12
THE TECH
Scientists at MIT, Stanford and
the Toyota Research Institute
(TRI) have developed an AI
algorithm that they say can
accurately predict the useful
life of Li-ion batteries. The
algorithm analyzed factors
such as voltage decline to make
predictions as to how many
more cycles a battery would
last. The predictions turned out to be within 9 percent of
the battery’s actual cycle life.
The algorithm also categorized batteries as having
either a long or short life expectancy based on the first
five charge/discharge cycles. These predictions proved to
be accurate 95 percent of the time.
One aim of the project is to identify an efficient way
to charge batteries in ten minutes. The researchers think
the prediction model can be used to decrease the time
it takes to validate batteries with new chemistries and to
grade batteries with longer lifetimes. The algorithm may
also help recyclers identify cells in used EV batteries that
have sufficient remaining life for secondary uses.
The researchers have made the dataset used to train
the algorithm publicly available.
“The standard way to test new battery designs is to
charge and discharge the cells until they die. Since
batteries have a long lifetime, this process can take many
months and even years,” said Peter Attia, a Stanford engi-
neering doctoral candidate who co-led the research. “It’s
an expensive bottleneck in battery research.”
“For all of the time and money that gets spent on bat-
tery development, progress is still measured in decades,”
said Patrick Herring, a TRI research scientist who con-
tributed to the study. “In this work, we are reducing one
of the most time-consuming steps – battery testing – by
an order of magnitude.”
The work is described in the journal Nature Energy.
AI algorithm accurately
predicts the life cycle of Li-ion
batteries
Toyota will grant
royalty-free licenses
on 23,740 patents it
holds for hybrid tech-
nologies. For a fee,
the company will also
provide technical sup-
port to manufacturers
that use Toyota’s tech,
including motors,
batteries, power control units and system controls.
Since 2015, Toyota has released 5,680 patents relat-
ed its fuel cell vehicles. The new batch of patents will
include:- 2,590 related to electric motors
- 2,020 related to PCUs
- 7,550 related to system controls
- 1,320 for engine transaxles
- 2,200 for chargers
- 2,380 for fuel cells
The grant period begins immediately and lasts through
2030.
“Based on the high volume of inquiries we receive
about our vehicle electrification systems from companies
that recognize a need to popularize hybrid and other
electrified vehicle technologies, we believe that now is
the time for cooperation,” said Toyota Executive VP
Shigeki Terashi. “If the number of electrified vehicles
accelerates significantly in the next 10 years, they will
become standard, and we hope to play a role in support-
ing that process.”
Some industry observers are unconvinced that that
role is a constructive one. As sales of the Prius are in free
fall, other brands are announcing massive new invest-
ments in plug-in vehicles. Not only has Toyota taken
no steps toward producing an all-electric vehicle, it has
publicly scorned and ridiculed those who do - a recent
TV ad for the Corolla Hybrid made highly misleading
assertions to claim that hybrids are superior to EVs.Toyota provides nearly 24,
licenses royalty-free for hybrid
tech