- Frequent fast charging can accelerate a lithium-ion battery’s aging.
- Researchers in Sweden found a way to use artificial intelligence to slow degradation.
- The simulation results are impressive, and could make a huge difference if commercialized.
Artificial intelligence is already seeping into cars, with the technology now embedded into everything from autonomous vehicles to voice assistants. A new study now shows that AI could also extend your electric vehicle battery’s life significantly by slowing degradation.
Researchers at the Swedish Chalmers University of Technology said in a study published in the academic journal IEEE that they had developed an AI-based charging method that can optimize the current during fast-charging cycles, and extend the vehicle’s battery life by as much as 23%.
Photo by: CATL
That number is huge, representing nearly a quarter of the battery’s lifespan. According to some estimates, a Tesla battery can last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles, depending on its usage and charging patterns. A 23% improvement would mean nearly 70,000 extra miles on the low end and over 100,000 more miles on the high end, translating to several more years of usable range for drivers. To be sure, the researchers frame the battery life extension in terms of the number of charge/discharge cycles an EV can handle.
“This work introduces the first explicit formulation of a lifelong battery fast charging problem,” authors Meng Yuan and Changfu Zou from Chalmers University’s Department of Electrical Engineering wrote in the study. “The proposed method achieves a significant improvement in performance, where battery lifespan is extended to 703 equivalent full cycles… representing a 22.9% improvement over the standard baseline.”
While modern EV batteries are already designed to last for years without defects or significant degradation, frequent fast-charging can accelerate aging. High-powered charging can stress the components inside the cells, potentially causing lithium plating, where ions build up on the anode, causing degradation. The AI-powered battery management system (BMS) aims to avoid exactly that.
Photo by: Panasonic Energy
Researchers at Chalmers used “reinforcement learning” within the BMS. It’s a machine learning technique that engineers use in systems to learn through trial and error for the best possible result. On the EV batteries, that means adjusting the current based on the pack’s chemistry and state of health during fast-charging cycles. As the battery ages, the AI adjusts the voltage to ensure that aging components like the anode, cathode, and the electrolyte aren’t stressed.
Americans drive about 13,476 miles each year on average, according to the Federal Highway Administration. For drivers who rely on fast-charging frequently, this new AI-enabled charging method could allow them to keep their EVs for several more years, which is great for their wallets and also good for the environment. Fewer batteries means less need for raw materials and a lower manufacturing-related carbon footprint.
Tesla’s 4680 battery cells
However, it’s worth noting that this smart charging experiment was conducted in a lab, and not on physical batteries out in the real world. If this is proven in the real world, it could leave a lasting impact on battery warranties, the used EV market, and just how the industry thinks about long-term health and longevity. And the researchers claim their method doesn’t just slow down charging to preserve battery health.
“The proposed approach maintains comparable charging efficiency while largely extending battery lifespan, demonstrating that lifespan enhancement can be achieved without compromising charging speed,” the authors of the study said.
Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
