One of the less-discussed downsides of owning an electric vehicle is what fast charging does to the battery over time. The battery slowly loses its capacity when plugged into a DC fast charger enough times. It’s not dramatic in the beginning, but it progresses. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden I think they found a better way This has to be handled by the new AI EV charging system.
the study, Published in IEEE Transactions on Transportation ElectrificationShows that it can extend battery life by about 23% compared to standard fast charging. Charging time hardly changes. In testing, the AI-controlled method averaged 24.12 minutes per session, while traditional charging averaged 24.15 minutes. Effectively the same.
what the system actually does
Current fast chargers treat every battery the same. A brand new pack and a five year old pack are affected by the same current and voltage. This is a problem, because older batteries handle higher current differently. They are more prone to lithium plating, where metallic lithium is deposited on the electrodes rather than being properly absorbed. It silently consumes more than its capacity.
Chalmers’ AI EV charging system works around this by using reinforcement learning. This is a method where an algorithm improves its decisions over time through testing and feedback. The AI ​​optimizes the charging current in real-time based on two inputs: the battery’s current charge level and its overall health. The older the battery, the flatter the charge curve. This treats packs more like individuals than uniform units.
The biggest practical thing is that no new hardware is required. According to the researchers, it could be introduced as a software update to existing battery management systems. It requires calibration for each battery chemistry, so it’s not a universal solution out of the box.
Battery degradation has always been a serious concern for people considering switching to electricity. EV battery chemistry is an entirely different conversation, but the basic problem is the same: Lithium-ion cells don’t like the conditions we put them through on a day-to-day basis. If this AI EV charging system makes it into real vehicles, the 23% figure could translate into an extra year or two of useful battery life for drivers who regularly rely on fast charging.
