#connectivity #electromobility #battery #cloud #services

Battery in the cloud

Better performance and longer service life for the vehicle’s traction battery

The battery is one of the key and most cost-intensive components in any electric powertrain. Its capacity and condition are essential factors that affect the range and dynamics of an electric vehicle and therefore also have an influence on the suitability for daily use and overall operating costs of the vehicle or fleet. As a global innovation driver in electromobility and connectivity, Bosch has developed a connected solution with a comprehensive portfolio of cloud-based services that help to boost the performance and service life of batteries significantly.

greater transparency

provided by continuous battery monitoring

longer service life

thanks to various charging modes and low wear in use

20 %

less battery wear thanks to smart software functions

reduced operating costs

through cloud-based services

Operation Battery in the cloud

The comprehensive solution for optimized battery management

For manufacturers, fleet operators, and users of electric vehicles, the battery is often still a largely unknown factor with regard to the reliability and performance of their vehicles. It is often rather difficult to assess the current condition of the battery from the outside, and so there is a risk that a vehicle may in fact only have a limited range, or the battery is prone to sudden breakdowns, or high costs will be incurred if the battery needs replacing entirely. From the perspective of manufacturers, fleet operators, mobility service providers, and sellers, this uncertainty moreover represents a considerable obstacle when it comes to convincing their customers of the value of their electric vehicles.

That is why Bosch has developed Battery in the Cloud – a smart, connected solution for improved battery management. With its set of services that are available as modules, Battery in the Cloud not only increases battery performance and service life, it also reduces the risk of sudden breakdowns and plays a part in increasing transparency with regard to the battery’s condition. Bosch has thus combined its wide-ranging expertise in batteries and electric powertrains with its extensive know-how in connectivity and cloud-based services into a comprehensive cost-effective single-source solution.

Avoiding breakdowns and outages

Predictive diagnostics is an efficient solution that helps to avoid battery breakdowns. Based on the data obtained from the connected vehicle as well as the entire fleet, the solution continuously assesses and monitors the current condition of the vehicle’s battery in the cloud. Smart algorithms ensure that any potential fault can be predicted precisely. Vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators receive an appropriate warning in good time and can prevent a breakdown from occurring if potential problems are already rectified in advance, such as by recommending the user to visit a workshop within a certain period of time. This preemptive maintenance reduces wear, increases vehicle availability, and enhances convenience for the user.

Alleviating stress factors

Thanks to cloud-based analysis of the collected data, the primary factors that have a negative effect on the condition of the battery while the vehicle is being driven, while the battery is charging, and when the vehicle is parked are identified – during the battery’s entire service life as well as for whole vehicle fleets. Such stress factors include rapid acceleration, too strong charging (> 95% SoC), and driving when the charge level is low. Lifetime monitoring thus provides vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators with the means to identify the reasons for accelerated battery wear and gives them the opportunity to improve the service life and performance of the battery by adjusting various parameters and providing users with appropriate recommendations.

Charging according to the user’s requirements

The protective charging solution from Bosch enhances convenience for the user and protects the battery during charging. Alongside the standard charging mode, the solution also provides the user with a choice of two additional modes that they can select depending on their requirements. The first option is the fast-charging mode, which uses special electrochemical models to reduce the charging time without causing additional battery wear or accelerated aging. The second option is the so-called lifetime-charging mode, which extends the battery’s service life while keeping the charging time the same as that of the standard charging mode.

Greater transparency when reselling the vehicle

With the usage certificate, the current condition of the battery is transparent at all times throughout its service life. The usage certificate ensures that the relevant battery condition data is secured against manipulation with blockchain technology and that it can be accessed at any time when needed. This therefore obviates the need for additional battery tests that are performed, for instance, before a planned resale, and the battery’s residual value can be estimated more easily and accurately based on the information provided by the certificate. This increased transparency furthermore enables purchasing barriers to be overcome.

1. Collect battery data

2. Analyze battery data

3. Transmit results

Three steps toward optimized battery management

A more powerful, safer, fleet-wide solution for data communication with the cloud. The innovative "Battery in the cloud" solution from Bosch is based on three key steps. In the first step, the current battery data is collected and pre-filtered by the telematics control unit (TCU) in the vehicles and is then transmitted to a server – generally the Bosch cloud.

In the second step, the data in the cloud is analyzed using sophisticated software algorithms based on electrochemical, physical, and statistical models. Artificial intelligence methods are then used to calculate predictions about the condition of the respective vehicle battery and to determine its optimal parameter configuration. Additional external cloud data, such as weather and traffic conditions, map data, and available charging stations, is also factored into these calculations.

In the final step, the results that have been determine for the individual vehicle battery (e.g. recommendations, condition reports, new operating parameters) are transmitted from the cloud to the vehicle, and the new parameter configuration is subsequently implemented in the battery. At each of these steps, the Bosch cloud provides a maximum in security during data transmission through a sophisticated security architecture involving end-to-end encryption. Custom service models are also an option depending on the customer’s wishes.

Does Bosch also supply the necessary hardware?

Yes, Bosch supplies Battery in the Cloud as a full-featured, one-stop solution.

This also includes the telematics control unit as an enabler, which is required in order to provide an end-to-end solution.

Is the connected battery management solution also available as SaaS (software as a service)?

Yes, customers need to only provide access to the vehicle data relating to the battery condition.

Depending on the service agreement, all the results and recommendations from Bosch can be made available in the customer cloud, in the vehicle, or in the user’s application, such as an app, an HMI, or a dashboard.

Does Battery in the Cloud also work without the Bosch server environment?

All available services are currently designed for the Bosch server environment, and this is where all the necessary software algorithms are stored and executed.

The data transmitted by the connected vehicles can be sent for further processing either directly to the Bosch cloud or first to a customer cloud and from there to the Bosch cloud.

Which data is required from the vehicle?

Data relating to usage and the condition of the battery. The algorithms are trained using historical data as well as test bench data.

In addition, current data from the vehicle is required for calculating the optimal parameter configuration.

ADVANTAGES FOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS

BENEFITS FOR FLEET OPERATORS AND MOBILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Optimized maintenance process for the battery
Fewer warranty claims
Happier end customers thanks to new service offerings
Comprehensive service solution from a single source
Fleet-wide, real-time overview of the battery condition in each vehicle

BENEFITS FOR FLEET OPERATORS AND MOBILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Reduced costs thanks to longer battery service life
Increased battery performance without additional wear
Higher vehicle availability due to fewer breakdowns and outages as well as shorter charging times
Fleet-wide, real-time overview of the battery condition in each vehicle

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