AI has been embroiled in a number of controversies lately, from inducing mental fatigue to reducing user intelligence. There are also conflicts within the US government over the use of AI in defense systems. There is also an ongoing debate about AI training for artists’ work, damaging the environment and putting jobs at risk in various industries. But the news surrounding this seemingly inevitable AI boom is not all bad. AI has many potentially useful applications.
One of the recent developments teeth Environmentally friendly: Helps charge your electric vehicle’s lithium-ion battery in a way that extends its lifespan without prolonging the charging time. A team of researchers at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology has published a report describing a new technology that enables fast charging of EV batteries while mitigating some of the negative effects that fast charging typically has on batteries.
The intelligence behind smarter EV charging
EV charging systems already rely on software known as battery management systems (BMS). Lithium-ion batteries rely on BMS to safely charge. The software carefully monitors factors such as voltage, current, charging cycles, and temperature. However, traditional BMS relies on fixed mathematical models and predefined safety limits rather than adaptable elements.
Introducing AI into BMS allows the software to learn and adapt based on large amounts of real-world battery data. Machine learning models leverage this data library to predict how a particular charging behavior will affect long-term battery health under different conditions, dynamically changing charging voltage and other parameters. For example, charging an EV battery quickly in hot weather can accelerate its deterioration. AI-powered systems can detect higher ambient temperatures and slightly alter charging current and thermal management settings to reduce stress on the battery.
BMS continuously monitors parameters such as voltage, temperature, charging behavior, state of charge (SoC), and state of health (SoH), allowing AI-driven battery management to adapt charging behavior to individual vehicle conditions and usage history. This helps optimize performance, charging speed and long-term battery health for each vehicle.
Extended battery life could solve one of EVs’ biggest problems
One of the major hurdles facing widespread adoption of EVs is battery life. Buyers are concerned about the steady decline in vehicle range due to aging and the high cost of replacing worn-out battery packs. AI-enhanced battery management can extend the lifespan of EV batteries and reduce the additional costs associated with EV ownership.
A study by a Swedish research team showed that AI-calculated charging could extend the lifespan of a standard lithium-ion EV battery by as much as 23% without significantly increasing charging time. Longer battery life means they need to be replaced less frequently, potentially reducing the environmental pressures associated with mining and battery production.
However, major challenges still remain. AI systems require vast amounts of high-quality data to train effectively, and automakers need to ensure that these models (and the software applications they drive on the consumer side) remain safe and reliable under typical operating conditions. Some researchers are already investigating how AI battery systems can comply with evolving automotive safety standards.
