EV battery specialist teams up with artificial intelligence partner to accelerate the development of next generation battery systems
Battery technology specialist company About:Energy has entered into a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) software provider Monolith to ease the growing pressure for more accurate and scalable electric vehicle (EV) battery modelling and testing.
The two companies say they share a common vision for a dramatic reduction in EV development time, with the potential to speed up the R&D process by 12 to 18 months through AI-powered battery modelling.
To achieve this, engineers from both companies are working together to develop pre-trained AI models in the Monolith platform using precise, advanced battery data from About:Energy. Taking data from numerous batteries, these pre-trained models will enable more accurate, valuable predictions for battery degradation and thermal propagation – resulting in a lower number of tests, reduced testing costs and improved battery performance and safety.
The integration of advanced, technologically driven testing and validation practices will enable vehicle manufacturers to obtain new, rich insights into the intractable physics of batteries – delivering higher-performing batteries in a significantly reduced timeframe. The immediate focus for the partnership is automotive, with the potential to roll out to other transport sectors such as micromobility and aerospace.
Monolith believes its partnership with About:Energy allows the company to build more accurate models that predict battery degradation and thermal runaway by using the most robust and reliable battery test data available to engineers.
Founder and CEO of the AI company, Dr Richard Ahlfeld says, “Whether you are an automotive OEM looking for more comprehensive data, a battery manufacturer, or an EV start-up without test facilities, our pre-trained AI models promise to help optimise your battery validation test plans, and ultimately accelerate the availability of better EVs.”
Gavin White, CEO of About:Energy, says that his company has developed technologies to obtain battery data that has unmatched quality and that the partnership with Monolith will drive innovation and add significant value to the industry.
“We are always seeking innovative collaborations that help tackle the industry’s toughest challenges. Working with Monolith gives the industry access to the best machine-learning talent and highest quality lab data in an easy-to-use software package,” he concludes.
DandeLiion deal
The latest partnership with Monolith is the latest partnership About:Energy has developed on battery modelling. In December 2023, the company also forged a technology licensing agreement with the Universities of Portsmouth and Southampton, to advance battery modelling and accelerate electrification across the automotive and energy storage industry.
The deal enables About:Energy to develop the universities’ proprietary technology, DandeLiion, an ultra-fast system, designed to simplify and enhance accuracy when it comes to the complex process of modelling advanced electrochemical battery systems.
By improving the mathematics in battery models, it will enable the wider use of more advanced electrochemical models. These models are increasingly being employed in cell design and to shorten charging times. They provide critical insight into the physical processes occurring within a cell, thereby optimising performance and efficiency.
The company plans to integrate DandeLiion into its software for the global market later this year.
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