A Warwick-based EV battery company has developed AI-powered software that it says will improve the life of electric vehicles by helping detect when their batteries might fail.
The software contains a predictive tool known as a ‘remaining useful lifetime algorithm’ which aims to detect signs of a battery’s ageing in advance by analysing how the EV is being used and cared for.
The software was created by Eatron Technologies with business support from Coventry University, and the company claims it could reduce costs for EV manufacturers and fleet management companies, “as diagnosing problems early can often mean the difference between a quick, economical fix and having to replace a battery or vehicle entirely.”
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Dr Umut Genc, managing director of Eatron Technologies, said: “Our software is really useful for EV manufacturers, who can see at a glance which vehicles need to be looked at way before their batteries are due to fail due to loss of capacity.
“The algorithm we’ve created constantly assesses the way an electric vehicle is used, such as how frequently and intensely it is being charged and adjusts the battery’s predicted end-of-life accordingly.”
Eatron’s software has also recently received a series of patents in the USA.
The company was awarded a £10,000 grant to test its algorithm on a battery at Warwick Manufacturing Group, after Coventry University introduced it to the Proof-of-Concept grant programme which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
“Receiving the grant via Coventry University was crucial to us being able to fine-tune the algorithm,” added Dr Genc. “Once we had perfected it, the patent family in the USA has been key for us to profit from our hard work.”
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Coventry University also helped Eatron earn a second grant worth more than £10,000 via the Innovation Networks programme to improve its adaptive suspension software, which aims to detect bumps or potholes in the road and automatically adjust the vehicle’s suspension settings.
Catherine Colby-Johnson, business delivery manager at Coventry University, said: “Eatron Technologies’ software has incredible potential to vastly improve the performance of EV batteries, so it was a prime candidate for support, including from the Proof of Concept and Innovation Networks grants.
“We are delighted it has secured patents in the USA for its battery-life algorithm, and we cannot wait to see it grow even further.”
