch and prismatic

The modules made by LG contain pouches and modules made by CATL have prismatic cells.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any official datasheets on these cells. What I’ve been told is that the prismatic cells tend to be a bit more capable in terms of current they can deliver.

The ID.4 GTX is a dual motor edition with 220 kW power so the 8s3p is at least capable of that. Depending on the thermal management and duration probably higher outputs are possible. I’ve read that the 2p modules are good for 800A up to 10 seconds so that means the 3p’s could do 1200A.

EV conversion configurations

Most high voltage conversions are 96S so that means the following configurations are common:

Using nine 12s2p modules like Volkswagen does might be a challenge in terms of max. voltage ratings of components used. At 108s when charging up to 4,15V per cell the pack voltage will rise to 448V. For example for the Nissan Leaf inverter this is too high.

Battery management system

The modules have an external cell monitoring unit. So the module control connector provides access to the cell taps and two thermistors. Pinout details will be provided below. Selecting a BMS to use with the MEB modules is not trivial since the balancing current of the Volkswagen BMS is very low. They only use around 100 mA of passive cell balancing. Higher currents could damage the cell tap wires in the modules. On Openinverter it was reported that some modules have a 750 mA SMD fuse.

G-code (=750 mA) fuses confirmed in a LG 8s3p module.

100 mA max. cell balancing current

Below you will find the cell balancing current details of some aftermarket battery management systems:

Since the balancing current is not a continuous current the load the cell taps can handle might be more than the 100 mA Volkswagen uses. So I decided to do a test. I used Lithium Balance s-BMS and installed a CAB500 current sensor.

From the above you can see the balancing current was 647 mA at a cell voltage of 3,9V. In the end I charged up to 4,1V per cell and saw a balancing current of 682 mA and the cell tap ribbon cable did not burn.

Additionally I did a test where I applied a load of 840 mA to a CATL module cell tap. Did not blow within two minutes.

Furthermore I tested a G-code SMD fuse (466 series) and that blew instantly at 1,25A.

These tests were performed at room temperature and for only a short duration. At higher temperatures, fuses blow faster. So I’d still recommend to use a BMS that allows you to set the maximum balancing current to 100 mA.

For me that rules out using Lithium Balance s-BMS but since it’s cell monitoring units support up to 8s it is not usable for the 12s modules anyway. Myself I’ll be using Lithium Balance n-BMS with these modules.

Using original Volkswagen hardware

Safest way forward to ensure the modules are treated within their original design intent is to re-use the original cell monitoring system from Volkswagen. These communicate via 500 kpbs CAN-BUS with the master. You can build your own integration (see Tom-evnut’s Github : VW-bms for further info) or use SIMP that builds on this info (developed by Tom de Bree and currently available from Citini as EVS) or use GrnBMS (developed by Pro-LOX). The downside is that these solutions do not come with CE, E-mark and ECE certifications. So depending on your own requirements and/or those from inspecting authorities these might not be usable in EV conversions.

But if not having these certifications are no issue it is an interesting option. The GRNbms kit is available via EVcreate.

Connecting an aftermarket BMS

As mentioned above, you can connect an aftermarket BMS to the Volkswagen MEB modules. In case you buy separate modules, getting the cell tap cables might be a challenge and the connectors are restricted so cannot be ordered directly at TE.

Both the cell tap cable for the 8s module (white cover at the module end) and for the 12s module (black cover at the module end) is available from EVcreate.

When connecting the module to an aftermarket BMS using an original cell tap harness, we will remove the blue or brown connector. Never do this with the cable plugged into a module!

MEB 12s module pinout

Row 1: Even numbers 2 to 22

Row 2: Odd numbers 1 to 21

So this is visualized as per the below schematic.

1. Thermistor 1 +
2. Thermistor 2 +
3. Thermistor 1 –
4. Thermistor 2 –
5. Not connected
6. Not connected
7. Module – (Ve-), CMU power negative
8. Not connected
9. Ve- / Module negative / first cell negative
10. Cell 1 positive
11. Cell 2 positive
12. Cell 3 positive
13. Cell 4 positive
14. Cell 5 positive
15. Cell 6 positive
16. Cell 7 positive
17. Cell 8 positive
18. Cell 9 positive
19. Cell 10 positive
20. Cell 11 positive
21. Cell 12 positive
22. Module + (Cell 12 positive), CMU power positive

Cell tap wiring harness

The pinout of the black cover connector is not one to one mapped to the blue and brown connectors. That mapping is as per the below table and diagram.

1. Module + (Cell 12 positive), CMU power positive
2. Cell 12 positive
3. Cell 10 positive
4. Cell 11 positive
5. Cell 8 positive
6. Cell 9 positive
7. Cell 6 positive
8. Cell 7 positive
9. Blue / brown 12
10. Cell 5 positive
11. Cell 4 positive
12. Blue / brown 9
13. Cell 2 positive
14. Cell 3 positive
15. Ve- / Module negative / first cell negative
16. Cell 1 positive
17. Module – (Ve-), CMU power negative
18. Not connected
19. Thermistor 1 +
20. Thermistor 2 +
21. Thermistor 1 –
22. Thermistor 2 –

Blue and brown connector to black connector

Instead of re-using the original cable to make a new harness, I also developed helper boards. These breakout the celltaps and the termistors but not the VE- and Module + for powering a CMU.

MEB 8s module pinout

The 8s module uses the same inner connector as the 12s MEB module. Only difference is the cover and from that also the keying. The 8s MEB module has a white cover. To recap, the pin numbering of the connector is as per below:

Row 1: Even numbers 2 to 22

Row 2: Odd numbers 1 to 21

The assignment of pin 1 to 14 is identical to the 12s connector. However, pin 14, 15, 16 and 17 also output the voltage of cell 4. Pin 18 to 22 again have the highest cell taps. So this is visualized as per the below schematic.

1. Thermistor 1 +
2. Thermistor 2 +
3. Thermistor 1 –
4. Thermistor 2 –
5. Not connected
6. Not connected
7. Module – (Ve-), CMU power negative
8. Not connected
9. Ve- / Module negative / first cell negative
10. Cell 1 positive
11. Cell 2 positive
12. Cell 3 positive
13. Cell 4 positive
14. Cell 4 positive
15. Cell 4 positive
16. Cell 4 positive
17. Cell 4 positive
18. Cell 5 positive
19. Cell 6 positive
20. Cell 7 positive
21. Cell 8 positive
22. Module + (Cell 12 positive), CMU power positive

Cell tap wiring harness

As with the 12s connector, also the pinout of the white cover connector is not one to one mapped to the blue and brown connectors. The pinout of the blue/brown is similar though (with the difference being that only 8 cells are present). That mapping is as per the below table and diagram.

1. Module + (Cell 8 positive), CMU power positive
2. Cell 8 positive
3. Cell 6 positive
4. Cell 7 positive
5. Cell 4 positive
6. Cell 5 positive
7. Cell 4 positive
8. Cell 4 positive
9. Blue / brown 12
10. Cell 4 positive
11. Cell 4 positive
12. Blue / brown 9
13. Cell 2 positive
14. Cell 3 positive
15. Ve- / Module negative / first cell negative
16. Cell 1 positive
17. Module – (Ve-), CMU power negative
18. Not connected
19. Thermistor 1 +
20. Thermistor 2 +
21. Thermistor 1 –
22. Thermistor 2 –

Blue and brown connector to black connector

Validating cell tap connections!

Once you have prepared your harness it is important to validate the harness. Connecting a battery module can be tricky. If you made a fundamental mistake and introduced a short, your module might become useless. Therefore I developed 12S and 8S dummy modules and a cell tap validator for n-BMS.

The validator in the video is the tester by Batrium with an extension board to easily plug in the n-BMS CMU cell connector.

The PCB is a dummy test MEB module. The pinout is identical to a 12s or 8s MEB battery module. This allows you to test your wiring after modifying cables to protect your expensive battery module.

More to come…

This blogpost is not finished yet and I’ll keep updating it and adding more info. But I thought the above was already worth sharing. To be added:

1. Cooling / heating modules
2. Charging

Feedback welcome

Any feedback, additions, suggestions for improvement is welcome. Please contact me by e-mail.

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