The
adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is no longer a question of if, but when.
The future of mobility is undeniably electric, with the global EV market
projected to grow by 24.3% in less than a decade. This shift is critical for
reducing global carbon emissions.
In
India, millions of new electric vehicles hit the roads each year, primarily
two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Government initiatives are driving this growth
by promoting EV manufacturing and adoption. However, challenges such as EV
fires and the need for skilled maintenance persist.
EVs
differ from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, requiring
less maintenance and having fewer moving parts. Services like oil changes are
unnecessary for EVs, shifting the focus to battery health, software updates,
and electrical repairs. Independent service providers must adapt by expanding
their offerings and investing in specialized tools for battery diagnostics and
repair.
Electric
vehicle batteries, particularly those based on lithium-ion technology, are
complex systems that degrade over time and under various conditions. This
degradation affects the vehicle's range, performance, and overall lifespan,
making accurate diagnostics and troubleshooting essential for maintaining and
extending the life of these batteries.
Current
Challenges of EV Battery Diagnostic
Traditional
methods of assessing battery health, such as electric signal analysis and
temperature monitoring, offer limited insights into the actual condition of the
battery. These methods can indicate issues like swelling or overheating but
fall short in providing a comprehensive view of the battery's overall health
and remaining useful life. Moreover, the complexity of EV batteries, combined
with the need for standardized testing procedures across different
manufacturers, complicates the process of accurately diagnosing and
troubleshooting battery issues.
EV Battery Diagnostics: Moving
Beyond the Basics
The
growth of electric vehicles (EVs) has highlighted the need for more
sophisticated methods to diagnose and assess battery health. Traditional
approaches often relied on limited tools and techniques, hindering our
understanding of battery performance and lifespan.
One
such example was the charging-discharging cycler (CDC) machine. While widely
used, the CDC offered a basic functionality – repeatedly charging and
discharging the battery to measure voltage and capacity. This limited data
provided minimal insights into the battery's overall health and potential
issues. Furthermore, the CDC process was
labor-intensive, requiring skilled personnel to monitor readings for extended
periods. This dependence on human observation introduced the possibility of
human error, impacting the overall reliability of the test results.
These
limitations of traditional methods underscored the need for advancements in EV
battery diagnostics. Let's explore how the industry is addressing these
challenges and paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of EV
batteries.
Introducing
EV DOCTOR™, An AI-based battery diagnostics technology is revolutionizing the EV industry by
ensuring efficient battery quality control and after-sales service. It enables
EV dealers and service centers to diagnose battery health within 15 minutes -
ten times faster than alternative testers—providing insights via a mobile app.
The device delivers crucial information about battery health, safety, faults,
water damage, charger issues, capacity, and more. This device supports both
hard BMS and Smart BMS batteries, enabling EV stakeholders to take better
decisions with the batteries.
EV
DOCTOR™ operates on the principle of DCIR computation combined with VI
profiling. Armed with AI-based algorithms, it provides unique and crucial
insights about the battery, earning the title of "World’s Fastest Battery
Testing Technology."
For
EV brands, it offers advanced analytics, warranty tracking, resale support, and
risk mitigation. By investing in EV DOCTOR™, service centers can provide
superior support during servicing and repair. Additionally it generates extra
income for EV Service centres from EV Battery Checkup charges.
Battery-Ok
Technologies, founded by EV enthusiasts Shubham Mishra, Ajay Vashisht, and
Darshan Prajapati, is based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. After four years of
continuous research and testing, the solution was launched last year and now
has an active presence in India, Mexico, South Korea, Mauritius and Vietnam.
With the high import of low-quality EV batteries in India, this indigenous
technology is assisting over 1,500+ EV dealers across the country. The company
will soon launch an API version to directly help EV OEMs and fleet owners
manage their batteries effectively.
Celebrated
by thousands of EV businesses across India, EV DOCTOR™ is a key driver in the
rise of electric vehicles in India. It has received endorsements from prominent
figures such as Nitin Gadkari and S. Jaishankar and Dr. Hanif Qureshi. As the
EV market continues to grow, tools like EV DOCTOR™ are essential for the smooth
service and maintenance of electric vehicles, helping India move towards a
greener and more sustainable future.
This
shift presents a significant opportunity for all the independent garages to specialize in EV maintenance
and repair. By positioning themselves as experts in this niche market, garages
can attract EV owners seeking knowledgeable and skilled service. This
specialization offers a substantial competitive advantage, and as the EV market
expands, these early adopters will be well-prepared to meet the increasing
demand.