Author: Kostas Christidis, Chief Technology Officer at FrontierInnovations
The EV battery market in Europe and the world is currently fragmented, with numerous stakeholders aiming to establish their position. Enhanced data exchange between organisations, research centres and companies can level the playing field, supporting transparency, efficiency, innovation, and process optimisation. Sharing information about battery health, composition, and location enables stakeholders to identify repurposing and reuse opportunities more effectively. Increased visibility into battery history and status aids in selecting appropriate transport, dismantling and recycling methods, while ensuring compliance with environmental standards. Overall, effective data sharing enables collaboration among manufacturers, recyclers, and end-users, promotes circular business models and facilitates compliance with EU regulations.
In the last couple of years, there have been quite a few active research and innovation initiatives at a European level regarding batteries and battery recycling that can greatly benefit from a structured way of extracting and exchanging data between different stakeholders.
Selected initiatives:
- RESPECT: This project focuses on enhancing battery recycling processes to recover and reuse critical raw materials and active materials in new batteries, aiming to close the resource loop in battery production.
- deepBMS: This project is developing advanced deep reinforcement learning algorithms that improve in real-time to accurately estimate the state of batteries across their lifecycle, combining model-based and data-driven approaches to increase reliability and extend battery life.
- MARBEL: Aims to design and demonstrate innovative, lightweight battery packs for the automotive mass market, focusing on increasing energy density, reducing recharging times, and extending battery life.
- RENOVATE: This project is committed to developing circular economy solutions by recycling and reusing 100% of end-of-life batteries and their components, significantly reducing the need for virgin materials and environmental impact.
- NEXTBAT: Focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of batteries by improving recyclability and introducing high-performance, safe-by-design battery systems that enhance energy density and reduce weight, with prototypes demonstrating these advancements.
- BATMAX: Aims to enhance battery system performance, safety, and reliability through a data-driven approach to battery management, paving the way for optimised operational value in various applications.
- BIG LEAP: Concentrates on developing a new architecture for battery management systems (BMS) to ensure interoperability, safety, and reliability, with a focus on optimising battery reconfiguration processes for cost-efficiency and standardisation.
- iBAttMan: This project integrates novel sensors and cutting-edge technologies to monitor battery health in real-time and during charging, focusing on performance, diagnosis, and safety in vehicular and stationary applications.
- Rhinoceros: Develops systems for the automated sorting and dismantling of end-of-life batteries, aiming to repurpose or recycle all materials to foster a sustainable, circular economy. The project also focuses on reusing recovered materials in new battery production.
- ALBATROSS: Addresses the challenges of the European electric and hybrid-electric vehicle market by developing smart, lightweight battery solutions with optimal temperature control and innovative cooling technologies to improve battery range, reliability, and charging times.
Each of these projects represents significant advancements in battery technology and recycling, which will benefit from increased data exchange in the battery industry in Europe.
Data exchange and digital passport
To this end, there are quite a few efforts on standardisation of data exchange and the development of the digital passport:
- Battery Pass: This consortium includes partners from industry and science focused on advancing the implementation of a digital battery passport. This tool supports the sustainable scaling of battery value chains globally and aid companies in making informed decisions about their supply chains.
- Global Battery Alliance Battery Passport: This multi-stakeholder initiative aims to create a digital product passport (DPP) for electric vehicle batteries (EVBs), enhancing transparency and accountability in battery value chains. It includes pilots demonstrating the passport's feasibility, focusing on sustainability indicators and the tracking of material flows.
- BATRAW: Defines a battery passport, in the context of innovative battery recycling technologies to achieve high recycling rates and enhance the management of value chains, thereby contributing to a more sustainable battery market.
- CIRPASS: Aims to develop prototypes for digital product passports across batteries, electronics, and textiles. It focuses on establishing shared rules and principles to support circular economy actions, addressing data challenges and fostering trust in second-hand markets.
- Catena-x: Defines EV battery passports, in the context of a collaborative data space for the automotive industry, where it is fostering radical collaboration among partners along the value chain to enhance business processes and drive innovation through data-driven solutions.
- RECIRCULATE: This project is developing blockchain-based battery passports to enable efficient tracking and exchange of information about batteries across the supply chain. It also plans to create a Battery Marketplace to facilitate trading of batteries and components with known provenance, enhancing trust and efficiency in the battery supply chain.
At BatteReverse, we take into account the experiences of the projects mentioned above, and we align with ongoing initiatives and with the European legal framework. We are committed to agile and modular development, utilising and enhancing existing data models to meet the specific needs of our project while adhering to the practical requirements of the Batteries Regulation.
Our approach involves the integration of advanced data technologies such as Smart Models, NGSI-LD and Semantic Aspect Meta Model (SAMM) into a comprehensive battery data exchange protocol for battery repurposing, that aligns with the evolving demands of the battery industry and regulatory landscape.
